"Field of Dreams"

Mini World Cup Soccer Tournament focuses on "Field of Dreams"

Capital United Soccer Club has organized its 3rd edition of the Boys' Mini World Cup. Consistent with their thematic approach to this tournament, this year each team will represent one of the nations scheduled to take part in the EURO 2008. The Mini World Cup 2008 Tournament - EURO 2008 Edition to be held in Ottawa on June 7th and 8th, at the Millennium Soccer Fields.

This year, the tournament consists of 32 boys teams from Eastern Ontario and other regions. There will be a total of 16 teams per age group, U10 and U11. All 448 athletes have been asked to donate their old uniforms and equipment to the "Field of Dreams" project in support of Bicycles for Humanity. Soccer gear is packed in with the bikes to provide much needed equipment to the children of Namibia who love to play the sport but have very little in the way of appropriate soccer gear.

The co-founders of Bicycles for Humanity have been invited to participate in the Parade of Athletes on the Saturday morning, and will be on hand to accept the generous donations from the participants.

For more information: www.fccapitalunited.com

It is difficult to describe what happened when the shipment of soccer equipment arrived in Namibia, Africa. Hundreds of children had been meeting every Saturday to play soccer on fields covered with rocks and thorns, the only area they could play on. No one could have anticipated the reactions of the children when the shoes arrived, and the jersey's and the soccer balls.

Words like joy, astonishment and happiness cannot begin to describe it.

But Debborah Evraire, co-chair of the Mini World Cup Tournament Series of soccer club FC Capital United knew all the same.

Through Bicycles for Humanity, she received an e-mail from Mary Beth, the woman who organizes soccer days and teams in Namibia.

The e-mail explained that the children were so thrilled, that one of the teams had changed its name to FC Capital United, the name of Evraire's soccer team in Ottawa.

Mary Beth organizes these soccer days once a week. Children of all ages are divided into teams and play on a field that is covered with broken glass and gravel. They barely have anything to play with. The ones who have shoes share.

Namibia is a poor country, riddled with AIDS. Many families have lost loved ones to the horrible disease, and there are many, many orphans. Mary Beth hosts this soccer day on Saturday, so for one day of the week so these Orphans can learn about team spirit, respect, leadership and sportsmanship. Most importantly they can have a lot of fun and escape a little from the daily difficulties of their lives.

Soccer is the ideal sport. It is played around the world by both the poor and rich - it requires minimal equipment, but unfortunately the Orphans who have nothing do not have soccer gear either.

Soccer does not require much, and anything that children do get there is a luxury.

Now, they proudly show off their gently used soccer equipment every time they play in Namibia.

It was this astonishing success that inspired Evraire to begin the Field of Dreams project here in Canada.

Evraire organizes a yearly event in Ottawa called the Mini World Cup. It involves 448 athletes in 32 teams of U10 and U11 boys. The goal is to replicate the FiFa World Cup. Since this year the FiFa is going to be held by Switzerland and Austria, the Mini World cup is going to reflect that.

"Through this local teams adopt countries competing in this tour. They get Jerseys' with the countries name and colours, we have an opening and closing ceremony, and we tape the medal ceremonies to be aired on Rogers later," said Evraire.

The Field of Dreams project capitalizes on this tournament. Evraire is asking all 448 athletes competing to donate their old Soccer equipment to go in the next Bicycle Empowerment Centre to Africa.

Evraire hopes to send 400 more pieces of equipment this year then they did at the last shipment.

"We were making dreams on the soccer field remain a dream that is attainable," said Evraire.

The equipment that cannot be sent to Africa will be sent to Harthorn Public School in Ottawa and used there.

"We're making a difference in the local community as well as in Africa," said Evraire.

FC Capital United has earned the title Official Soccer Ambassadors to Africa through the Bicycle Empowerment Centre Ottawa Chapter.

This years Mini World cup will be on June 7-8, and Evraire will be accepting the donations then.

"We have a saying at FC Capital United. Play with Passion, Strive for Excellence," said Evraire.

Imagine the excellence the children in Namibia will be able to strive for with the help from the Fields of Dream project.