Pampero Macheso (14), a young player from Malawi in the 2016 Hope World Cup, organized by Korea Food for the Hungry International, said, “We will win this game and leave a new legacy for my country.” His team had been practicing with a ball made of plastic. Upon arriving in Korea for the games, he could not hide his smile when he first touched a real football, saying “The surface is so soft.” During all five games Malawi played in the Hope World Cup games, Pampero never allowed a single goal. His perfect defense was crucial to his team’s winning over Kenya 3 to 0 in the finals. “I learned that dreams do come true when you believe in them,” said Pampero joyfully.
On September 14, the day the KFHI soccer team returned to Malawi, the Lilongwe airport was crowded with the players’ family members and local staff. A news anchor from the national broadcasting company and a reporter from a local newspaper came to the airport, showing their keen interest in the soccer team.
The Hope World Cup was planned to encourage children in disadvantaged countries develop their potentialities through soccer. After the games, the 110 child players from 10 countries including Malawi, Kenya, and the Philippines, returned to their countries and their ordinary daily lives. Their two weeks in Korea playing soccer and having new experiences, however, were enough to stir special hopes and dreams in their hearts.
Reporter Narae Kim (narae@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Photos courtesy of KFHI
Full Story in Korean:
10개국 110명 아이들… 꿈은 믿으면 이뤄진다는 것을 알게 됐다: 빈곤국 아이들 잠재력 키워주기 위해 마련… 축구뿐만 아니라 한국 문화 체험
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“Now I have a dream”: Peruvian KFHI Hope World Cup Team
