imam ali’s popular students relief...

Imam Ali’s Popular Students

Relief Society

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Table of Contents

Imam Ali’s Popular Students Relief SocietyThe Second Persian Football League – Peace and Friendship Cup

Statement for the International Day of Peace

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About Imam Ali’s Popular Students Relief Society

Introduction to Imam Ali Persian Sport and Cultural Club

Persian Football League

Full report on the second Persian Football League

Interview with Persian Football League Players

Media coverage on the second Persian Football League

Achievements (Second Persian Football League at a glance)

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IAPSRS’s statement of Peace in the second Persian football league

We, the seven hundred players competing in the Persian League, represent all the children and teenagers who live in Iran. Whether we are born in Afghanistan or Iran; whether we are Kurd-ish or Turkish, Persian or Baloch, Arab or Lurish, Shiite or Sunni; whether we live in Kurdistan or Mashhad, Shiraz or Gorgan, Tehran or Sistan and Baluchestan, Varamin or Saari, Karaj or Bushehr, Amol or Zanjan, or any other area on the face of the earth, we announce, with one voice, that we detest massacre, bloodshed and genocide and will not tolerate the victimization of children in favor of the war-mongering politicians around the world.

Humanity is lost. The earth is contaminated by mad tyranny and greed and basic needs such as food, shelter, clean clothes, and a peaceful life without war and massacre have become unreach-able for millions of children.

Despite the diversity of the world it seems the whole world is divided into two segments, the oppressors and the oppressed.

We are the voice of the voiceless children, the oppressed who lose their lives in wars. We are all human beings, we are equal and united, and we are all victims of tyranny. We shall unite to spread the love and peace that the world has deprived us from.

For the children’s endless tears, for the people’s endless pain, and for the blood that has been shed, we shall stand for humanity and share our dream with the world: we work together to cre-ate a new tomorrow, a tomorrow without tyranny, brutality and oppression. We work together to create a world that will unite as one in the spirit of peace.

A future without war

And one and only one land … The land of solidarity of humanity


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Imam Ali’s Popular Student Relief Society

is an independent non-governmental, and

non-political society which was officially

founded in 1999 as an NGO and was list-

ed in the Ministry of Interior. The society

was also given a Consultative Status from

ECOSOC followed by its reputation for

tackling social problems.

The society has a variety of human re-

sources in forms

of volunteer stu-

dents, graduates,

and other people

as donors. At the

moment, we have

a list of about

10000 interested

volunteers who

are participating

in our programs or are doing voluntary

work in Iranian houses. The society’s first

official office was opened in 2005 in Mola-

vi neighborhood in southern Tehran and

was named the Iranian House as a symbol

of a big step toward Iran’s development in

the hands of Iranian students. There are

33 Iranian Houses and 10 active branch-

es in Tehran (Molavi, Khaaksefid, Dar-

vaze Ghaar, Labe Khat and Farahzaad)

and other cities of Iran such as Varamin,

Shahre Rey, Ahmad Abad Mostofi, Shi-

raz, Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Kerman,

Qouchan, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Ker-

manshah, Saari, Gorgan, Karaj, and so on.

The society’s mis-

sion is a healthy

international so-

ciety based on hu-

man rights, equal

opportunities, jus-

tice and honesty,

focusing on chil-

dren needs. In this

regard, after 16

years of active participation of volunteers,

some 3500 children came under the sup-

port of Iranian houses so that they may

someday be able to bring positive changes

to their neighborhoods.

IAPSRS believes in encouraging social

IAPSRS at a glance

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Imam Ali’s Popular Students Relief Society


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• Moslem’s Children” Program: interced-

ing on behalf of adolescents sentenced

to prison or death and supporting

them after their release (During Mu-

harram)

• Generous Wanderers or the Free food

program: free food provision for thou-

sands of needy poverty-stricken fami-

lies in Ramadan

engagement, particularly intellectuals’

engagement in social policies, and reinter-

preting religious and national traditions

for society in an attempt to improve social

conditions

Kaaba of the benevolent program aims to

make the wishes of child laborers come

true on the eve of the birth of Imam Ali

Honorable Endeavors program aims to

support single mothers through address-

ing the pilgrims during Hajj

The Night of the Kindhearted Program

where Iranian students gather together in

order to voice their concern about wide-

spread addiction in Iran and help the ad-

dicts and their families

Motherly Love Program aims to support

pregnant women from the poverty-strick-

en areas who struggle with drug addiction.

