Spirit of Soccer teaches ethnic tolerance in Moldova

Saturday, February 16th, 2008

Spirit of Soccer has begun a coaching programme aimed at promoting ethnic tolerance in Moldova.

Spirit of Soccer has begun an ‘ethnic tolerance’ football coaching project working with players and coaches in Moldova and the breakaway region of Transnistria.

Towards the end of February 2008, Spirit of Soccer founder Scotty Lee was invited to the former Soviet state of Moldova to look at the possibility of running a pilot soccer program promoting ethnic tolerance between young soccer players from both regions.

The project, a partnership between Spirit of Soccer and the UK Embassy in Chisinau, Moldova and supported with additional funding from the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, enjoyed excellent working relations with the Moldovan Football Association and the coaches and players of both Tranistria and Moldova.

After a week’s travelling to observe youth development at both local and national level, a Memorandum Of Understanding was agreed upon and signed with the Moldovan FA to sponsor and implement a teacher-training programme, in the form of the Moldovan “C” license, scheduled for May 2008.

In June 2008 coaches and children from both Moldova and Transnistria will take part in a series of national soccer skills games organized by Spirit of Soccer and the Moldovan FA.