The only thing that can distract Armenians from political news is football. Football is more than a sport, because it inspires and gives hope. The Armenian national football team held two meetings in Yerevan within four days. The passions were heated, defeat from Gibraltar and then a major victory over the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Armenia’s Football Federation has new leadership for about a month. The Federation’s Vice President, Armen Nikoghosyan, says they will work as openly with journalists s possible. Within a few months, the Federation will have an updated website.

In the drawer

In 1950, in a small Brazilian town, a poor, barefoot and stubborn Edson Arantes Nascimento dreamt of only football when he was 8 years old and people weren’t watching football, but were listening to it on the radio. Instead of a ball they would play with a mango for the fun of the game.

The film Pelé: Birth of a Legend, which I offer today, is biographical and very inspiring (and Armenian football needs inspiration and persistence). At the heart of the film there are reports,  live broadcasts from stadiums that gather huge audiences and that show the game’s tension.

Technologies are developing, sports likewise. And the classic legends are being born always, you just have to look for them everywhere and notice at the right time. As Pele was noticed, and along with him all of Brazil as well.

Gegham Vardanyan