Egyptian and Brazilian footballers are to meet in mini-football. Ghada Abdel-Kader reports In Egypt, where space is at a premium, football is played in every conceivable place. Impromptu matches are performed on the streets, in car parks, on the beach or in parks. The stadium can literally be anywhere, as epitomised by the Nokia Defend Your Street Challenge. At a press conference to launch Defend Your Street (DYS), Nokia aimed at connecting youth cross-culturally through the medium of football. This year the tournament's motto follows on from the successful 'Defend Your Turf' that took place in Egypt last year. The programme involves connecting youth to their dreams, encouraging them to remain focused on their goals and desires, as well as to remain on top of their game -- all through soccer. Participants both male and female aged between 16 and 25 are encouraged to register as teams of eight players. There are no goalkeepers. Five players represent the main team and three substitutes are allowed during each game. Registration of teams begins from 1-20 September in youth centres in Gezira, Shoubra, Zeinhoum and Nasr City as well as in retail outlets of Nokia's distributors. "The enthusiasm that each player brings to the game and the resulting team workout on the field is really something," Nokia's area manager for Egypt Eddy Rizk said. "We're hugely excited to once again see the good that a project like this brings to Egypt as nothing seems to unite quite like football does." A spokesman for Stryex, the company responsible for organising the event, said the number of the participating players will be bigger than last year in order to give more youths in more districts a bigger opportunity. Last year, only one district, the Gezira youth centre, was represented. "This year we have four districts, and a qualifying round," the spokesman said. The qualifying round will employ a series of 15-minute, five-a- side games that will be played from 21-27 September in several youth centres in different districts. Top teams will play-off for the final round from 2-4 October. On 4 October the winner will play the Brazilian team in the final in Gezira youth centre. A select team of young footballers who have demonstrated excellent skills playing street football in Brazil have been hand-picked by Futebol Professional, the premier football association of Rio de Janeiro. The players are Paulo Junior, Rafael dos Santos, Felipe Imperatriz and Douglas Soares. Junior is 21 years old. On the field he has no mercy, which is why he is called Merciless. Mota, 20, known as the "Samba king" is a magician with the ball and can carve up any attack. At 22, Santos "the bullet" is impossible to stop. Santos's football is more than just a sport; it is a guiding philosophy in itself. Nineteen year old Soares is the head master of his team, prolific attacker and goalkeeper. Imperatriz, at 17 the youngest, is called "double trouble and is a natural attacker with a great turn of speed. More information about Nokia Defend Your Street is available at www.nokia.com/defendyourstreetwww.nokia.com/defendyourstreet
