The Leo Liga was held for the third time, with our coaches preparing a varied programme for kindergarten children from Kispest. Although the weather did not make the work of the coaching staff and kindergarten teachers any easier, the rain never dampened the enthusiasm of the children who wanted to play football. The aim of the programme is to introduce the youngest children to the joy of movement and football, as well as the strength of community, through play, and to provide an experience they will remember for life that can lay the foundations for a love of sport.
“It required a lot of organisation, but I was happy to do it and my colleagues were a huge help. It really showed that this is a true family and that we are happy to belong here. I think the kindergarten teachers were more worried about the rain, but fortunately the children really enjoyed the games and even the chance to slide around on the pitch. It was a programme with a genuine football atmosphere and they experienced it very positively. The Leo Liga is the highlight of Honvéd's kindergarten programme. Our primary aim is to pass on a love of sport and movement through experiences. We give the most talented children the opportunity to become part of Honvéd's training programme later on, but of course we also help make sure that anyone interested in football can receive coaching at one of our partner clubs,” – summed up the event's chief organiser, Evanics Martin. The head of our kindergarten programme added that the children were welcomed by playful activity stations, where, alongside observing their skills with the ball, our specialists also placed great emphasis on agility, coordination and athletic tasks. Thanks to the varied exercises, our coaches can gain a well-rounded picture of the children's movement skills.
“This is always a special day in the life of the academy. It is always good to work with children; you can see their joy and how much they enjoy the programme — and that was the main purpose of the event. For us, it is especially nice to be part of it. We have been to the Bozsik Aréna several times for different events, but it is a completely different feeling to be here on the pitch where our senior team also fought their way to promotion. Most of them have already been to the stadium through the kindergarten programme or the ticket programme, but being able to step onto the pitch itself will surely be a huge experience for them, one they may remember for the rest of their lives” – said Kovács Árpád, pitch coach of our U12 team.
Szegediné Török Tünde, director of Kispesti Egyesített Óvodák, stressed that the programme will remain a special memory not only for the children but also for the adults.
“The programme has now been running in the kindergartens for a second year, and by now every kindergarten child and parent in Kispest knows it and has been happy to join. Fifteen kindergartens take part in the initiative, with around 300 children involved. We are very happy that we could come to the stadium, because we had never had the opportunity before. It is a great experience not only for the children but also for the adults, as not everyone has had the chance to attend a match. We had a wonderful time.”
