Game Unites All

Krasnodar, 30 March. The score of the first 2022 World Cup domestic qualifier between Russia and Slovenia held in Sochi last week was 2:1 in favour of the hosts. 

The game was preceded by a large-scale Matchday-campaign organized on March 25–27 by the Russian Football Union. 

However, this was not the first football match held in Sochi this season. On March 25, Krasnaya Poliana hosted a match entitled “Football Up to Snuff.” All those who wished were able to choose their own captain among the legendary footballers Dmitri Sychev and Dmitri Alenichev and to play for that captain’s team. On the following day, School No. 100 held a Football Lesson delivered by ex-players of the Russian national team Diniyar Bilialetdinov and Dmitri Sychev. The lesson was followed by a tournament for athletes with disabilities where they got a chance to play with Russian football stars. 

Then, on Saturday, eight football teams composed of players representing local ethnic communities (Armenian, Greek, Daghestan, Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian, and Georgian) met in a tournament. The Greek team became the champion; the second and the third places were occupied by the Armenian and Georgian communities, respectively.