Haft Seen or The Seven Blessings program in

which we spend the New Year’s Eve with dis-

advantage children around Iran

Yalda in the Streets of Deprivation program

where we spend a different Yalda night with

the deprived children around Iran

Some of our recent seminars and conferences

on social issues:

• The first expert seminar on child labor,

Iran, August to September 2012

• The first seminar on addiction and

pregnancy, November to December 2013

• The first seminar on the addiction of

children and the adolescent in city outskirts,

February and March 2013

International cooperation with the united

nations in the Middle East in order to pro-

mote peace

For more information, contact Imam Ali so-

ciety central office: 0982188930816

Imam Ali Website: sosapoverty.org

Imam Ali Telegram channel: @imamalisoci-

ety

Imam Ali fan club channel: @fancommunity

Imam Ali Instagram: @imamalisociety

Imam Ali Facebook Address: www.facebook.

com/sosapoverty

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Imam Ali society sets out to increase public

support of its programs and raise awareness

among the intellectuals so that they partici-

pate in social policies and reinterpret na-

tional-religious traditions and ceremonies,

in an attempt to better the social conditions

for all. Any individual dealing with social

problems are addressed in the programs of

the Society. Imam Ali Society focuses on

poverty and addiction, child labor, materfa-

milias, children with special diseases, girls

who are victims of an indifferent society

and delinquent children.

In general, some of the most significant

programs of the society can be summarized

below:

• Founding more than 30 relief centers

in city outskirts, known as "Iranian hous-

es", in order to provide supportive pro-

grams for children

• Interceding on behalf of 26 teenagers

who were sentenced to death, and paying

expensive restitutions (up to 200 million

Tomans) out of fund raising programs for

such adolescent prisoners through the pro-

gram, so called “Moslem’s Children”

• Foundation of 7 Professional Centers

in the past year that offer jobs to single

mothers providing for their families

• Foundation of "Iranian Medical

House" in Tehran so as to provide free

dental and medical services for the chil-

dren covered by the society

• Co working with UNICEF and cov-

ering more than a thousand Afghan chil-

dren who were deprived of education, in

a free educational project during the past

two educational years (2014 to 2016)

• Providing 7000 families in desper-

ate need with free food in Ramadan, in the

most remote and poverty stricken regions,

with over 1 billion Tomans provided

through public fund raising (2015)

• Starting the first football league

specific to child laborer, named "Persian

football league", with more than 18 teams

participating from disadvantaged and

remote areas all over Iran (2015)

• Giving aid to refugees fleeing from

ISIS war in refugee camps in Kurdistan,

Iraq (2015)

• Launching many other regional and

national programs all over the country

during the last year, such as:


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ed by this community. At present, there are different sports teams active in fields such as football, volleyball, basketball,handball, gymnastics, rug- by, hockey, swimming, karate, cricket, yoga, dart, wrestling, etc. for girls and boys in three age groups; minors, juniors and seniors. Also the technical staff of each of these teams consistof university students or graduates who have volunteered for .the membership in the society

Furthermore, regarding the fact that the fair and pervasive access to the sports facilities is

children. Accordingly, Imam Ali Society has designat- ed a comprehensive program aimed at organizing these neighborhoods in terms of education, culture, sports and sanitation. Numerous measures will be taken in theneighborhoods in order to raise the educational and cul- .tural level of the families and improve their conditions

With regard to the major role of sports to the youth, especially in the city outskirts where social maladies such as addiction, poverty, delinquency, etc. plague children and teenagers, sport teams are established in order to motivate children, give them a sense of identity through football and provide them with good examples which.take the place of the destructive paths they follow

