Renowned international footballer Deco met with representatives from Jordan’s Za’atari Refugee Camp at Baku Olympic Stadium to hand over hundreds of football boots. It was a charitable act coordinated by Kia Motors Corporation and the UEFA Foundation for Children to help refugee children play football, and to inspire and enliven the young hopefuls.

Some 700 pairs of boots, whose number will increase during the ongoing collection process, will be given to Syrian children at the Za’atari Refugee Camp in the coming weeks.

Throughout the knockout stages of this year’s UEFA Europa League, Kia and the foundation visited cities across Europe to encourage football fans to donate their unwanted boots and trainers. Hundreds of boots were donated at Kia dealerships and on the tour, during which more than 145,000 fans saw up close the UEFA Europa League Trophy that was showcased at schools, grassroots clubs and city centres in Geneva, Seville, Berlin, London, Milan, Moscow and Paris.

“Everyone who has ever played the game, regardless of the level, remembers their first pair of football boots. In donating the boots, fans across Europe are not only giving people a chance to play under a better condition, but creating a lifelong memory for the recipients,” said Deco, who formerly played for FC Porto, FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC.

“To meet representatives from Za’atari and learn about the challenges faced by the young players has been very moving. For Kia and the UEFA Foundation for Children to provide fans the opportunity to support the refugees is extremely positive.”

Throughout the campaign, the fans spent time with Trophy Tour ambassadors, including Lothar Matthäus, Andrés Palop, David Seaman, Eiður Guðjohnsen, Andrei Arshavin, Youri Djorkaeff and Filippo Inzaghi.

The UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC will take place at the Baku Olympic Stadium in the Azerbaijani capital on May 29. As the official automotive partner of the UEFA Europa League, Kia Motors will supply 90 vehicles for official use at the championship.

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