Jutvari FC with their presents from Samaritan's Purse International Relief

ФК Жътвари с подаръците си от Интернационално Подпомагане Самаританс Пърс

Segun, Trainer and Players at home.

Шегун, помощник треньора и футболисти във вкъщи.

Rebecca

Ребека

Today the boys have been given 3 weeks off practice for Christmas.

Training will resume next season and we will all have new track suits.

Our place in the league was 11 out of 16.................but we are only half way through!

So watch this space.

HAPPY CHRISTMASS AND THE BEST NEW YEAR EVER to all our readers

Днес момчетата бяха пуснати в почивка от 3 седмици за Рождество Христово.
Тренировките ще се подновят следващия сезон и тогава всички ще имаме нови екипи.
Нашето място в лигата беше 11 от 16...............но ние сме само на половината!

Така че само гледайте.

ЧЕСТИТО РОЖДЕСТВО ХРИСТОВО И ПОЖЕЛАНИЯ ЗА НАЙ-ДОБРАТА НОВА ГОДИНА НА ВСИЧКИ НАШИ ЧИТАТЕЛИ!

The first season is over and we have purchased a set of track suits for winter training.

So the boys jogging around the area will soon be a regular sight.

We now have a great big stove in the club house which is keeping us warm for team meetings and break dancing.

Football training now takes place on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

Първият сезон свърши и ние закупихме комплект екипи за зимните тренировки.
Така че скоро ще може редовно да виждате бягането на момчетата около стадиона.
Вече имаме голяма печка в клуба за срещи на отбора и брейкданс, с която се отопляваме.
Футболните тренировки сега са във вторник, четвъртък и събота.

We won again today, against a pretty serious team 3-2.
Shouts of Jutvari (The Harvesters) were heard by all, the fans were great.
It was the last game of this year and a victorious end to the season.
“We are all over the moon” (an English expression)
We will continue to train through the winter both in side and out, so we will be strong for next season, keep checking the blog for more football and breakdancing.

Отново победихме срещу доста сериозен отбор 3-2.
Виковете на Жътвари бяха чути от всички, феновете бяха чудесни.
Това беше последният мач за тази година и успешен край на сезона.
“Всички ние сме на седмото небе.”
Ще продължим с тренировките през зимата на закрито и на открито, така че да сме готови за следващия сезон. Продължавайте да следите web страницата за повече футболни и брейкданс новини.

We finally won our first match outright.
Took 15 matches to get there but we did it.
They only thing that marred the happy occasion was the attitude of the other team.
At the end of the match our boys shook hands and said good buy.
In reply we had derisive shouts of “gypsy” and as we left the village a group of lads continued shouting names and were spitting on my car.
I don’t think realise that next spring they play us in the Ghetto!
Let’s hope our team forgets their sins or they may be leaving in ambulances!

Най-накрая безспорно спечелихме първият си мач.
Отнени 15 мача да го постигнем, но го направихме.
Единственото нещо, което развали щастието в случая, беше отношението на другия отбор.
В края на мача нашите момчета си стиснаха ръце и си взеха довиждане. В отговор получихме подигравателни възгласи “цигани” и когато напускахме селото група деца продължиха с обидите и плюеха колата ми.
Не мисля, че те осъзнават, че следващата пролет ще играят с нас в махалата!
Да се надяваме нашият отбор да забрави греховете им иначе ще им се наложи да ползват линейка!

Craig they Scored!

Крейг те отбелязаха гол!

It was a great game on Sunday. We lost (0-7) but the boys played really well.
We are looking forward to be able to fix the railings around the stadium which will give us much needed privacy for training. Plus we can really sort the grounds out.
We are also looking forward to build a club house on the ground with a “5 a side” facility. This will be a great benefit to the kids in the whole area. Plus make training a joy.

So 13 games down 3 to go!

Беше велика игра в неделя. Загубихме (0-7), но момчетата играха наистина добре.
Гледаме напред в бъдещето за поставяне на ограда около стадиона, което ще ни осигури необходимото уединение за тренировка. Плюс това ще можем да се погрижим за земята.
Също така гледаме напред за изграждането на клуб на стадиона със зала за “5-5 играча”.
Това ще бъде голямо предимство за децата от целия район. Плюс това ще превърне тренировките в радост.
И така 13 игри минаха, остават още 3.

On Sunday we played the best team in the league.
They were amazing and beat us 11-0.

В неделя играхме срещу най-добрия отбор в първенството.

Те бяха невероятни и ни биха с 11-0.

We have had quite a few problems recently.
Another team is trying to steal some of our best players which caused some confusion among the team.
It’s getting cold and dark so we are looking for an indoor facility to train through the winter.
A fair ground has turned up, illegally occupying the ground behind the goals creating a distraction in training.

