The Minister of Defense, Thalat Djaferi, today (30 September 2013) officially opened the 5th International Footsal cup for peace at the “Rasadnik” sport arena, which will be held from today until 2 October. The Footsal cup for peace was organized under the patronage of the International Council of Military Sports ICMS, and except the team from the Army of the Republic of Macedonia as a host, there are participating teams from the armies of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. On the official opening of the cup, besides the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Gorancho Koteski was present, as well as high representatives from the ICMS, representatives from the armies of the participating countries, the Football Federation of Macedonia, military attachés accredited in Republic of Macedonia and other guests and sporty fans.
In his address to the cup participants, Minister Djaferi noted the importance of this competition as a way to get the nations closer, and showed his belief that the Ministry of Defense and ARM will follow all the steps in keeping, nurturing and promoting of the sport, with intention to develop “Friendship through sports” as a motto of the ICMS.
The Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Gorancho Kotseki, in his greeting address to the participants of the cup sent a message that with this competition they show that sports in the armies around the world represent a significant segment in training, but also a tool for developing friendship and getting people from different areas close to each other. This footsal competition between the armies in the region is 5th in a row, and the initiative was given during the 4th Military Olimpic Games in India in 2007 during the “Sport for peace” seminar. The first footsal cup was held at 2009 with Serbian Military as a host, and the rest of these competitions were held at Croatia in 2010, Slovenia in 2011 and Montenegro in 2012.
This morning the tournament was open with the game between the teams of the armies from Serbia and Montenegro followed by the game between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This afternoon the game between Macedonia and Montenegro is scheduled at 15.00 and the game between Croatia and Slovenia at 16.00. Tomorrow, Macedonia and Croatia will meat at 09.00 followed by the game between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The semifinals are planned for Wednesday morning, and in the afternoon the finals with the game for the third place.