The Persian is the first and the only professionalsports-cultural club specialized in supporting the children of labor and homeless children. The players of thisclub consist mostly of children, those excluded from edu-cation, and those from underprivileged families support-

Imam Ali Society Persian Sports-Cultural Club

Founding Imam Ali Society Per-sian Football Team

In 2006, for the first time, at Far- ahzad neighborhood, Imam Ali society set up a team consisting of the underprivileged families it supports, and called the team the Persian Team. The Persianteam took part in Tehran mu-

nicipality League. Afterwards, ithad a regular schedule for train-

ing on even days of the week at Farahzad football pitch. This helped the team turn into one ofthe leading teams of the North-east Tehran Football Champion-

. ship. The team was able to win the championship in these matches and the second place in Ramadan Futsal Cup. One of the necessary conditions for the players to remain on the team was for them to continue their education, so.they attended school once again

Since then, Imam Ali Society officially listed the PersianFootball Club in the Northeast Tehran Football Associa-tion and focused its efforts on developing its sports activ- ities through the numerous neighborhoods it covered. In the recent years, other Persian teams have been formed in .other neighborhoods and cities

The goals of founding the football teams in marginal ar-eas and the sports-cultural Persian Club

Imam Ali Popular Students Relief Society has decid- ed, after years of activity in marginal and unprivileged neighborhoods, to conduct a special program in order totransform the neighborhoods from marginal and poverty-stricken to safe and prosperous for their residents and

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In line with spreading the message of peace, the Persian Football League with the slogan “Football against hatred and hostility” was held with 18 teams consisting of children and teenagers from underprivileged areas of Iran. About 400 children from diverse ethnic groups and with different religious attitudes from all around Iran gathered together and formed football teams and playedduring 7 days. The league was an opportunity for displaying tolerance, leniency, and respect for differences. In some cases, children and teenagers from more than four different nationalities, ethnicbackgrounds, and religious groups formed teams and participated, side by side, in a healthy competition against their rivals toward whom they were kind and friendly. This is while they live in the most critical conditions in neighborhoods or areas and are victims of violence caused by sectarian .conflict

These competitions showed that in a world which is moving towards insecurity and war day by day,.we can still hope for human solidarity despite all the disputes and conflicts

In order to propagate peace and friendship and with the slogan “football against hatred and war”, the first Persian league was held from September 19 to September 24, 2015. 18 teams consisting ofdisadvantaged children and teenagers from around Iran participated in the league. About 400 chil-dren from diverse ethnic groups and with different religious attitudes from all around Iran gath-

children’s right, the Persian teams are making efforts to assist the children of this neighborhood.inachieving this goal by having football or other sports training sessions

Therefore, team coaches try to take many other aspects into account apart from training football and other sports, such as fostering children’s interests in sports, improving their social communication .skills, encouraging recovery from addiction, teaching children about group work and sports ethics

Imam Ali Society Persian Football League

Today, a peaceful life based on acceptance and compromise has turned into a far-fetched dream. As a result, we witness that ethnic and religious differences result in violent acts and wars everyday all over the world. It seems that the only ones who benefit most from the wars are the gun traffickers,war mongers, and the traders who accumulate wealth during famine and disaster; and normal peo- .ple of the earth are, as usual, the only ones whose lives are stricken by war

Imam Ali Society has been active for 17 years in Iran’s most insecure marginal areas which are stricken by not only severe poverty and addiction, but also deep-seated ethnic-religious disputes. The society attempts to become the messenger of peace for the humanity by extending protectionand unsparing love to the children who have suffered from social maladies

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in a healthy competition against their rivals toward whom they were kind and friendly. This is while they live in the most critical conditions in neighborhoods or areas and are victims of violence caused by sectarian.conflict

This valuable accomplishment was the result of years of social work in the field of sports. That is how with the help of football as a team sport that naturally encourages thecontinued

