Under-20 in action in my backyard

After spending all of last summer criss-crossing around Germany it’s nice to see world class soccer being played in my backyard. The Under-20 World Cup in Canada has been a very successful so far according to all the major press outlets. I even managed to catch a few games myself.

While the press has done a good job of covering the technical aspects of the game, I have been surprised how little has been said about the context in which many of the players who have graced the pitches in Canada live.

For example, many of the players in the Congolese team are young enough to have lived through civil wars and militia conflicts. A peace accord to end the long-standing conflict between the government and rebels was reached just in 2003. Despite the peace accord, several militias are active in the south of the country.

This Under-20 World Cup was also a historical first because the North and South Korea participating at the same time. This has never happened before. It’s important to remember that these two countries are still technically at war.

Nigeria, which had played tremendously well, is a country that continues to experience civil conflict. Much of it driven by the politics over the control of the countries’ significant oil reserves. The Government of Canada and other Commonwealth countries condemned the Nigerian government and Shell in the recent past for the violence they have used against rural peoples.

If you weren’t aware of these facts before I hope you are now.

Bye for now,

Maty Campeonisimo

P.S. – Check out the new Make Goals Not War documentary trailer

Maty's back on the Web

It’s been a really long time since my last post. It’s been a really hectic and exciting year here at Make Goals Not War. Where do I even begin?

After I returned from Germany and having received such strong support from thousands of people, I knew I had to try even harder to make our dream of resolving international conflicts on the soccer field. One person dies every minute from violence. We must all try to do whatever we can do to stop all the unnecessary death and suffering.

I have continued to speak with world leaders and convince them to double and even triple their efforts to ensure we have a more peaceful world. But I know I can’t do this alone without your and others help.

In response to all the positive support I got in Germany and from around the world since, the Make Goals Not War team decided to establish Make Goals Not War as a non-profit organization. This will give us a formal structure in which to do our work in advocating for a better and more peaceful future with organizations such as the United Nations and FIFA. We also want to take advantage of the opportunities on the Web to spread our message and use it as a platform for peace. We’re working one several projects (link here for more information).

After a year of very hard work the Team has finished the Make Goals Not War documentary film (link here for more info). We’re planning on making the documentary as accessible as possible and we’ll let you know one we figure out how to broadcast it to the world.

So please stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks, visit our new and improved Web site and if you support the idea of Make Goals Not War, please sign our petition which is available on the web (link here).

Maty Campeonisimo

Welcome Global Peace Games to Canada!

It was my distinct honor and privilege to have been invited to be part of the first ever Global Peace Games in Aurora, Canada.

The Global Peace Games are held simultaneously all over the world to recognize UN Peace Day and a way for kids and communities to participate in a project that support the mission of global friendship and peace.
These inaugural Global Peace Games were organized by SOS Charity Village and my good friend Ron Werda (Canadian Soccer Marketing and Development).

I was happy to see the grassroots support behind the games. I spoke with the participants and told them about my adventures in Germany this past summer. They all supported the idea of Make Goals Not War and as one very wise 8 year old boy told me, "soccer can teach us all how to co-operate and how to make friends, so why does anybody need to fight."

It was really inspiring to see the kids play such friendly matches and support the project of making our world a better and more peaceful place. The organizers of the Global Peace Games can definitely count on my support for this great cause which I hope will now became a permanent feature of Canada’s soccer landscape!

It’s great when your teammate is the UN!

Make Goals Not War and the United Nations will work together in order to take football to the next level, to tap its positive potential to make the world a more peaceful and better place.

I met with Kofi Annan's Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Mr. Adolf Ogi to discuss how we could work together to spread the message that sports is an incredibly powerful tool for peace.

As Mr. Ogi put it, “sports is the best school of life. If you want to make the world a better place, you have to give children a ball.” He told me that to date, our political, economic, scientific, and religious leaders had not yet achieved that elusive task of creating peace. And football in particular, he noted, can do that and has so many times.

So I explained to Mr. Ogi my work and about the Make Goals Not War campaign. Mr. Ogi thought it was a great idea and concluded by giving me his full support. I really look forward to working with the United Nations and Mr. Ogi and forge ahead with our common mission.

Maty takes Make Goals Not War back to Canada!

After a spectacular summer in Germany, I have finally come back home to Canada.

