The first Italian project of the FC FUTURES programme, dedicated to Gianluca Vialli, was today launched in Turin.
FC FUTURES is EA SPORTS' global plan to invest in football in local communities, with the aim of growing the passion for the game. Present at the launch event for Juventus were Federico Chiesa, FC Ambassador, and Gianluca Pessotto, Football Teams Staff Coordination Manager.
The project, inaugurated today in the Piedmontese capital, aims to offer 35 children - selected by the social services of the Municipality of Turin - free access to a weekly course at the FDS Spazio Talent Soccer sports centre, part of the Juventus Academy network, which will accompany them throughout the 2023/24 football season, and then conclude with a four-week summer camp.
The FC FUTURES project in Turin also plans to name the two 5-a-side football fields of the Turin sports center after Gianluca Vialli, which for the occasion have been redeveloped with investments in turf, benches and pitchside barriers.
The decision to name this important project to support young people after Gianluca Vialli is part of a broader series of initiatives that EA SPORTS has implemented to commemorate the Juventus champion, a great personality on and off the pitch who left an unfillable void, but also a solid legacy in the development of social activities.
The children present, ready to start a truly special experience during which they will be accompanied step by step by EA SPORTS, were able to begin this journey by interacting with Chiesa and, at the end of the inauguration, carried out a training session with the Juventus coach.
Three Juventus Members as well as members of the Vialli and Mauro Foundation also attended the event and received gift packs dedicated to Gianluca Vialli.
PESSOTTO'S WORDS
"It is a pleasure for Juventus to join this partnership with EA, the Vialli Family, FDS Spazio Talent Soccer and the Municipality of Turin regarding the FC Futures program on grassroots football. Bringing children closer to football, a bridge between the present and the future, is an objective that unites all these realities in a project where values of integration, collaboration, commitment and solidarity coexist."
THE WORDS OF James Salmon, Brand Senior Director at EA SPORTS FC
"It is a privilege for EA SPORTS FC to dedicate this programme in memory of Gianluca Vialli. Gianluca Vialli has already been immortalised as a Hero in millions of matches played in EA SPORTS FC. Today the celebration of his achievements and his memory extends from the virtual field to the real one. Through FC FUTURES we believe we can provide unique tools to support the next generation of grassroots players and help them reach the heights of players like Vialli. We couldn't be prouder to partner with the Vialli family to unveil these fields and continue to provide greater access to sport for the community."
THE WORDS OF RICCARDO VIALLI, GIANLUCA'S GRANDSON
"On behalf of my entire family, we wanted to thank EA Sports and Juventus for creating this project and for dedicating it to Luca's memory. Luca was a great example of a sportsman and a man. During his life he always tried to be an inspiration for others and, especially near the end, he tried to be especially so for the new generations who did not have the opportunity to know him from a sporting point of view. We really hope that these fields with Luca's images can be an example for these kids and for all those who will have the opportunity to play on them in the future, with the hope that they can become great champions on and off the field."