Football fever took over as primary school pupils from across Caerphilly County Borough participated in the “Sport Caerphilly World Cup Festival” last week.
Held at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach and sponsored by the FAW Trust, more than 500 Year 5 and Year 6 pupils from across 46 primary schools attended the event.
To coincide with the FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia this summer, each school represented a different country.
One of the key aims of the event was to encourage more young players to engage with local football community clubs.
Overall winners of the “World Cup” event were Hendredenny Park Primary School representing Belgium with Ysgol Gymraeg Caerfilli representing Iran as the runners-up.
Schools got into the spirit of things by dressing up in the colours of the teams they were representing and a special award for best dressed school went to Hengoed Primary School for their Argentinian kits!
The event was attended by Cllr David Poole, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, who was tasked with choosing the best dressed school and Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services who said: “It was wonderful to see so many young people taking part, having fun and keeping active.
“I would like to congratulate all the boys and girls who took part and in particular, the winners, Hendredenny Park Primary School.
“I would also like to congratulate Sport Caerphilly on planning and running such a well organised event and students from Coleg Cymoedd who volunteered at the event to officiate the matches, a fantastic effort from everyone involved.
Representatives from the FAW Trust, Welsh Government and Sport Wales also attended the event.
