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07:00 - 16-May-2008
Dads Against Drugs (Dads) has been invited to participate as one of only 24 teams in Europe and the Balkans. They will take part from Thursday until Sunday, May 25.
Each team tackles a different social issue, such as drugs through football, and each will present their work and celebrate the social dimension of the game.
The event is supported by the European Commission and is organised by the Berlin-based organisation streetfootballworld.
Dads is a member of streetfootballworld's global network of organisations that have identified football as a tool to tackle social issues.
They will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday and they will return on Monday, May 26.
Dads team coordinator and founder member Rob Broomfield, 50, of west Hull, will travel to Foca, in the east of the country, with his wife Wendy, 47, and eight teenagers from across Hull.
Rob said: “This is a massive event for Dads.
“We are proud to be representing Hull and Yorkshire.
“This event will bring together teams from different countries and social backgrounds to play football and participate in workshops to share information about what we do.”
The team, one of three from the UK, will participate alongside 11 teams from greater Europe and 12 teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro.
Before the war in Bosnia, from 1992 to 1995, Foca hosted an annual youth football tournament bringing together the biggest clubs from across the former Yugoslavia.
However, with the outbreak of conflict, the tournament was disbanded and it was not until 10 years after the end of the war that streetfootballworld network member Football Friends revived the tournament.
Last year, a street football festival was initiated and brought together youths from different Balkan communities that remain largely divided.
Following its success, the Foca festival has this year expanded to include other European countries.
George Springborg, who is coordinating the Foca 08 preparations for streetfootballworld, said: “Never before have so many European organisations in the field of development through football come together for a joint event.
“Foca 08 will mark the first step in the potential establishment of a European streetfootballworld Network.
“The preparations are well under way.”
All 24 teams will stay in a hotel in Sutjeska National Park, which had to be reconstructed after it was devastated by the war.
Matthew Lill, 17, from north Hull, is part of the team, and said: “It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance and I'm really looking forward to it.
“I'm going to give it my all. It's a good way to meet new friends.”
Fellow team member Tom Mulley, 16, of Bransholme, said: “Foca 08 going to be a great experience. I'm looking forward to playing against people from different countries.”
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Members of the Dads charity football team
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