Can soccer bridge the gap?

Top international coach Jose Mourinho to assist in establishing Palestinian, Israeli soccer schools

By Ynetnews

Published:

04.11.05, 14:55 / Israel Culture

TEL AVIV - Leading international Soccer coach Jose Mourinho has agreed to serve as a special envoy for the Peres Center for Peace and assist in establishing and financing two soccer schools for Israeli and Palestinian children.

 

Mourinho in Israel (Photo: Reuters) (Photo: Reuters)

Last week, Mourinho visited the Center’s Twinned Soccer Schools project. Currently, 12 soccer schools, half of them Israeli and half Palestinian, are active in the program. More than 800 Palestinian and Israeli children from low economic status participate in the innovative program.

 

The children enjoy professional soccer practices, as well as help with completing their homework. Participants also get to compete in international competitions, where a mixed Israeli-Palestinian team is fielded.

 

Mourinho, who currently coaches leading British club Chelsea, agreed to be the center’s envoy in matters relating to soccer and peace after meeting the children in Israel. Under the arrangement, he will act to draw the global soccer community’s attention to the soccer school project.

 

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