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Fans donate over 1,000 pairs of football boots for Syrian refugees
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Children at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan have received over 1,000 pairs of football boots following donations from fans around Europe as part of the UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour – driven by Kia.

In partnership with the UEFA Foundation for Children, Kia handed over more than 1,000 pairs of football boots to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, which is home to more than 80,000 displaced Syrian refugees. 

The footwear was collected during last season's UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour, which stopped off in eight European cities: Geneva, Seville, Berlin, London, Milan, Moscow, Paris and Baku.

Leading former players such as Deco, Lothar Matthäus, David Seaman, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Andrés Palop, Filippo Inzaghi, Andrey Arshavin and Youri Djorkaeff all took part as ambassadors on the various legs.

"Having visited the Zaatari refugee camp, I have seen first-hand just how much the youngsters love playing football and what the game means to them," said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. 

"The UEFA Foundation for Children helped to provide pitches for the refugees to use, but until now they have lacked football boots. I would like to thank the fans across Europe who have donated their footwear and helped to make a real difference to those living at the camp."

The donated football boots are already being put to good use, during the daily training sessions and weekly tournaments, which are organised by Jawdat El Melhem and Waed Shukri Al Shwamreh, the football programme coordinators at the Zaatari camp.

Tags

Country
Jordan
Region
Middle East
Sport
Football (Soccer)