Play Football Make Peace

With the words “Peace” and “Love” on their foreheads, arms and legs and exemplary behaviour on the pitch some of the girls Under 18 players in the Pincourt event seemed to have taken the PFMP spirit to a new level. This was as it should have been given that PFMP was a partner organization in the Canadian Global Peace Festival. The “tattooed” young ladies were mainly PFMP “veterans” who had participated in a Toronto tournament in 2007. That PFMP event their coach, Norbert Altenstadt, testified during lunch was one of the two highest points of all his years with his very successful team, the Pincourt Sonix.

The Sonix were one of three Pincourt teams which, together with teams from Montreal North and Dorion, produced a great day’s football and fun, despite the less than perfect weather and an early morning start. Fortunately local organiser Ted Cavallaro was able to secure a large room in the Omni Centre where the girls could enjoy hot drinks and a great pizza lunch prepared by local PFMP volunteers headed up by local councilwoman Suzanne Ferreira. It was through Suzanne and her husband Carlos that PFMP initially established its now growing relationship with Pincourt football. Suzanne also translated into French for PFMP director Robin Graham as he explained the 5 PFMP Principles over lunch and his hope that football can be a very positive influence in societies all over the world. David Stewart, the Canadian PFMP coordinator, followed Robin explaining about the Peace Cup and Canada’s bid for the 2010 Peace Queen Cup.

More games were played after lunch, the weather improved and more spectators came to watch. A great day was enjoyed by all.