In every single match ethical and humani-tarian principles were observed on the by all children and the audience watched games where humanity was valued over blood, race, and beliefs. In the course of the games and also during the period of the players’ residence in the shared dormitory for the teams in Tehran, harmony, solidarity and friendship united the members and others and we could see a beautiful scenic picture of friendship among hundreds of children from different cultural backgrounds and inclinations. After the first Persian league was successful-ly held by Imam Ali Society, and observing its impressive influence on children partici-pating in the league from the poverty-strick-en areas, the second “Persian League” was also held this year September 19 to 24th (4-11 p.m.) in the football pitch of complex no.

ered together and formed football teams and played during 7 days. The league wasan opportunity for displaying tolerance, le-

niency, and respect for differences. In some cases, children and teenagers from more than four different nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, and religious groups formed teams and participated, side by side, in ahealthy competition against their rivals to-

ward whom they were kind and friendly. This is while they live in the most critical conditions in neighborhoods or areas and are victims of violence caused by sectarianconflict

In order to propagate peace and friendshipand with the slogan “football against ha-

tred and war”, the first Persian league was held from September 19 to September 24, 2015. 18 teams consisting of disadvantaged children and teenagers from around Iranparticipated in the league. About 400 chil-

dren from diverse ethnic groups and with different religious attitudes from all around Iran gathered together and formed football teams and played during 7 days. The leaguewas an opportunity for displaying toler-ance, leniency, and respect for differenc-

es. In some cases, children and teenagers from more than four different nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, and religious groups formed teams and participated, side by side,

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3 in University of Tehran Football Academy, situated in Northern Amir Abad, toward Hakim Expressway, next to Geophysics In-stitute. 34 teams participated in the matches this year. More than 700 players, all from the marginal areas around the country, compet-ed in three age groups; minors, juniors, and seniors. There were teams from border cit-ies, southern areas of Iran, and underpriv-ileged provinces. Children who had come from cities such as Sistan and Balouchestan, Kurdistan, Boushehr, Fars, etc. served as the messengers of peace and friendship for the numerous segments of society The key reason for starting this footballleague championship is to help these chil-dren and teenagers create a sense of identity through playing as a team; to give themtypical examples to follow in life; to provide them with direction in order to keep them away from the issues common in their neighborhoods; and finally to give themhope, self-esteem and motivation. The me-dia coverage of this league and the participation of famous football players helps to .raise public awareness about social issues

The league intends to display the high potential of children living in poverty-stricken areas and to introduce natural talents to the public. Another positive impact is creating a constructive and positive sense of identity

for kids vulnerable to social problems. Andeven more importantly, this event is an ave- nue through which we can remind the publicand famous football players of their social responsibility toward those living in deprived.conditions


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جمعیت مستقل امداد دانشجویی مردمی امام علی


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Sports, and football in particular, protect people against social maladies. Taking this into account, it is a serious question, anda source of pity, why none of the governmental bodies have so far supported the league in any way. The members of Imam Ali Society have recurrently appealed to Governmental institutions, such as TehranMunicipality, Ministry of Sport, and Wel- fare Organization, for support in getting a football pitch, basic sport facilities and so

.on, all to no avail

To make matters worse, the total costs for starting the league – which has not yet been provided, despite generous donations madeby the public – amount to 300 million To- mans. While efforts are still under way to raise funds for the league, we all know that with only a small portion of the thousand billion Tomans involved in recent financial scandals we can hold a thousand events

similar to the Persian League and improvethe lives of millions of children and teenag-

.ers living in poverty-stricken areas

However there is more to this league thanjust charity and social work. A really outstanding characteristic this year was the high level of moral standards shown duringthe course of the Persian league. The referees used only a few number of yellow and red cards during the matches and all the700 players were very kind and well-be- haved toward the referees and their fellowcompetitor, to the extent that the league received public approval and applause from all corners. In almost every single game, the winning team at the end of each match embraced the players from the losing team and tapped them on the shoulder in order to raise their spirits. All teams considered fair play and friendship as their priority

.during the course of the league

The Biggest Sports Event for the

Marginalized Groups in Iran, with

Support from the Authorities


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The second Persian League Championship held by Imam Ali Relief Society


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The second Persian League Championship held by Imam Ali Relief Society


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The Match between the Persian League Stars and the Artists Team on the Occasion of the International