Имахме доста проблеми напоследък.
Друг отбор се опитва да открадне някои от най-добрите ни играчи, което причини объркване в отбора.
Става студено и тъмно, така че търсим възможност да тренираме на закрито през зимата.
Увеселителният парк дойде на стадиона, нелегално зае мястото зад вратите, създавайки объркване на тренировките.

Plus some good things,
Two older boys are helping Segun and Kazime with training.
We painted our club house and will soon have heat.

Плюс някои добри неща,
Две по-големи момчета помагат на Шегун и Казим с тренировките.
Боядисахме сградата на клуба и скоро ще ни бъде топло.

Another no show!

Its was a lovely sunny morning

3 more points for us!

Отново нямаше игра!

Беше прекрасна слънчева утрин.

Още 3 точки за нас!

I think you will enjoy these
Мисля, че това ще ви хареса

The Stadium needs some work!

Стадионът има нужда от работа!

The boy next to me in the picture in currently in hospital with hepatitis!
Момчето до мен на снимката понастоящем е в болница с хепатит!

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Our last 2 matches have been eventful.

On Sunday we waited in the lovely October sunshine for the other team to arrive.
Kick off was at 10.30 they never arrived.

Why?

Maybe because they are scared of catching hepatitis. It is rampant in the ghetto and 2 members of the team have already been hospitalised.

Or maybe just name “Solipinovo” puts fear in to the hearts of many a Bulgarian.

It’s certainly not a place to send your kids!

So we got all 3 points for that match.

Today Wednesday we played an all Turkish team in the village of Kuklen. The opposition were strong and beat us 4-1. However we were the first to score and we certainly enjoyed that goal.

So we await Segun’s video diagnosis at this Friday’s club to see what went wrong.

Rumen keeps going to school and we keep working on different aspects of the “Jutvari Football Club” Like communication, training, transport, fundraising etc.

It’s hard work but rewarding.

The team is becoming like big a family with the players looking up to us and missing us when we are not around.

Next match at home on Sunday

Последните ни два мача бяха забележителни.

В неделя в прекрасното октомврийско време чакахме другият отбор да пристигне.
Началото на мача беше 10.30, а те не дойдоха.

Защо?

Може би защото се страхуваха да не се заразят с хепатит. Той е разпространен в гетото и двама от отбора вече са настанени в болница.

Или може би самото име “Столипиново” плаши много българи.

Безспорно това не е място, където да изпратиш детето си!

Така че получихме всичките 3 точки за този мач.

Тази сряда играхме срещу отбор, където всички играчи бяха турци, в село Куклин. Противникът беше силен и ни биха с 4-1. Както винаги ние бяхме първи с отбелязването на гол и безпорно му се зарадвахме.

Така че очакваме мнението на Шегун за мача в клубната среща на отбора този петък да видим кое беше грешно.

Румен продължава да ходи на училище, а ние продължаваме работата с “Футболен Клуб Жътвари” в различни аспекти като комуникация, тренировка, транспорт, финансиране и др.

Работата е трудна, но възнаградена.

Отборът прилича на голямо семейство, където играчите ни се възхищават и им липсваме, когато не сме с тях.

Следващият мач е в неделя на наш терен.

We played Krichim on Wednesday afternoon at 4 O' Clock. It was a beautiful day and "Krichim" is a lovely location (great place for a holiday home)

The boys once again played like heroes but the other team also played well and the final score was 5-3 to them.

This was our toughest game yet to organize. We had to visit about 4 or 5 schools to release all the players. This took quite some time!

We video every match and its very interesting to watch Segun point out the technical mistakes. The boys also love watching them selves play.

The next game is Sunday at home and then off to another village "Kuklen" next Wednesday morning.

Playing these games certainly takes a lot of time, energy and money, more than I would have ever anticipated, but we're giving these lads from the minorities a real purpose in life.

So all the effort is worth while.

Сряда следобяд в 4 часа играхме срещу Кричим. Денят беше прекрасен, а “Кричим” е очарователно място (добро за ваканционен дом).

Момчетата отново играха като герои, но и другият отбор игра добре, така че крайният резултат беше 5-3 за тях.

Този мач беше най-труден за организиране до сега. Трябваше да посетим 4 или 5 училища, за да освободим всички играчи. А това отне не малко време.

Записваме всеки мач и е доста интересно да ги гледаме и Шегун да ни посочва техническите грешки. Момчетата също обичат да гледат себе си как играят.

Следващият мач е в неделя на наш терен, а следващата сряда сутрин ще играем в село “Куклен”.

