Bulgaria’s President Awarded Footballers Berbatov and Figo for Their Noble Cause

Bulgaria’s President Roumen Radev met with the footballers Dimitar Berbatov and Luis Figo, in the Coat of Arms Hall of the Presidential building on 14^th of June. The two are organisers of All Stars 2017 charity football match, in which the teams of Figo (All Stars) and Dimitar Berbatov (United Stars) will play each other.

The expected revenues from the match will be donated entirely to the cause of Dimitar Berbatov Foundation and Luis Figo Foundation.

Figo has been awarded the Honorary Sign of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria for outstanding contribution to world sport and support to the development of young people in the area of education, sports and social activities. Berbatov was also presented with an award for his contribution to sport and support to the development of young people in the area of art, science and culture in Bulgaria.

“It is a pleasure for me to hand the Honorary Sign to Luis Figo and Dimitar Berbatov. This is a modest sign of respect for two big names in the world football, a recognition of two prominent benefactors, philanthropists and great friends of children,” President Radev said.

He added that Berbatov was among the most known and beloved Bulgarians in the world, captain of Bulgaria’s national team. “He has over 200 games in the English Championship. Berbatov is not just a successful athlete, he is a man with a great heart and the activity of his foundation gives a chance to many Bulgarian children to develop their talent in the field of science, art and sports. I was impressed by a sentence from his Foundation's motto that "there is no success without a first step." I would add – there is no success without a helping hand, so I thank both of them for giving a helping hand to many children,“ Radev said.

Luis Figo: “I am very proud of this prize, from the hands of Bulgaria’s President, I was very surprised to have been presented with this high award. Tonight, we will have the honour and pleasure, as well as the happiness to hold this great event that will not only contribute to the development of our foundations but will also contribute to the development of the children we support. I think that when a person has an activity of interest in life, such as sports and achieves success in it, later in life, he/she is a much more successful person and achieves goals much better," Figo said and wished every success to President Radev.

Berbatov also thanked the Head of State for the honour.

Dimitar Berbatov: “This shows that the state has shown respect for the cause I have been engaged in and I sincerely hope that in the future, the state institutions will support the talented children of Bulgaria because ultimately they are our future. We must give a helping hand to talented children, we need to help them, and that's what we are doing today with this game. We support our children as they are the future of our country and if people give them the right example of how to behave, how to be good people, I think the future will be brighter. "