Day of Peace

Seven Hundred Disadvantaged Children and Teenagers in the Persian League Voice Their Protests against the Massacre of Children in the World Today


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One of the touching events in Iran’s football happened in the Persian League and turned into one of the most beautiful measures taken in favor of world peace in Iran. A big performance was deliveredby the 700 Persian League football players (from different ethnicities in Iran) in memory of the children victimized by wars, in the football Academy of Tehran University. The performance consisted of various parts, such as lighting candlesin memory of the victims, the symbol- ic shooting of balls to images of artillery

and other war weapons, and the reading of thedeclaration of children and teenagers partici-pating in the League (many of whom are refugees and victims of the Afghanistan war). Thepublic and the famous athletes and artists at-.tended the performance

Part of the declaration read by one of the Per-:sian League players, was as follows

We, the seven hundred players competing in” the Persian League, represent all the children and teenagers who live in Iran. Whether we are born in Afghanistan or Iran; whether we are

Little Workers

Dedicate their League to child

victims of war

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A League as Generous as Its Players’ Hearts Kurdish or Turkish, Persian or Baloch, Arab orLurish, Shiite or Sunni; whether we live in Kurd-

istan or Mashhad, Shiraz or Gorgan, Tehran or Sistan and Baluchestan, Varamin or Saari, Karaj or Bushehr, Amol or Zanjan, or any other area on the face of the earth, we announce, with one voice, that we detest massacre, bloodshed andgenocide and will not tolerate the victimiza-

tion of children in favor of the war-mongering politicians around the world – here and now, we hold hands in kindness and unite in order to bring about the peace they have robbed us“.from

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The Persian League and the Athletic and Talented Football Players from Sistan and Baluchestan

Another point worth mentioning is the exceptional talent of child and teenage players from

provinces such as Sistan and Baluchestan and Kurdestan. It seems that professional Iranian

football clubs and teams are either totally ignorant of such talents or pretend not to notice

them. The premier league teams and Iran’s national team can truly benefit from using such

great players from the mentioned provinces, especially Sistan and Baluchestan. In this

regard, the second Persian League calls the public attention to the always disregarded

Iranian Province, which is also the second biggest province of Iran.

Financial Report of the second Persian league

Unfortunately, welfare service institutions, and the institutions responsible for development and promotion of sports in Iran, are not only absent from the league, but also offered no sup-port for in the league. The only companies that had a small share in supplying the costs of this league were Tahvieh Asa and Bushehr Polymer companies.

Row Costs Amount (Rls.)1 Transportation 981,513,0002 Nutrition and

the chef’s sal-ary

499,371,950

3 Awards 405,200,0004 S p o r t s w e a r

and equipment236,619,000

5 Rent of Foot-ball pitch

200,000,000

Row Costs Amount (Rls.)6 Rent of dormito-

ry131,100,000

7 Holding ceremo-ny

67,130,000

8 Disposable dish-es

27,070,000

9 Other 57,424,000Total 2,605,427,950

In the first eight days, the preliminary matches were played and in the next two days, the final competitions were done. Matches were played at the minors level in two 12 minute halves (Total: 24 minutes), the juniors level in two 15 minute halves (Total: 30 minutes), and the se-niors level in two 22 minute halves (Total: 44 minutes). Ten-minute breaks were set between the halves.

August 31st 2016 was the opening of the league. On this day, all the teams marched the football pitch and received enthusiastic applause.

Minors levelGroup A Group B Group C Group DFarahzad Zanjan Koureh Mahmoud-

abadBushehr

Mowlavi Labe Kaht Shahre Rey ShirazGharchak Karaj Gorgan Khak SefidAmol Ahmadabad Darvazeh Ghar SariJuniors levelGroup A Group B Group C Group DLabe Kaht Darvazeh Ghar Farahzad KermanshahSistan and Baluches-tan

Sari Shiraz Gharchak

Kureh Mahmudabad Karaj Kurdistan MashhadSeniors levelGroup A Group BDarvazeh Ghar FarahzadGorgan Koureh MahmoudabadSistan and Baluchestan Labe Kaht

