“I’m proud that this type of football is getting attention. It’s just as important as any other, and it’s great to see resources being invested to support it. My story started in a parish youth center, Rebaudengo in Turin. I was eight and played there for three years. It was close to home and a very inclusive environment. Being the only girl, my teammates really looked out for me and made me feel supported. It was a truly positive experience that I’d recommend to anyone, and I’d definitely do it again. Later, my coach joined Torino Femminile and soon after, he called me,” said Camelia Ceasar, goalkeeper for Parma Calcio’s Women’s First Team.
Filippo Rinaldi, who grew up in Parma’s Youth Sector and made his Serie A debut in Naples this season, also received warm applause: “I started at my local parish, playing for Celtic Pratina in Cavriago. That kind of football with friends teaches values and lessons you carry through your career. The friendships, the fun, the teamwork, that’s the essence of the game. I played there until I was 14, then Parma called me. Events like this are inspiring because young players meet Serie A footballers up close. Playing in Serie A stadiums makes it magical, a child can already feel like a real player.”
The Philadelphia Junior Cup, now in its thirteenth edition, continues to support the “Keep Racism Out” campaign against racism and all forms of discrimination, promoted by Lega Calcio Serie A in collaboration with UNAR, the Italian National Office Against Racial Discrimination. Respect and inclusion are central to the project, highlighted not only by the Gialloblu players but also by Parma Calcio’s CSR Manager Giuseppe Squarcia, Children Safeguarding Officer Martina Ranieri, Lega Calcio Serie A CSR representative Oumar Daffe, and CSI Parma President Claudio Bassi.
From January to May, young players compete in local, regional, and interregional stages, with eight teams eventually heading to Rome for the final at Stadio Olimpico, held just before the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Final.
The project isn’t just about playing football. Participants also join educational sessions at club training centres, where they meet Serie A players, psychologists, educators, and experts. They learn about the values of sport and how to create more inclusive environments on and off the pitch. By connecting grassroots football with the professional level, the programme allows young players to experience the life of top athletes, walking through Serie A stadiums, taking part in pre-match activities, and seeing firsthand what it’s like to play at the highest level.
