'La Dulce Roja' is already ready, the Spanish team of children with diabetes that will represent Spain in the VI Diabetes Junior Cup International, a tournament that will be played next August in Lausana (Switzerland).
Although finally only 11 players will attend Switzerland, the jury has selected 12 members to keep a reservation until the trip to the international championship.
Last weekend, the I Edition of Junior Cup Spain was held in the Soccer City of Las Rozas, a sports initiative organized by Lilly Diabetes, Medtronic and the Federation of Spanish Diabetics (Fede), aimedBetween 8 and 12 years with diabetes throughout the country.
Of the more than 300 registered in the first phase of the contest, an independent jury selected the 80 participants who lived with other children of their age and in their very situation from different parts of the country.
During the celebration of the matches, a team of football professionals was in charge of choosing the 11 members of the national team, in collaboration with Ángel Cabrera, president of the Fede.
Before the meetings, David Villa, the Spanish team player, surprised all the participants with a video in which he encouraged the children to practice sports and defend the colors of their selection.
"In this tournament, all children are winners, because the main objective is to promote a healthy lifestyle through football and the spirit of teamwork," said Cabrera, for whom, however, it is important to demonstrate that diabeticsThey are prepared to do what they propose.
At present, about 30,000 children under 15 live with diabetes in Spain, where more than 1,100 new cases are added every year.