The children's football academy in Tsarsko Selo has had two very successful years marked by a series of remarkable victories. The football academy was founded in 2015.  Since then children aged 5 to 16 have had the opportunity to develop their sports potential there. The children's sports complex situated in Tsarsko Selo consists of four football pitches. Two of them were covered with artificial grass and received FIFA certificate and the other two were covered with natural grass. There is also a swimming pool and a recreational center at the sports complex.The Chairman of Tsarsko Selo football academy Stoine Manolov intends to develop his project and turn his football academy into the best one in Bulgaria. Last week the teams formed of children born in 2005 and 2007 placed first at the National Football Tournament for Children held in the town of Tryavna. Football manager Kemal Rashidov told Radio Bulgaria more about the football academy in Tsarsko Selo.

“Our mission is to encourage as many children as possible to play football. Of course, we are not expecting that all children from our academy will become football stars. However, children have the opportunity to do what they like most. Undoubtedly, we bring joy to those children and we are happy with that fact, too. We are witnessing how those children grow up and develop in sports. On the other hand, children make a lot of friends at the academy. Football, just like other sports develops human personality.”

Kemal Rashidov also told Radio Bulgaria that he keeps his temper during the games, so that his players remain focused on the game. He always shows his emotions after the game. In his view, the young footballers must be proud of their victories, yet they should be able to focus immediately on the next challenge. Kemal Rashidov contends that parents are those who make children become fans of sport. The children from Tsarsko Selo football academy receive strong support from their parents during the games.

“I have the ambition to continue coaching those children and take them to a higher level in football. I told those children that they should follow their goals instead of their dreams and many of them criticize me for that. I always tell them to aim high and that if they work hard, they will fulfill their goals”, Kemal Rashidov commented.

Unfortunately, the number of children who are unwilling to exercise has been recently on the rise. There are many obese children and a lot of them prefer to play computer games, instead of traditional street games. Kemal Rashidov has more about that problem:

“Children are more susceptible to manipulation than adults. It all depends on the environment they grow in. If children grow in sports environment, they will be influenced by their friends and become exercising. However, no one can help children if they prefer to live a carefree life. There should be more sports academies like ours. Some children may not like football, volleyball or basketball, but they should be given the opportunity to play water polo or some other sports instead. Bulgaria should develop mass sports and should not look for top results by all means. The mass sport is the key to a healthier lifestyle. However, the number of Bulgarian children playing in the streets is very low. Even though it is summer, there are few children playing outside. Children must overcome their fears. Perhaps, those who exercise on a regular basis make fun of the overweight children. Our task is to protect children with limited skills and encourage them to continue exercising. This is a very delicate moment and the coaches must act promptly, in order to solve the problem on time.”

Kemal Rashidov also said that due to financial reasons many sports facilities have turned into ruins and the number of sports complexes and facilities in Bulgaria is very low.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov