July 3 – This week’s 20th anniversary of the death of former Colombian defender Andres Escobar continues to capture the imagination.
Jürgen Griesbeck was working at the time on his doctoral thesis in Medellin, where Escobar was gunned down for scoring an own goal at the 1994 World Cup.
As a result, Griesbeck set up the streetfootballworld movement, a worldwide network of organisations using football as an educational and social tool in more than 80 countries.
“The death of Andrés was a very sad moment for all of us, but at the same time a moment that inspired us to give back to young people around the world, saving lives and transforming their future. I can assure you, without Andrés streetfootballworld wouldn’t exist today,” says Griesbeck.
Through it’s Social Media channels streetfootballworld is inviting fans to honour Escobar with the hashtags #AndresEscobar and #football2me.
The campaign, gaining ground as Colombia prepare to face hosts Brazil in Friday’s World Cup quarter-final, has captured the imagination of fans on every continent, including Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno, FIFA Executive Committee member Moya Dodd, and FIFA Vice President for Asia, Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734962680labto1734962680ofdlr1734962680owedi1734962680sni@w1734962680ahsra1734962680w.wer1734962680dna1734962680