I could never have imagined that Make Goals Not War would have ever recieved the support and encouragement that I got throughout the 2006 World Cup.

Now with the full support of the fans, the players, FIFA and the United Nations, I will continue to keep working to make Make Goals Not War a reality. This is my responsibility. This is my calling.

I will continue to spread the message of peace and hope. I will work with those who share the vision and dream of a better future.

So check in here or at the Make Goals Not War website and see how our mission goes. Better yet, sign the petition on-line and email me if you have any suggestions and/or ideas to help us move foreward.

Peace,

Maty

The Word Cup may be over but Make Goals Not War has just begun…

Last night Italy defeated France in a dramatic, but for all the wrong reasons, finish to take the 2006 World Cup title. But for Make Goals Not War, our journey does not end here.

In fact, Make Goals Not War is now entering a second stage. These past five weeks I have managed to spread my message of peace and using football macthes to resolve international conflicts to millions of people around the world by talking to ordinary fans on the streets and through the dozens of television, radio, and print interviews.




Not only have the people supported me, I now also have the support and
encouragement of our world leaders. I am proud to say I met briefly with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and he said to me: “Make Goals Not War. Now that’s a great idea…I support you.” I even presented Mr. Annan an official Make Goals Not War jersey and I think he’ll look really good in pink.

How cool is that?

The message of Make Goals Not War is loud and clear in Toronto!

Hey, it was a great feeling to wake up today and know that the message of Make Goals Not War was one of the first things people read before having their Saturday morning cup of coffee. If you ant to read the article in my hometown paper, the Toronto Star, click here.

Germany’s proud finish

Germany put on a great display last night and capped their World Cup run as players and host with a spectacular goal. To me the game reflected everything that has been wonderful about this world cup, that football is about fun, that its about teamwork and not individualism, and most importantly that even if you don’t make it to the finals, you still give it your best. Congratulations to the German fans and players.

Speaking of the German team, I am also happy to say the Miroslav Klose, the tournament’s leading scorer signed the Make Goals Not War petition. Klose, really knows how to make goals, having scored 5 here at 2006 (and 5 in 2002).

The Kaiser says: “Make Goals Not War!”

Here's my good friend and two-time World Cup winner Franz “Kaiser” Beckenbauer saying "Make Goals Not War". The Kaiser has been instrumental in organizing this year’s World Cup in Germany. We've met several times over the last few weeks and have talked about how to make wolrd peace, soccer strategies and soccer hair styles.

It’s a thrill that he supports our cause. I know he would gladly exchange both his World Cup titles for world peace any day.

Why do I love football so much? It’s the unpredictability!

If you had told me we would have a France-Italy final before the start of the World Cup, I would have said you had to be kidding. And I would have held this view pretty much up to last week. France and Italy were at best, unimpressive, in the group stage. But all of a sudden, Italy plays one good game and eliminates Germany. The mood here in Berlin was somber, and people’s faces were still a bit puffy; a string indication of the many tears shed. And last night, France beat an organized Portuguese side.

So, we're probably up for a snoozer of a final. That is, unless we get some goals!

FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter agrees to Make Goals Not War!

I finally got to meet with FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter, one of the world’s most powerful and influential figures. Mr. Blatter and I talked about how football can be an instrument for peace. It was great to see we were in total agreement over the sport’s potential to make the world a better place.

Mr. Blatter told me he thought Make Goals Not War’s objective to outlaw war and resolve international conflicts was a wonderful idea. He added that football would be better than war because football has a referee, clear rules, and a fixed time limit and geographical boundary that would ensure a fair combat.

Moreover Mr. Blatter offered that FIFA would host a football match when any two countries are on the verge of going to war. I’m so happy that FIFA has thrown its support behind Make Goals Not War.

Now that the fans, players, the United Nations, the politicians, and FIFA support the objective of Make Goals Not War, we are so much closes to making it happen. Nothing can stop us now!

Streetfootballworld Festival 2006

Today I visited the streetfootballworld Festival. This organization really captures what football is about, a way of bringing people together form all over the world and also using the sport’s universal popularity to promote social consciousness. The festival is like a mini-World Cup and mixed youth football teams from around the world compete for the Andres Escobar Copa de la Paz, in honor of the slain Columbian international.

I will be catching all the excitement and thrilling displays of football talent of this tournament all week. I wish all the teams the best of luck and I hope they will enjoy their time here in Germany and make great friends.

