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Every year on May 24, Bulgaria celebrates one of its brightest holidays – the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture. This is a day dedicated to the power of knowledge, the beauty of the word and the deep roots of our spirituality. On this festive day, our team had the pleasure of becoming part of an initiative that intertwined the love of knowledge with the inspiration of sports.
In Sofia, at 97 Secondary School “Bratya Miladinovi”, the youth of the “97 Stars” football team received a special gift – selected books about famous football players. Why football books on the holiday of education? Because we believe that inspiration can come from a variety of sources, and stories of success, perseverance and sportsmanship are a powerful tool for shaping young characters.
Football is not just a game; it is a school for life. It teaches discipline, teamwork, perseverance and fair play. Every story of a great football player is a story of overcoming obstacles, of believing in one’s own strength and of endless dedication to a dream. These books are not just a collection of facts and statistics; they are stories of boys who started from nothing and reached the top through hard work and uncompromising ambition.
We hope that these stories will inspire the young football players of 97 SU not only to perform better on the field, but also to carry these values into their lives off it. To realize that success – be it in football, at school or in the professional field – is always the result of effort, perseverance and a desire to develop.
On May 24, we celebrate the alphabet as the key to knowledge, but also as a means to build a better future. By giving away books about sports heroes, we want to show young people that learning and development is a continuous process that encompasses all aspects of life. Reading broadens the horizons, enriches the vocabulary and nourishes the imagination, which is essential for every young person, regardless of their interests. We congratulate all Bulgarians on this bright holiday! Let us value and preserve the wealth of our language and culture, because they are our most valuable capital. Let us continue to learn, read and pursue our dreams, inspired by the spirit of May 24 and the examples of those who have shown us the way.
The football training is led by our volunteer Soufiane from Morocco, who is in Bulgaria thanks to the EU’s “European Solidarity Corps” program. In the summer of 2025, the club will also accept new members in two age groups: 7-9, 10-13 years old.
