A friendly game between UNIFIL and a local team was held in the southern town of Yaroun during the inauguration of the town’s renovated football pitch.

The works funded by UNIFIL and Yaroun’s municipality, represent an important symbolic partnership for the vital and only recreational facility in the area.

UNIFIL’s Civil Affairs through its Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), and the mission’s Finnish and Italian battalions helped rehabilitate the football field, following the request by the municipality, by purchasing and installing the canopy for the football pitch, at a cost of around 21,000 US $.

The initial assessment was carried out by an engineering company on the Municipality’s request.

The village is located in a remote area in Bint Jbeil District where recreational facilities for children, youth and women are scarce and this football pitch will be important in helping the youth to engage in sports.

Lt.Col Kari Nisula from the Finnish battalion said “The project helps to promote fitness within the community”, adding that “now the football field can also serve as a shelter”.

This venue will also be used to host other social events and cultural gatherings.

Ali Mostafa Saeb, football player in Yaroun’s team, welcomed this inauguration: “Thanks to UNIFIL, so we can play again.”