ROME (AFP) - More than three decades after it first put out a men's team, women are finally strapping on the Vatican's colours of yellow jersey and socks and white shorts and bearing the keys of St Peter and papal tiara crest.
For 35 years, the world's smallest state has put out a men's team that for one match in 2010 was coached by European Cup winner Giovanni Trapattoni, while eight teams have competed in its men's championship for nearly half a century, with players coming from the iconic Swiss Guards, Museums and the economic services.
"We thought the time was right to try to organise something, training and matches, also for women," Danilo Zennaro, a representative of the Vatican sports association, told AFP.
And for a few months now, a group of about 20 women - including Vatican employees, wives and workers from the Bambino Gesu pediatric hospital administered by the Holy See - meet once or twice a week to train on the grounds of the Pius XI sports centre in the shadow of the Dome of St Peter.
The training kits are mismatched, the level of play variable with a lot of toe-poking going on, but serious effort is being made ahead of a match with Serie A side Roma and then a tournament in Vienna later this month, with the session continuing until late into the night.
"We are a very heterogeneous group, there are young people aged about 25 and 50-year-olds," said 35-year-old Vatican employee Maura Turoli, who has little footballing experience but now plays as a defender.
"It's wonderful to be on the pitch and see husbands and children waiting for us and supporting us on the other side of the fence."
Although Pope Francis, an Argentinian, recently spoke of football as "the most beautiful game", the three words "football", "women" and "Vatican" are not necessarily ones people would put together in the same sentence.
However, Turoli says that they "will try to disprove this idea and show that we have our place".
Teammate Floriana Di Iorio, who was already part of the women's team at the Bambino Gesu hospital, says this team "goes beyond sport" and wants to "spread a message of great openness".
"The main objective is to convey a message of union, to be consistent, to keep our enthusiasm and perhaps also to be examples in places where the role of woman is still seen as a little marginal."
A "spirit of union" is also what team coach, Gianfranco Guadagnoli, who works in the Vatican Post Office, wants to achieve.
"We've just started this group, the first training session was one of pain, problems ... But they are doing better than expected," said Guadagnoli, who also coaches the men's team.
"We've never played an 11-a-side and on a big pitch, but Roma have come forward and ... we will try, even if our means are not those of a Serie A team.
"It does not matter, we go with our qualities and whatever happens happens, without problems or dramas."
The match proceeded as expected, with a game understandably reduced to two 20-minute halves ending in a double-figures defeat and a baptism of fire for a trailblazing team.
Lionel Messi wants Ernesto Valverde to continue as Barcelona coach but admits the team have not recovered from their Champions League loss to Liverpool as they face Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday. After winning La Liga by 11 points, Barca can complete a domestic double by beating
Messi backs Valverde but admits Barca are still hurting | Sport24
Barcelona boss gives Antoine Griezmann transfer update as summer move looms. Griezmann is expected to join Barcelona after being La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid's top scorer for the last five seasons
News24 - Barcelona boss gives Antoine Griezmann transfer
Man City 1-0 West Ham: Sergio Aguero penalty, Man City one point behind leaders Liverpool Sergio Aguero's penalty gave champions Manchester City a slender win over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium
Another season of top-tier soccer is here and with it comes a fresh deluge of soccer-themed games for mobile. Quickly rising towards the top of the heap is Football Strike, a player-versus-player
Singaporean Premier League News, Stats, Scores - ESPN
tv5.espn.com/football/league/_/name/sgp.1
Follow all the latest Singaporean Premier League football news, fixtures, stats, and more on ESPN. Skip to navigation < > S.League hot shot Ramazotti joins PKNS.
Ranking college football quarterback tiers: From Heisman
The Housing Act 1919 resulted in mass council housing being built across Liverpool during the 1920s and 1930s. Thousands of families were relocated from the inner-city to new suburban housing estates, based on the belief that this would improve their standard of living, though this is largely subjective.
Man Utd and Liverpool look to sign £70m Lille winger Pep but
The Toffee's last league victory came in a 5-1 defeat of Burnley on Boxing Day, but the Merseysiders are without a win at their Goodison Park base in fifty-one days. Despite being two teams who have rarely threatened at either end of the table, previous meetings between Everton and Bournemouth have led to incredibly entertaining fixtures.
Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer - goodreads.com
Paris (AFP) - Japan failed to break down a determined and well-organised Argentine defence in Paris on Monday in the first goalless draw of the women's World Cup. Japan, finalists in 2015 and winners in 2011, enjoyed almost two thirds of possession, but only forced two saves from goalkeeper Vanina Correa.
Watch Argentina v Japan live in the Fifa Women's World Cup
ABU DHABI (AFP) - Yuya Osako netted a quickfire double as former champions Japan survived a scare to beat Turkmenistan 3-2 in their Asian Cup opener on Wednesday (Jan 9). The Blue Samurai reached
Osako double sparks 3-2 Japan win at Asian Cup - Khaleej Times
Solskjaer aims for 3rd LONDON • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged his Manchester United players to get 15 points from the final six games to secure a top-three finish that will guarantee Champions League football.
Solskjaer aims to revive Ferguson's fearless style
Friends, family and supporters gathered in Progreso for the day-long wake at his boyhood club, San Martin de Progreso. More than 3,000 mourners came to pay their respects to the 28-year-old, whose
Latest EMILIANO SALA | The Straits Times
Football: Barca's Dembele back training ahead of Man United
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch premier league darts live stream
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch us soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming direct
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch premier league live streaming video
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch coppa america live streaming nz
free watch soccer live streaming
watch soccer live stream apk
watch premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch premier league live streaming online
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch premier league games live stream
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch champions league final live streaming
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch champions league live streaming bola
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch usa soccer live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch champions league live streaming match
watch soccer live streaming juventus
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch soccer game live now
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer live stream app
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch champions league live streaming live
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming game
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch premier league live stream hd
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
#championship #neymar #copaamerica #knuckleball #chocolatecoffee #bayern #insegreto #coffeebreak #villarealcf #freekick #liverpool #henderson #mancity #footballmemes #champion #sumbertv #manchestercity #valcea #gunners #oasis #leomessi #salah #433skills #adidasslipon #elcasico #mane #liverpoolfans #firmino #livesports #midnight #golazo #comics #portsmouthfc #nationsleague #footballdubai #mancityvsliverpool #tokyo #realmadrid #girlsniteout #visubal #leicestercity #24x7 #league2 #serieatim #sixtimes #Celtic #fut #nikesoccer #livestreaming #commentimemorabili #Liverpool #oasisandbeatles #MSport #lovefootball #uefanationsleague #myfootballuniverse #zidane #transfernews #beatifulgame #bundesliga #chocolate #coys #realmadridcf #soccer #conference #liverpoolcity #coutinho #soccer #bayernmunich #championsleague #sunderlandafc #lfc #kopisusu #afcnews #arsenalfantv #hoffenhiem #nutmeg #petercrouch
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen