The Soccer Camp for children in Croatia
03.06.2022
Zagreb, June 3, 2022 – Italia Soccer Camp 2022 is coming to Croatia! This sports event is intended for children aged 7 to 14 years and Privredna banka Zagreb (PBZ), as a member of Intesa Sanpaolo Group, is the main partner of this project, also supported by Generali. The camp will provide its participants with a unique opportunity to learn about the skills and secrets of this sport by working with the best Italian coaches.The press conference was attended by Andrea Pirlo, an Italian football legend, who spoke about the concept of the Soccer Camp.
Also, other press conference participants were: Luigi Fuzio, Head of Retail and Wealth Management of Intesa Sanpaolo International Subsidiary Banks; Dinko Lucić, Privredna banka Zagreb, President of the Management Board; Gianluca Colocci, Chief Corporate Development Officer Generali CEE Holding; Mario Carini, CEO, Generali osiguranje; Jasna Ćurković Kelava, Head of Zagreb Children’s Home; Marco Schembri, representative of event organizer World Camp International. We are also particularly pleased by the video presence/message of the Croatian National Team head coach and captain, Zlatko Dalić and Luka Modrić.
"I am glad to be in Croatia today and to promote sport and its universal values. PBZ and I share the same approach to young people and we know how important is the support. That’s why young players, attendees of the Italia Soccer Camp will get the opportunity learn from professional Italian coaches," stated Andrea Pirlo. "Also, exceptionally talented kids that we will select during the camp will be offered to visit and to practice football in Italy”, said Andrea Pirlo, the official testimonial of the project and legendary Italian footballer.
The Soccer Camp will be held in Zagreb from 4 to 8 July 2022 for around 100 children, including children from the Zagreb Children’s Home and in collaboration with the Center for Parental Support "Growing up together", a local partner of the humanitarian initiative The Human Safety Net founded by Generali, children of beneficiaries of the Center's program and children refugees from Ukraine.
“With the whole of initiatives announced today, Intesa Sanpaolo Group is confirming its commitment to Croatia and its involvement in the local community both as a primary economic player, and as agent actively involved in its society”, stated Luigi Fuzio, Head of Retail and Wealth Management of Intesa Sanpaolo International Subsidiary Banks. “In its last business plan the Group confirmed to commit in period 2022-2025, with funds for communities and green transition. All these projects have the specific task of contributing to improve our daily life and to leave a better world for future generations. Accordingly, our strong commitment to each local market where we are present, including Croatia where we are at the very top among banks. Of huge relevance today, is also our fruitful partnership with the Generali Group, indeed two leading European players are joining forces for socially impacting initiatives, as well as to enhance the opportunities for protection that will be given to all our customers, including individuals, families and enterprises thanks to products that are being released over the next months.”
Within its CSR program, Privredna banka Zagreb supports numerous sports activities involving children and the young and, with the support of the parent company, Intesa Sanpaolo, it has made it possible for the children to train in one of the best football schools where they will gain valuable football experience.
"I am very happy that we have gathered again this year to present this incredible project for children. Our country has great potential for the football world, and we support this project, owing to which young players can train with experienced trainers. Croatia is well known for its numerous successful sports players and we hope that some of young football talents will once successfully represent our country”, said Dinko Lucić, President of Management Board of PBZ.
“We are very glad that the children from our Centre have been able to participate in the Soccer camp this year as well and also I would like to thank PBZ for the invitation and for its long-term support and cooperation”, said Jasna Ćurković Kelava, Head of Zagreb Children’s Home.
“With its participation in the Soccer Camp, the Generali Group continues its tradition and commitment to support initiatives that promote a culture of solidarity and social inclusion. We are twofold proud to strenghten the bond with local communities unlocking the people potential through the programs run by our foundation, The Human Safety Net and to reinforce our existing partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo Group in Croatia as well as our market position. Our strategic goal is to become Lifetime partner of our customers offering tailor-made and we are proud to be offering also to Intesa customers flexible solutions to meet their evolving life-cycle needs and further protect individuals, families and companies” said Gianluca Colocci, Chief Corporate Development Officer Generali CEE Holding.
“As a LifeTimePartner rooted in local communities, I am especially proud that Generali will enable the participation to the camp for many children who are beneficiaries of the Growing Up Together Center program, our local partner in Croatia of Generali's humanitarian foundation The Human Safety Net. If we bring a smile to the faces of football camp attendees, it will be a reward for all of us and a proof that we engaged in the right direction“, emphasized Mario Carini, CEO of Generali osiguranje
Marco Schembri, head of World Camp International Srl, the organizer of the football camp, added: „I would like to thank PBZ Bank for making it possible once again for young Croatian footballers to develop their talents while enjoying unforgettable experiences. Although we speak different languages, football – wherever we live in the world – brings us all together."
