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.