Football star Ronaldo and Fund Forum sign cooperation memorandum

December 23, 2009

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo On December 22 initialled a cooperation memorandum with the Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation.

The memorandum is aimed at further cooperation between the Fund Forum and Ronaldo in supporting and developing children`s sports. Among the primary goals of the document is development of charitable programs and projects to popularize and promote children`s sports, allocate grants for the support of young athletes, assist young athletes in participation in international competitions.

According to those close to Cristiano Ronaldo, the world`s most expensive footballer is planning to open his own charitable foundation in honour of his late father. At this point many of the details are only being discussed, however it is certain that the would-be foundation will work on the development of charitable projects in children`s sports, Ronaldo`s representative said.

The visit by Ronaldo to Uzbekistan was organized by the Fund Forum as part of the Young Footballers Support Program. It was launched earlier this year when another football celebrity Samuel Eto`o visited the country. The Program is aimed at giving assistance to children`s and youth football teams and football fans across the country, providing sports attire and organizing other related events. In sum, the project is aimed at helping raise a new generation of outstanding footballers in Uzbekistan such as Ronaldo and Eto`o.

The master class taught by Ronaldo to young footballers in Uzbekistan is seen as a practical move toward the implementation of the agreement signed with the Fund Forum. The event attracted not only football fans but also the broad public. Tashkent`s Jar Stadium with a seating capacity of 8,000 people was literally filled to the brim. Tickets to the long-awaited master class were distributed free of charge so that thousands of Ronaldo fans from all over the Republic could see the legendary athlete in action in their homeland.

“Today I will demonstrate the best moves from my arsenal,” Ronaldo said during the press conference held prior to the master class. The purpose of such classes is to prove that every footballer must believe that he can become the best and work toward this goal, he added.

The master class was taught to children`s football teams. The football star was greeted at the stadium with a deafening ovation after which he demonstrated superb football manoeuvring. Ronaldo appeared impressed by the mastery and zeal demonstrated by the footballers aged 12-15. Twelve-year-old footballer Shokhjahon Hasanov who struggled to keep on par with Ronaldo drew delight from the audience. Next followed a game between teams composed of 13- and 14-year old players, with Ronaldo doing a time in each team.

“I am thankful to the Fund Forum for inviting me to this charitable mission,” Ronaldo said. “I have come here to give a push to young footballers, inspire them and strengthen their belief in themselves.”

Also, under the Young Footballers Support Program, Cristiano Ronaldo and the Chairperson of the Fund Forum`s Board of Trustees, Gulnara Karimova, gave awards to two children`s football teams: Olimpik Football Club of Kashkadarya region and a youth team of Sports School №1 of Tashkent city. In the future, similar support will be given to other football teams in Uzbekistan.

Later that day Ronaldo attended the M&TVA-2009 Awards Ceremony held at Tashkent`s Alisher Navoi Theater.

Shortly before departing from Uzbekistan, Ronaldo said, he was pleased with the results produced by his visit and would be happy to come back to Uzbekistan on a longer-term visit.