A group promoting a new sport, the Beautiful Ball has made a proclamation for the game.The proclamation was made on Saturday.
According to Bonnyface Oji Peter Opia PhD, spokesperson for the sport’s promoters, the game is similar to soccer in principle, yet it addresses the limitation of the previously existing game.
“The game is played not necessarily to put the ball into the net but to target and achieve specific goals while doing so,”Opia said in the proclamation statement.
Opia added that the game is aimed at achieving peace and conciliation, gender equality and education and learning asides from being a mere sport.
“Incidentally, these three goals are part of the 17 Social Development Goals unveiled by the United Nations at the 70th United Nations General Assembly,” Opia added.
He said a unique feature of the new game is the role of a 12th player which bears a crown in which the goals that players seek to accomplish are embedded. He said the feature was inspired by a feature of baseball and cricket.
“It is a game in which penalty kicks can be taken with no goal keeper in post; goals scored under some conditions such as goals scored in the last minute are doubled; the goal post by design reduces the chances of the ball not crossing the line whenever it hits the cross bar. This soccer-like game can be performed on a playing field made of natural grass or synthetic materials,” the promoter said.
“The introduction of this novelty is an attempt to enrich our common humanity with a game whose utility rests not only in entertainment but will serve as a tool for promoting individual and organizational causes. We are convinced that the United Nations, individual countries and development organizations will find in this game a potent tool for promoting goal orientated behavior and mobilizing citizens for action.”
He said the operational name of the game, standard field design, rules, method of play, administrative framework and related matters, will be disclosed at a media launch to be held on a future date to be announced soon.