Несъмнено да се играят мачовете отнема доста време, енергия и пари, повече отколкото съм очаквал, но ние даваме на тези момчета от малцинството истинска цел в живота.

Така че всичките усилия си заслужават.

I woke up 7 am Sunday morning and it was pouring with rain. I felt like going back to sleep!

I got in the car and drove to METRO where I collected water and some chocolate for the team.

We hung the nets in strong rain while the players gathered in the club house. The other team wondered if it would be called off but when the federation delegate and refs turned up we realized it was going ahead.

So I ferried all the boys to the stadium and the start whistle blew at 10.35.

We were playing a very good and well established team "Botev 1912". They scored a goal early on but that’s all we let in. Our boys played brilliantly and had much possession of the ball and took several shots at their goal.

So once again a big improvement in play.

WELL DONE SEGUN and KAZIME

This Wednesday we play a town team "Krichim" and we are expecting our first win.

Last week there were celebrations because we came off the bottom of the league, I am expecting to climb higher and higher as the season progresses.

So thank you fans for turning out to watch and cheer despite the terrible weather

and thank you lads for playing such good football you are amazing.

Събудих се в 7 часа сутринта в неделя и валеше проливен дъжд. Исках да се върна обратно в леглото да спя.
Качих се в колата и отидох до МЕТРО, от където купих вода и някакъв шоколад за отбора.

Поставихме мрежите в проливния дъжд, докато играчите се събраха в клуба. Другият отбор се чудеха дали мача няма да бъде отменен, но когато футболната делегация и съдиите ни изненадаха, разбрахме, че ще се играе.

И така закарах момчетата до стадиона и началния сигнал беше подаден в 10.35.

Играхме много добре срещу един от утвърдените и доказани отбори “Ботев 1912”. Те отбелязаха гол много рано, но това беше всичко, което им позволихме. Нашите момчета играха брилянтно, бяха във владение на топката през повечето време и имаха няколко добри попадения в противниковата половина.

И така още веднъж голям напредък в играенето на футбол.

Добра работа Шегун и Казим!

Тази сряда ще играем срещу отбор “Кричим” и очакваме първата си победа.

Миналата седмица празнувахме, понеже се измъкнахме от дъното на класирането на лигата, а аз очаквам да се изкачваме по-високо и по-високо, докато тече сезона.

И така благодаря на феновете, че се събраха да ни гледат и насърчават, независимо от ужасното време
и благодаря ви момчета, че играхте така добре футбол. Вие сте невероятни!

Praise God we Scored

The Game

The Reserves

On Sunday we were of to war again with our team Jutvari.

One mini bus and two cars transported the team to the near by village of Brestovitsa.

We drew 1-1 and it was a great victory!
The boys played very well.
We constantly had the ball in their side.

How ever the game revealed weaknesses in shooting at the goal because the score could have been much larger.

We are excited because the boys play better each week and with greater skill.

Last week we visited their schools and the head teachers are happy to release players for practice and games as long as grades stay high.

Next Sunday the 8th we play "Botev 1912" at home.

В неделя бяхме отново на война с нашия отбор Жътвари.

Един мини бус и две коли откараха отбора до близкото село Брестовица.

Завършихме 1-1 и това беше велика победа.
Момчетата играха много добре.
Постоянно разигравахме топката в полето на противника.

Както винаги играта показа слабости с вкарването на голове, понеже головият резултат можеше да бъде по-висок.

Ние сме радостни, понеже с всяка изминала седмица момчетата играят все по-добре и с по-добра техника.

Миналата седмица посетихме училищата им и директорите бяха щастливи да освободят играчите за тренировки и мачове стига оценките им да са високи.

Следващата седмица на 8-ми ще играем срещу Ботев 1912 на наш терен!

On Friday evening despite the terrible weather the football team turned out for an explanation of the "Offside Rule".

We set up the defence and then Segun walked us through an array of scenarios. Hey I finally under stood it!

After that the break dancers turned up and we all enjoyed watching them spinning around.

On Sunday we played one of the best teams in Plovdiv on our home ground. Jutvari played like lions. It was a brilliant game. We also had a large crowd watching.

We lost 7-0 B-U-T the “profits of doom” in the Federation HQ were expecting more like 20-0

We were all encouraged.

We continue to grow in strength!

Jutvari on Sunday

The Competition!

Yesterday we took a mini bus to Asenovgrad a town about 30 KM away.

We only took the team as they are difficult enough to control let alone the fans.

Opposition team were very good and we lost 8-0. How ever we did wake up to play 20min of extremely good football in the second half.

So why are we doing all this. It’s a good question. What is our motive?

Well if this team had not started most of these boys would be kicking around doing nothing. All our boys are considered “gypsy” by the Bulgarians and looked down upon.

