UN football tournament in New York promotes sustainable development

The United Nations hosted a special high-level football tournament in New York on Thursday to promote sustainable development.

The event was hosted for Permanent Representatives to the UN and participants included football star Kalusha Bwalya, African Footballer of the Year 1988.

Bwalya is also an Executive Committee member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), FIFA Football Committee Member, and board member of Champions of the Environment and Africa10. 

Kalusha, as well as other famous international former players Nwankwo Kanu of Nigeria, and Frank Rijkaard and Aron Winter of The Netherlands, were star players and coaches.

The stars couched teams that included Permanent Representatives to the UN from around the world.

The event was organised by the UN and was designed to promote the role of sports in achieving sustainable development and peace.

It was hosted to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and promote global peace and security, and to highlight the role that football and its celebrities could play in this.

The permanent Missions of Zambia and The Netherlands helped to organise the tournament which took place on the terrace of the UN Delegates Dining Room, in front of the East River, where KNVB and Cruyff Foundation set up an artificial football pitch.

Three female Permanent Representatives, including Samantha Power of the United States, participated in the competition.

Featuring on the UN Secretary General’s Spokesperson’s briefing, Bwalya and his colleagues addressed the role of sports in achieving sustainable development and peace.

The stars will also hold a football clinic for children, among other engagements organised by The Netherlands Mission to the UN.