Balotelli e i bambini soldatoracconti di gol e kalashinikovL'attaccante dell'Inter ha incontrato a Milano, Kon e Zklata due ragazzi sudanesi che hanno raccontato le terribile esperienze dei bambini nella guerra civile in Sudan
di STEFANO SCACCHI MILANO - Dalla guerra civile del Sudan alla finale di Coppa Campioni a Madrid. Da giovedì sera, Kon Kelei ha un appuntamento al Santiago Bernabeu per sabato 22 maggio: "Vieni, c'è un biglietto per te", gli ha detto Mario Balotelli dopo quasi due ore passate a parlare con lui e Zlata Filipovic sui divani della hall di un hotel di Milano, non distante dalla Stazione Centrale. Kon e Zlata erano appena atterrati a Malpensa per portare la loro testimonianza nel corso di un convegno sui bambini coinvolti nelle guerre all'Università Statale ("Tecnologie per la pace: i bambini soldato", organizzato da Nova Multimedia con il patrocinio dell'Onu). In comune questi due ragazzi di quasi 30 anni hanno un presente pieno di speranze (Kon frequenta un master in Diritto internazionale in Olanda e Zlata lavora a Dublino dopo essersi laureata in Scienze politiche nella capitale irlandese) e un passato tragico: il primo è stato costretto a imbracciare un kalashnikov a 7 anni nella feroce carneficina sudanese, la seconda ha trascorso la sua adolescenza, entrando e uscendo da una cantina di Sarajevo per proteggersi dalle bombe (esperienza raccontata in un libro "Il diario di Zlata", scritto nel 1994). Ma giovedì sera, in quell'albergo milanese dove hanno appena posato le valigie, è un'altra cosa a unire Kon e Zlata: lo stupore di avere di fronte uno dei più grandi talenti del calcio europeo. "Non riuscivo a credere che questo campione di 19 anni, celebre, ricco e vestito alla moda, che avrebbe potuto fare mille altre cose nel corso della serata, fosse lì per ascoltare le nostre storie. Io non l'avevo mai visto perché non so niente di calcio, ma quando ho capito di chi si trattava, sono rimasta davvero sorpresa", racconta Zlata con un inglese perfetto. "L'ho seguito tante volte in televisione durante le partite di Serie A o Champions League. E' un giocatore che mi piace. Ed era lì davanti a me che mi faceva mille domande", aggiunge Kon, ex tifoso dell'Inter ("Io tengo per le squadre in difficoltà che hanno bisogno di un supporto, ma adesso i nerazzurri sono troppo forti, non gli servo più", è la sua curiosa teoria, ispirata a una versione solidaristica della passione calcistica). Non sono loro a interrogare il calciatore famoso, ma il contrario: "Kon, tu hai mai ucciso qualcuno quando combattevi?", chiede Mario che ha raccolto con piacere l'invito della sorella Cristina, giornalista di Radio 24, a incontrare i due ragazzi. "No, perché ero più piccolo del kalashnikov. Ero troppo leggero e così non sono stato ritenuto idoneo a certe missioni", risponde il giovane sudanese che poi lancia un appello accorato a Balotelli: "Ricordati sempre che puoi essere un modello per tanti giovani che ti guardano anche nei villaggi più sperduti dell'Africa. Io ti ho visto quando hai lanciato la maglia alla fine di Inter-Barcellona - dice con un sorriso e modi eleganti da "piccolo Obama" -. E quando segni c'è sempre un bambino che si asciuga le lacrime perché con quel gol hai dato una speranza". "E' impressionante sentire questi racconti direttamente da chi li ha vissuti", commenta Mario. Il filo con questi due ragazzi coraggiosi probabilmente non si interromperà più. Il giorno dopo Balotelli regala loro due magliette dell'Inter con una dedica speciale.
E c'è la promessa più preziosa fatta a Kon (grande amante del calcio, in passato ha incontrato anche Roy Makaay e Giovanni Van Bronckhorst nel corso della sua attività di ambasciatore degli ex bambini soldato): "Ti invito a Madrid per la finale, ci sarà un biglietto per te al Santiago Bernabeu". Lo studente di diritto internazionale, appena tornato in Europa dopo tre mesi nel suo Paese, inizia a consultare il calendario: "Quand'è la finale?", chiede all'indomani della chiacchierata con Balotelli. Il 22 maggio sarà un giorno speciale anche per Kon Kelei. "Di solito preferisco guardare le partite in televisione, perché riesco a capire meglio cosa succede tra mille telecamere e i commenti di telecronisti e opinionisti". Ma per la finalissima Inter-Bayern Monaco vale la pena fare un'eccezione. Per la sua ex squadra del cuore e per rispondere all'invito del suo nuovo amico Mario. (10 maggio 2010)
Italian to English translation
Balotelli and child soldiers Tales of goals and kalashinikov The striker met in Milan, Kon and Zklata two Sudanese boys who have recounted the terrible experiences of children in the civil war in Sudan CHESS by STEFANO MILAN - From civil war in Sudan to the Champions Cup final in Madrid. From Thursday evening, Kon Kele has an appointment at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, May 22: "Come, there is a ticket for you," said Mario Balotelli after nearly two hours spent talking with him and Zlata Filipovic on the sofas in the lobby a hotel in Milan, not far from Central Station. Kon and Zlata had just landed at Malpensa to bring their testimony during a conference on children involved in wars at the State University ("Technology for Peace: child soldiers, organized by Multimedia Nova sponsored UN) . Shared these two guys almost 30 years have a present full of hope (Kon attended a Masters in International Law in the Netherlands and Zlata works in Dublin after graduating in Political Science in Dublin) and a tragic past: the first was forced to pick up a Kalashnikov to 7 years in the brutal carnage in Sudan, the second he spent his adolescence in and out of the basement of Sarajevo to protect themselves from bombs (an experience recounted in the book "Zlata's Diary," written in 1994). But Thursday night in that hotel in Milan where they just put the bags, is another thing to add Kon and Zlata: the wonder of facing one of the greatest talents in European football. "I could not believe that this sample of 19 years, famous, rich and fashionable dress, he could do many other things during the evening, was there to hear our stories. I had never seen because I do not know anything about football, but when I realized who it was, I was really surprised, "said Zlata with perfect English. "I followed him many times on television during games