ANIMATION.

On April 17 and 18, the League of Stars will be making a stop in Saint-Dizier. This is a U13 football tournament that combines sports, culture, and citizenship. SMC Marnaval and Saint-Dizier Women’s Soccer are partnering for this unprecedented event.

After Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône) and before Meudon (Hauts-de-Seine), Saint-Dizier will host a unique football tournament on April 17 and 18. These are the only three cities in France to host the very first League of Stars competition, reserved for U13 players, combining football, culture, and citizenship.

SMC Marnaval and Saint-Dizier Women’s Soccer are collaborating to form a mixed team. As the competition takes a back seat, the second club mentioned will provide players for some of the other cities participating in this Northeast quarter stage: FC Neuvillette-Jamin, Grand Nancy Métropole Football, AS Montigny-lès-Metz, FC Saint-Memmie, Renaissance Sportive Magny, Is-Selongey Football, and Cercle Sportif Stiring-Wendel.

Center, cinema, and BA 113 before football

On Monday, March 23, at the town hall in Saint-Dizier, the clubs, the city, the national organization, and the event ambassador Kadour Ziani were presented. “It’s culture and heritage through football,” summarized Janvier Hongla, project manager of the League of Stars.

Before the eight football matches, played by mixed teams in two halves of fifteen minutes on April 18, the day before will offer a range of activities for the 160 children in Saint-Dizier. They will visit the theater, the Air Base 113, and watch the movie “Dunk or die” by Kadour Ziani at the Ciné-quai.

The next day, they will have to perform to compete in the national final on June 20 and 21 at the sports complex Emile-Anthoine, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

Nicolas Frise

n.frise@jhm.fr

The genesis of the national event

“The League of Stars is an initiative supported by General Pierre de Villiers, former chief of staff of the armed forces, and François Morinière, former director of the L’Équipe group,” said the city. On Monday, March 23, Sports deputy Mokhtar Kahlal specified that municipal projects highlighted alongside the 2024 Olympics – “La Grande Boucle, active design” – have been noticed from Paris, showcasing how the city stood out. The official also mentioned “Beauty will save the world,” as the U13 national football tournament uniquely “combines sports with the fields of culture, heritage, and beauty.” Canal +, Agache Sport, the Football Foundation, and the National Monuments Center are also partners in this operation involving 24 clubs, totaling 550 players across France.