In the interests of the revolution

As you know, the city on the Neva is not only the cradle of the revolution, but also the birthplace of Russian football. So is it any wonder that the Football Moms movement appeared there? And it is symbolic that for the first time a competition with such a name was held in the year of the centenary of the famous Aurora shot …

Those whose children are engaged in a popular game have united in the community, and even made friends with the ball themselves. We started with the competition, which consisted of several parts. Applicants were required to demonstrate their culinary and creative skills, and even not to make a mistake during the photo shoot, trying on the form of the club that the child stands for. There was also a sports stage – to shoot a penalty to some professional. After that – the “Big Finale” with a representative jury, which included, for example, Andrei Arshavin’s mother.

– Why did you choose this name? – asks the founder of the project Elvira Lesnichaya. – It most accurately reflects the essence. “Mom of a football player”, for example, is not entirely logical, because someone’s daughters play football.

A few months ago, one might say, the “export of the revolution” took place – Elvira’s family moved to Moscow. There was a cell in Belokamennaya, but with the advent of an experienced organizer, a boom began in the capital region. There were branches in Zelenograd, Korolev, Mytishchi became interested.

And the calendar of participation in tournaments became tight: in May – in Khimki, in June – in St. Petersburg, in July – in Kazan … By the way, the most representative of them, held in St. Petersburg, was won by a team from Veliky Novgorod. The movement is developing in Nizhny Novgorod, Bryansk, Yekaterinburg, Samara. In general, 15 thousand people in 20 cities of the country.

Football federations or sports committees provide support almost everywhere on the ground, and the Minister of Sports of the Moscow Region, Dmitry Abarenov, also invited Football Moms to take part in the regional project “Come out into the yard”. Oleg Matytsin, Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, is aware of the affairs of the community, there are contacts with the Russian Football Union, the Futsal Association of Russia, and the Moscow Football Federation.

But not only sports goals are put at the forefront. Mothers in whole groups willingly join charity events – from donating blood to visiting orphanages or nursing homes. Plus, their passion works to strengthen the family, because both husbands and children come to cheer for the keepers of the hearth.

“My son Kirill plays football at the Molniya club, this is in the north of Moscow,” Olga Solomatina gives an example. – In his transitional age, not everything began to work out for him, and I constantly talked about this topic. And when she joined the “Football Moms” community, as they say, she let go of the situation, and he had success, was transferred to the first squad. At first, Kirill was embarrassed that I play football, and now he says: “I’m proud of you!”

And it is not uncommon for ladies in the status of grandmothers to enter the court with the ball. Here is the mother of six children in the team – a unique case, but it happens! Of course, national traditions have to be taken into account, so sometimes those who wish enter the game with their heads covered and not in shorts.

Now “Football Moms” are preparing for a new November competition in Moscow. They also collect interviews for the book “Moms of Champions”, attract specialists for consultations on the “Hot Line” in the telegram channel, dream of an office for the community and their own media league. Everything is in the interests of the football revolution that they themselves started.

Georgy MOROZOV.

PS When the material was being prepared for publication, another tournament was held at the Severny stadium in Nizhny Novgorod – the Football Moms Cup with the participation of 12 teams, and these are 150 athletes. The main trophy went to the amateur team “MaMa” from Moscow, for which, by the way, three grandmothers played.

Photo: FOOTBALLMOM.RU