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The Second Persian Football League – Peace and Friendship Cup


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The first place:

Saari Persian team

The second place:

Koureh Mahmoudabad

Persian team

The Third place:

Farhaz Persian Team

Top Scorer (Mr. Goal) of

the minors level:

Abolfazl Ahangari (from

Sistan and Baluchestan)

The Results of the Minors Level

The first place: Farahzad Persian team

The second place:

Koureh Mahmoudabad Persian team

The Third place:

Sarbaze Sistan and Baluchestan

Persian team

Top Scorer (Mr. Goal) of the minors

level:

Ehsan Poshtyafteh (from Sistan and

Baluchestan)With 4 Goals

The results of Seniors level

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The results of juniors level

The first place: Labe Khat (Shush)

Persian team

The second place:Sarbaze Sistan and

Baluchestan Persian team

The Third place: Darvazeh Ghar

persian team

Top Scorer (Mr. Goal) of the minors

level:

Ali Dorzadeh (from Sistan and

Baluchestan( and Javad Ahangar

(from Darvazeh Ghar)

4 Goals for each one

Interview with Persian Football League Players

Omid Tajic

Team: Karaj

Shirt No. : 1

Age: 15

I go to School and I›m in the eighth class. This is the second time I play in the Persian league. I wish we can play in the league every year. We could use better judgment maybe.

As for the future, we can earn a living if we get an education; but in football, you need training and perseverance.

I disagree with excessive training which leads to injury.

Our neighborhood is really deprived in terms of culture and sports and we don’t have access to any sports equipment. Where I live, as long as you are strong you can bully others and get what you want.

Before the Persian league, football was not important to me, but recently I realized that I’ll have problems for studying in Iranian schools since I’m an immigrant. So I think I can do better playing football; because whenever I’m determined to do something I won’t give up till the end.

I wish health and success for my friends. Other than that, I think it’s up to them to study hard in order to make their dreams come true.

For me, it’s really important to behave ethically

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Media coverage on the second Persian Football League


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during competition. It is true that winning is incredibly enjoyable, and you don’t think about anything buy winning while playing. But you shouldn’t try to injure your fellow competitors to win the game, because he may be seriously injured (paralyzed, for example). But if we lose, we can make up for it the next year.

Finally, I want to thank my coach, Mr. Milad who is now doing military service, and tell him how I love him. When he went to the military service, I couldn’t say goodbye to him and I’m very sad about it; I couldn’t thank him and tell him how much he means to me. Mr. Milad is an excellent role model for me. (Starts crying…)

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In addition to publication of Persian football League news in some newspapers such as Hamshahri, Esteghlal_e_Javan, Haft_e_Sobh, Shahrvand, Eatemad and shargh in Iran, also different news published in websites and news agency such as Varzesh 3, sport TV program (90), Tarafdari, Isna, Fars, Mashregh and etc.


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Mashregh News Site: Persian League Prospect for Practicing Love

The Mashregh news website described the Persian League that had brought together minors, juniors and seniors from ‘forgotten neighborhoods in the outskirts of the cities’ to attend the football competitions as an opportunity for promoting unity and solidarity.

“There is no single recipe for practicing love. As if we should be hopeful and wait for the safe shores,” the news website wrote.

“For years, people have relied on their hope for a better future, their love for the country and their commitment to beliefs that result in good fortune to create an epic story.”

“Establishing Nongovernmental Organizations with different goals but a common will, is going to amount to serving others and trying to achieve a social responsibility.”

Fars News Agency: Persian League Football Competitions Symbol of Unity against Killing World Children

The semi-official Fars News Agency was also among Iranian news outlets that hailed the second round of the Persian League football

competitions as the biggest sport event dedicated to people living in the unprivileged areas of the country.

“Apart from its excellence regarding its social work and supportive characteristics, this year’s Persian League football competitions,

similar to the first round, exhibited high ethical standards, as the number of yellow and red cards shown by the referees tended to be

very low and players were quite well-mannered and respectful towards the referees and others,” wrote Fars.

