Invitation to 5 ex-football players (club legends) to participate in a solidarium football game following by a “mini-conference” about “life after sports” and awards delivery.

Sporting Foundation had received once again the Football Aid project on José Alvalade Stadium, but this time we give it a twist! Football Aid is about making dreams come true, it allows to fans to have a chance to experience the thrill of a match day: to pull on their exclusive personalized shirt in the changing rooms, walk down the tunnel to the sound of a cheering crowd, step out onto the hallowed turf and represent their team in a never to be forgotten 90 minutes of football!
But if we could use this unique Football Aid experience to not only provide the first experience where a fan can play football on the pitch of one of the biggest teams in Europe, but simultaneously provide a moment where a former player could step back onto the pitch that made him dream and fight so much?
And that was exactly what we did in the third edition of Football Aid at the José Alvalade stadium! We invited five former athletes to have the opportunity to play on a professional football field, once again.
The day was expected to be cloudy. The players started arriving around 9:00 am and were welcomed in the VIP Hall. The whistle blew at 10:30 am and the game started with as much energy and excitement as if it was a never stopped playing for any of our former football players. And then, the sun came out.
It was with immense joy that the former athletes shared their stories and it was truly exciting to witness this moment. After the game, the participants took a guided tour to Sporting CP museum and when they arrived at the trophy room, the former athlete Ivo Silva was invited to share a bit of his experiences and life expectations, and then offer the award game medals.
It was a sharing of life experiences, advice and ambitions for the future.
The message we tried to transmit with this activity is that it’s important to value the past in order to look to the future. Our achievements add value to our lives (and society) and those who recognize us will never forget what we did. But it takes more than that, it takes the memory of who we were to improve who we are. After all, what is present if not a gift? We have to do more for ourselves now. Honor who we are and give opportunities to who we want to be. With persistence and resilience, we will get there.