in Serie A or Champions League. It 's a player I like. And it was there before me that made me a thousand questions," said Kon, former Inter fans (" I personally, for teams in trouble who need support, but now the Nerazzurri are too strong, not serve more, "is his curious theory of solidarity inspired by a version of football passion). They are not to interrogate the famous footballer, but the opposite: "Kon, you've never killed anyone when he fought?" Asks Mario has collected with pleasure the invitation of her sister Cristina, journalist for Radio 24, to meet the two boys . "No, because I was smaller than the Kalashnikov. I was too light and so were not considered suitable for certain missions," answered the young Sudanese who then launched a heartfelt appeal to Balotelli: "Remember always that you can be a model for many young people who look at you even in the remotest villages of Africa. I saw you when you launched the shirt at the end of Inter-Barcelona - says with a smile and elegant ways to "little Obama" signs -. And when there's a baby that wipes her tears with that goal because you gave a hope. " "It 's awesome to hear these stories directly from those who lived them," said Mario. The wire with these two brave boys probably will not stop anymore. The next day Balotelli Inter gives them two shirts with a special dedication. It is the most precious promise made Kon (great lover of football in the past has also met with Roy Makaay and Giovanni van Bronckhorst during his activities as ambassador for former child soldiers): "I invite you to the Madrid final There will be a ticket for you at the Santiago Bernabeu. " The student of international law, just returned to Europe after three months in his country, begins to see the timetable: "When the final?", Asked after the talk with Balotelli. On May 22 will be a special day for Kon Kele. "Usually I prefer to watch matches on television, because I can understand better what happens among a thousand cameras and commentators comments and opinion." But for the final Inter-Bayern Monaco worth making an exception. For his former favorite team and to respond to the invitation of his new friend Mario. (10 May 2010)
Balotelli and child soldiers Tales of goals and kalashinikov The striker met in Milan, Kon and Zklata two Sudanese boys who have recounted the terrible experiences of children in the civil war in Sudan CHESS by STEFANO MILAN - From civil war in Sudan to the Champions Cup final in Madrid. From Thursday evening, Kon Kele has an appointment at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, May 22: "Come, there is a ticket for you," said Mario Balotelli after nearly two hours spent talking with him and Zlata Filipovic on the sofas in the lobby a hotel in Milan, not far from Central Station. Kon and Zlata had just landed at Malpensa to bring their testimony during a conference on children involved in wars at the State University ("Technology for Peace: child soldiers, organized by Multimedia Nova sponsored UN) . Shared these two guys almost 30 years have a present full of hope (Kon attended a Masters in International Law in the Netherlands and Zlata works in Dublin after graduating in Political Science in Dublin) and a tragic past: the first was forced to pick up a Kalashnikov to 7 years in the brutal carnage in Sudan, the second he spent his adolescence in and out of the basement of Sarajevo to protect themselves from bombs (an experience recounted in the book "Zlata's Diary," written in 1994). But Thursday night in that hotel in Milan where they just put the bags, is another thing to add Kon and Zlata: the wonder of facing one of the greatest talents in European football. "I could not believe that this sample of 19 years, famous, rich and fashionable dress, he could do many other things during the evening, was there to hear our stories. I had never seen because I do not know anything about football, but when I realized who it was, I was really surprised, "said Zlata with perfect English. "I followed him many times on television during games in Serie A or Champions League. It 's a player I like. And it was there before me that made me a thousand questions," said Kon, former Inter fans (" I personally, for teams in trouble who need support, but now the Nerazzurri are too strong, not serve more, "is his curious theory of solidarity inspired by a version of football passion). They are not to interrogate the famous footballer, but the opposite: "Kon, you've never killed anyone when he fought?" Asks Mario has collected with pleasure the invitation of her sister Cristina, journalist for Radio 24, to meet the two boys . "No, because I was smaller than the Kalashnikov. I was too light and so were not considered suitable for certain missions," answered the young Sudanese who then launched a heartfelt appeal to Balotelli: "Remember always that you can be a model for many young people who look at you even in the remotest villages of Africa. I saw you when you launched the shirt at the end of Inter-Barcelona - says with a smile and elegant ways to "little Obama" signs -. And when there's a baby that wipes her tears with that goal because you gave a hope. " "It 's awesome to hear these stories directly from those who lived them," said Mario. The wire with these two brave boys probably will not stop anymore. The next day Balotelli Inter gives them two shirts with a special dedication. It is the most precious promise made Kon (great lover of football in the past has also met with Roy Makaay and Giovanni van Bronckhorst during his activities as ambassador for former child soldiers): "I invite you to the Madrid final There will be a ticket for you at the Santiago Bernabeu. " The student of international law, just returned to Europe after three months in his country, begins to see the timetable: "When the final?", Asked after the talk with Balotelli. On May 22 will be a special day for Kon Kele. "Usually I prefer to watch matches on television, because I can understand better what happens among a thousand cameras and commentators comments and opinion." But for the final Inter-Bayern Monaco worth making an exception. For his former favorite team and to respond to the invitation of his new friend Mario. (10 May 2010)
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