“Their conduct made some football experts and veteran football players in Iran to praise them for their good manners and also

kindness towards others.”

“Too, there was an astonishing football talent exhibited by players from Sistan and Baluchestan as well as Kordestan provinces.”

“Apparently, the Iranian football authorities tend to be totally unaware of the high potential of these children in football fields.”

ISNA’s Story about Persian League Football Competitions

The Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) in a report titled “Poverty-stricken City Outskirts Result of Our Neglect” cited comments by Meissam Vahedi Director of the Persian League football competitions.

“What makes people to dwell in the city outskirts and live a life plagued by extreme poverty tends to be the consequence of our inattention towards their plight,” ISNA quoted Vahedi as saying during a meeting held at the Fan Club of Imam Ali Popular Students Relief Society.

“All the genuine talent and ambitions of the unprivileged children are buried in the city outskirts,” Vahedi said.

“This is our negligence that produces and promotes the mushrooming unprivileged neighborhoods and all the poverty you can find in the city outskirts.”

“We are all humans regardless of where we live, inside the cities or in the city outskirts.”

Persian League Football Competitions on ’90 Program’ Football Show Website

The website of the popular 90 Program TV show which covers news on football, was among the sports news outlets that reported on the closing day of the second round of the Persian League football competitions.

The popular football show on its website described the Persian League football competitions as the “biggest sport event in the past decades dedicated to children living in the unprivileged areas of the country”.

The Persian League football competitions, participated by 700 players from the unprivileged areas, served to be a gallant endeavor made in support of friendship and global peace and in memory of all the children killed in wars,” wrote the website.

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The Persian League at a Glance

and deprivation due to social and

geographical limitations, now find the

opportunity to build a new and positive

sense of identity and display their abilities

and talents through playing in a football

pitch.

In the second Persian league we see

lots of talented children and teenagers

who attend the league as teams from

disadvantaged, distant border towns from

provinces such as Kurdistan (Saqez city)

and Sistan and

B a l u c h e s t a n

(Sarbaz district).

E n e r g e t i c ,

talented children

are trained by

patient coaches

who have

volunteered to

work with them. They trained for the

league without the most basic facilities,

even without a football pitch. Yet with

their outstanding performances they

proved that disadvantaged areas have

high and unique potential. Sports exercise

a positive influence on the youth,

Although sports have lost their positive

role in society and have turned into means

for financiers and large businesses to

accumulate wealth and satiate their greed,

in the Persian League they help children

and teenagers on the outskirts of cities

gather together and act as the messengers

of peace and friendship for the society

which is brimmed with violence and

conflict. Children who experience

violence, deprivation and other

complicated social

problems day by

day and spend lives

of misery, come to

the Persian League

regardless of

cultural and ethnic

d i f f e r e n c e s ,

regardless of color,

race and religious

beliefs, in order to play in a friendly,

athletic atmosphere and present an

outstanding example of peace, agreement

and harmony to the public. Children who,

despite exceptional talents in sports and

arts, experience violence, delinquency

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specifically in poverty-stricken areas. Sports can raise hope and increase motivation

among the youth and lead them away from social trauma. It is a great wonder why

institutions concerned with the promotion of sports in Iran are not even absent from the

margins of society, but also do not support sports events such as the Persian League in

any way. It is a pity, however, that high costs are allocated to removing child laborers and

disciplining and punishing the delinquent children

The Persian League is an arena for developing the talents and abilities of children who

have been deprived of fundamental childhood rights, children from different ethnic

minorities and cultural backgrounds who have regained hope and inspiration to shine,

grow and develop in various social arenas. Alongside the opportunity for talent spotting

and the constructive examples it provides, the Persian League is a platform for showing

harmony, intimacy, peace and friendship among different minorities and cultures and

consequently, it has been able to set a worthy and perfect example to not only society, but

also today’s tense and divided adult world.

It is worth mentioning that the disadvantaged and marginalized children from around

Iran dedicated the second Persian League, with all the technical and moral beauties it

presented and the pure athletic scenes it staged, to the children victimized by violence

and war around the world.


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