On Sunday the opposition team gave us a rough old changing room because they thought we would wreck their good one and that the boy were all drug addicts!

Segun( Coach) said “many of these boys never dreamed they would be travelling out of the ghetto, and playing in the football league”

We insist that the boys go to school and will be watching their grades closely. One boy has all ready dropped out but has agreed to restart.

Now this is a strange one. At least 10 boys were told by their parents that they had heart problems and could never be athletes. In every case the doctor declared them totally fit!

We find that the boys are their “own worst enemies”; they are constantly fighting among them selves and pulling each other down. I sometimes wonder if they have ever had a kind word spoken to them. We want them to see them selves as winners.

We are committed to building up a club long term not just one season. That involves fixing up the “Stadium Roma”. We will repair the fence first and then build a club house. Also after Christmas want to run 13,14 and 15 year olds in the league as well.

So sponsors please step forward.

Craig,

Yesterday (Tuesday was totally mad). Segun, Maia and I worked flat out from 9 am till 10 pm getting “Stadium Roma” ready for today’s match.

The biggest problem was no posts at one end.

We got some 120 dia tube from the local scrap yard and had them fabricated. The snag was they weighed 300kg! 661 lbs! And they were 500m from the stadium.

I spent most of the day thinking how to avoid employing 15 men to carry them for me. At about 7pm someone had the idea of 2 carts and one horse.

I wish we had a camera to capture the sight as we trailed through the ghetto stopping the traffic on the journey to the stadium.

By 9pm they were cast in concrete.

Craig.

Ok today we lost again, but we are getting better.

After the first ½ the score was 0-0 but in the second ½ they scored a goal, plus a penalty kick and we did a home goal therefore 3-0 to them.

Our boys were most impressive. The captain several times dribbled the ball around 2 or 3 boy twice his size. Segun also had 2 good players missing and another injured.

The stadium looked great and the federation judge was impressed by our playing.

Now have a look at the video clip and see the size of other teams 12 year olds. I really think that if we could find a team with some normal sized boys we may stand a better chance of winning!

Craig.

Thank You KC 21 you are our first sponsor.

OK first the bad news 5-1 to them.

Now that’s over with lets look at the positive points:-

1) The team all got out of bed!
2) They scored one goal and we all went wild!
3) It was the first match that Jutvari FC has ever played and all the players acted like gentlemen.
4) The other team was playing some “genetically modified” 12 year olds. One boy must have been 80 Kg (12 stone)! If this happens again we may appeal.

Now we have 2 days to sort out Stadium Roma (home ground) for Wednesdays match.

Friends,

It’s been a very busy 2 weeks for the football team.

Some of my memories:-

Seeing the program and realising we play every major club in Plovdiv.

One kid was 27KG under weight for his medical!

One kid must have been sick 5 times before his medical but still passed!

One kid broke the testing bike and was hanging out the window of my car all the way back!

Segun was accused of trying to turn Muslim Kids in to Christians!

We brought 22 football shirts. 3 new balls. 12 Pairs of boots.

The association don’t think we will make it through the season!

Worrying about if we have done the right thing.

Our first match is on Sunday and our first home game is on Wednesday.

Thanks for folks who sponsored us but we still have loads more expenses so if you are able to help or find help in will be appreciated.

I will give you the match report next week and may be a video clip.

Craig.

Dear Friends,

Segun is current running around Plovdiv getting every thing in order for the upcoming season.

Jutvari FC is in the league and our first team will comprise of 11 and 12 year olds we have about 20 of them. They have been practicing hard for the last 6 weeks!

Our first match will be in early September so we have a lot of work to do. We need to mow the stadium and get it in some sort of order. We also need a doctor, shirts, more balls and money to hire mini buses for away games.

So we are looking for sponsors.

Basically we work with poor Turkish speaking gypsy kids. We believe that through the dicipline of football and our constant interaction with them that their live came turn out much more different than their parents.

Craig.

The teams train every day Monday to Friday. We will hire a lawyer soon to register the club. We are calling it JUTVARI FC. Jutvari means the harvesters. So we have high expectations that we will harvest many football games this autumn!

We have trained every day this week. The weather has been hot but we always have more boys than we have shirts. They are improving in skill and everyone wants to be captain!

On Tuesdays evening several of the boys brought their parents to church.

Yesterday Illios and Vanyo (the break dancers) joined us playing in a match it was great fun and they were an encouragement to the other players.

Please pray as we register the club.

This is part of the new football team posing for a photo out side church last Tuesday

This is the first post on Jutvari FC.

The aim of this blog is to log the clubs journey from its initial inception to being the most sucessful Bulgarian Football Team ever.