They say I am pretty in pink….

I guess my unique Make Goals Not War jersey has become fairly well known here at the World Cup. People recognize me on the streets and tell me they have seen me on television, magazines, and newspapers. Heck, the local grocer has been giving me free groceries since he saw on me TV and I guess it’s his way of showing solidarity with my mission for peace.

Well, I hope that my message is also spreading as quick. I’ve been getting a lot of support from football fans and thousands have signed my petition to outlaw war and resolve international conflicts with football matches. Fans from Afghanistan to Vietnam and everywhere in between have all told me the same things: Football unites all of us like no other can and that Make Goals Not War just seems like such an obvious solution.

Down to the final four, already!?!

the World Cup is coming to a close. Looks like we are going to have an all-European semi-final. France knocked out the defending champion, Brazil. That was a total shock because I had totally written off France in the group stages. But Zizou came out of nowhere and looked again like the great player he was a few years back.

Italy had a no-brainer victory over of one dimensional Ukrainian attack (Schevchenko doesn’t score, they don’t win) and to many of my good friends’ dismay Portugal eliminated England in penalties. I hope that will see a few more goals in the semi-finals and no more penalty shoot outs.

Good Luck Germany!

It was a game to remember. A true clasico, even down to the final penalty kick. Argentina played their best and was superior in every way. Except for penalty kicks that is. But Germany’s bread and butter are penalty kicks and they emerged victorious in the end.

Yes, I am sad and a bit heartbroken. But I can’t help but also be happy and excited for the German people. I have made so many dear German friends during my stay and this country has really supported Make Goals Not War. To me, what I have experienced here in Germany has made me much more optimistic about the future. The way football can bring people together, they way we have fun together, and remain friends even if you lose or win has been an incredible lesson.

So as they say here: Berlin! Berlin! Das Final en Berlin!

German Minister Schäuble says “Make Goals Not War!”

I took the message of Make Goals Not War to the German government. I met with German Interior Minister Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble and we discussed how football can be a force for peace and integration. Minister Schäuble was really enthusiastic about my mission. He wished me much luck and will take the Make Goals Not War message to his colleagues in the German Parliament.

Play football = Stop Racism!


Not only can football be a force for peace, it can also be an important tool to stop racial intolerance. I was honored to be invited by the German Government and FIFA to a special press conference against racism. The conference panel was headed by FIFA President Joseph Blatter and included German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, German Organizing Committee and 1974 World Cup Champion Frank “Kaiser” Beckenbauer, UNICEF’s Ann Venemann, and South Africa 2010 World Cup organizer and freedom fighter Mr. Tokyo Sexwale.

It’s no secret that football is an important force for social change. Whether it’s fighting against racism or for peace, football can all do these things because it is loved all over the world. Mr. Blatter and Mr. Sexwale gave very powerful speeches and announced they were joining forces to fight this primitive social scourge.

Holy Bologne! That call was a phony! Bye, bye to the Ozzies! But, it’s getting interesting!

As if thing’s in Italian football weren’t controversial enough! Italy beat a surprisingly strong Australia with a very late and suspicious penalty kick. Oh well, it’s not the first time that has happened for the Azuri.

I think we will see the socceroos back in 2010!

The World Cup’s Sweet Sixteen: Argentina (2); Mexico (1)…and Germany wins too!

What a stressful match. 120 minutes of excitement. It’s kind of unfortunate that Argentina had to meet Mexico so early on in the elimination stage. I was really happy that we won but very empathetic for my Mexican friends. It was a really even game and Mexicans played wonderfully. This time, Argentina had a bit more luck. It could have gone either way.

But in the end we all celebrated together. Because if you are a football fan, it’s better to play well and lose then to play poor and win. And I was really happy to hear that many Mexicans friends tell me they were going to support Argentina the rest of the way. Football brings us together, even in defeat. Where else could such things happen other than at the World Cup?

Days 14 and 15: Group stage completed

After two weeks of battles, amazing goals, questionable refereeing, and lots of joy and pain. The group stage has come to a close. Not the pressure and tension quadruple as every game from here on in is sudden death.

But for me, it has been great to see how football fans from all over the world have really supported Make Goals Not War. Everywhere I go, I get such positive and kind words of encouragement. Everyone agrees. Football brings us together. War is horrible and avoidable. So let’s Make Goals Not War!