The Soccer camp will be held at the football courts Sportski centar ZAGREBello in Zagreb, Veslačka 1 (from 4 to 8 July 2022), and it will include technical, physical and tactical trainings. The Italia Soccer Camp, recognized among the public for its educational and fun character, is a project which gathers former Italian national football team members. This year, as many as five top-level Italian coaches will hang out with the young football prospects, teaching them the secrets of the art of football. This Soccer camp is free-of-charge for about 100 children who will have the opportunity to learn and have football training lessons based on the well-known and proven method and technique used by top football players. Detailed information on registration and organization of the Camp will be published soon through the PBZ communication channels.
Once again, this year, the three most talented camp participants will get an opportunity to visit Italy and attend the Italia Soccer Camp Day, together with kids from other countries. Young football players will get to hang out for three days at the Coverciano Academy training ground, and boys and girls who get selected will not only get to enjoy the trainings, matches, special courses, visiting the Italian Football Museum and a Serie A match, but they will also get to experience other interesting content, through which they will learn the secrets of football, receive practical advice and acquire numerous skills that make real football superstars.
Andrea Pirlo is the well-known “Maestro” of football. Born in 1979 in the province of Brescia, he has always been a leading actor and a leader in all the teams he played for: Brescia, FC Inter Milan, Reggina, AC Milan, Juventus, New York City and, of course, Italian national team. During his career he won everything a footballer could dream: Scudetto, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, UEFA Champion’s League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the 2006 FIFA World Cup with the “Azzurri”. He is considered as one of the best midfielders of all times, and in 2020 he began his career as head coach at Juventus, winning on his very first season the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.
Privredna banka Zagreb (PBZ) is part of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, one of the largest banking groups in Europe. PBZ is the second largest bank and financial group in Croatia by assets with a market share of up to or slightly above 20 per cent in various operating segments, and also a market leader in many areas, such as card business and new technologies, continuously developing new and innovative products and services. PBZ is also the centre of excellence for many areas of banking within the International Subsidiary Banks Division of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group and thus became a regional banking hub following the acquisition of the majority ownership of Intesa Sanpaolo banks in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia. PBZ has a proactive role in encouraging CSR initiatives and projects, with constant dedication to supporting the local community. PBZ is the leading donor in the country and unrivalled among banks regarding donations to healthcare institutions in combating the Covid-19 pandemic as well as repairing the consequences of the devastating earthquake that hit Zagreb and its surroundings and Sisak-Moslavina county. PBZ Group is well recognized in the country for its unique charity project Doing good every day, which has been helping the community for almost 14 years and has made 62 donations to hospitals and social care homes across Croatia thus far. www.pbz.hr
Intesa Sanpaolo is Italy’s leading banking group – serving families, businesses and the real economy – with a significant international presence. Intesa Sanpaolo’s distinctive business model makes it a European leader in Wealth Management, Protection & Advisory, highly focused on digital and fintech. An efficient and resilient Bank, it benefits from its wholly-owned product factories in asset management and insurance. The Group’s strong ESG commitment includes providing €115 billion in impact lending by 2025 to communities and for the green transition, and €500 million in contributions to support people most in need, positioning Intesa Sanpaolo as a world leader in terms of social impact. Intesa Sanpaolo is committed to Net Zero by 2030 for its own emissions and by 2050 for its loan and investment portfolios. An engaged patron of Italian culture, Intesa Sanpaolo has created its own network of museums, the Gallerie d’Italia, to host the bank's artistic heritage and as a venue for prestigious cultural projects.
News: group.intesasanpaolo.com/en/newsroom/news
Twitter: @intesasanpaolo
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/intesa-sanpaolo
Generali osiguranje d.d. is part of the Generali Group, one of the largest global insurance and asset management providers. Established in 1831, Generali is present in 50 countries in the world, with a total premium income of € 75.8 billion in 2021. With more than 75,000 employees serving 67 million customers, the Group has a leading position in Europe and a growing presence in Asia and Latin America. At the heart of Generali’s strategy is its Lifetime Partner commitment to customers, achieved through innovative and personalised solutions, best-in-class customer experience and its digitalised global distribution capabilities. The Group has fully embedded sustainability into all strategic choices, with the aim to create value for all stakeholders while building a fairer and more resilient society. The Human Safety Net is a foundation established by Generali in 2017 and active in 23 countries with 61 non-governmental partner organisations. The mission is to unlock the potential of people living in vulnerable conditions so they can transform the lives of their families and communities. Together with the Center for Parenting Support "Growing Up together", The Human Safety Net partner in Croatia, we help parents who are exposed to adverse circumstances that hinder the development of their children, reaching up to now 2,300 parents and 1,400 children.