Hapoel Tel Aviv honored for social action

Israeli soccer club wins first European title in its history, taking home award of social action club of year in Geneva ceremony

Reuters | Published: 09.08.10, 07:40

Hapoel Tel Aviv FC, the national champion and holder of the State Cup in soccer that is currently preparing for to contend for the first time in its history in the European Champions' League, plucked another first place award Monday in Europe.

The European Club Association (ECA), with 197 member clubs including the star-studded teams of Barcelona, Milan, and Chelsea, chose Hapoel Tel Aviv as the social action club of the year.

In doing so, Hapoel overcame some of the continent's club darlings. Hapoel Tel Aviv was ranked ahead of the English clubs Arsenal and Manchester United.

The Israeli club was awarded the honorable distinction for its Mifalot project - for education, development and peace. The project leaders view soccer as an educational tool and a means to expose its participants to a number of different topics. Staff help them advance and achieve their goals.

The Mifalot project was formed 13 years ago. Some 20,000 children have taken part in the project over the years. The project is in operation throughout the country, as well as in the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, and other locations in the world.

In a ceremony held in Geneva that included a number of categories, Inter Milan was awarded the title of Club of the Year.

The ceremony was attended by senior soccer officials, including UEFA President Michel Platini and ECA Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who lauded Mifalot as a project changing the face of the Middle East and bringing about peace between children through football. "It brings hope for a better future for our children," he said.