With the Euros in full swing, FedEx and the UEFA Foundation for Children are nurturing the footballing stars of tomorrow by opening a new community football pitch in one of Madrid’s most economically disadvantaged areas, Cañada Real.
The new pitch comes complete with floodlighting and changing facilities and has been donated to Red Deporte y Cooperación, a Madrid-based non-profit organisation that is part of the streetfootballworld network of community-based programs.
Pascal Torres, general secretary of UEFA Foundation for Children said: “We are delighted that FedEx shares our vision of extending access to football to all, and that by working together we have enabled thousands of children from this diverse community to play and grow together, safely.”
Dr Vladimir Borkovic, network director of streetfootballworld commented: “This is an incredible initiative that provides a game changing facility for the community, and we are grateful to FedEx for helping to make it a reality.”
The pitch is groundbreaking in other ways too. It is constructed to an innovative, modular design that has low running costs. Guaranteed by the manufacturer for eight years, it was built in less than a week before being officially handed over to the community at a ceremony on 15 June.