© EuroFootball.com
Sworn football fan and traveler Martynas Starkus, together with "Sunday Football League," initiates a football movement in the country that will unite fans of this sport, discuss its popularization, address emerging problems, and encourage active support for the national team.
According to M. Starkus, the latter is closer than ever to winning a ticket to the World Football Championship. "I think this year we have real chances to perform well in our qualifying group. The new movement can become a pillar for our players, who need support, not criticism," says M. Starkus.
Creating a wave of popularity
Soon all football fans who want to join this movement will be able to join an online community that will plan not only virtual but also real meetings. The community will raise questions and seek solutions, and if necessary, collaborate with institutions that must take care of the development of Lithuanian football.
According to one of the initiators M. Starkus, his main goal is to support the national team: "I myself join this movement or project, whatever we call it, because I want to invite people who love football to react, talk about it, unite, and support the team. Not to raise money for the stadium or walk the streets with posters saying "everyone march to the stadiums," but simply to become a pillar for our players."
The initiative to unite football fans into a community that actively works towards the popularization of football has been brewing in the minds of the initiators and founders of the "Sunday Football League" for several years. The president of the "SFL" league, Paulius Malžinskas, is convinced that this movement will not only unite old fans of this sport but also attract new supporters.
"From a similar initiative, the "Sunday Football League" once started, and now it is rapidly expanding, attracting new football enthusiasts. Indeed, this sport is popular in the country, but sometimes it lacks basic publicity, so we want to create a football wave in Lithuania," says P. Malžinskas.
Possibilities to qualify for the World Cup - real
M. Starkus is convinced that the main problem why football is not the number one sport in Lithuania, unlike in the rest of the world, is the lack of victories that everyone expects and that the country's football lacks.
"All countries need victories, especially small ones. Basketball is more popular in Lithuania than football because we are better at it. Personally, I’m always happy about the basketball team's victories and the last thing I want is a rivalry between basketball and football fans. On the contrary, I want to support both," says Martynas.
In his opinion, the constant blame on the national team coaches is not entirely fair, and the current situation in this sport is influenced by many factors, including the issue of a lost generation of young talented players, to whom insufficient attention was paid, and the issue of a national stadium.
"The stadium issue is undoubtedly solvable. The biggest absurdity is that it has not been resolved yet. However, this is no longer about football but politics. I am not inclined to engage in politics, I simply love this game and our national team. They can be criticized if they play poorly, but they know that themselves. Nevertheless, they come to play for our country, they try, it is an honor for them to represent our national team. I believe that a wave of support can inspire them," says M. Starkus.
Although Lithuanians will not participate in this year's European Men's Football Championship in Ukraine and Poland, M. Starkus believes that the support of compatriots will be especially needed for them when fighting for a ticket to the World Cup.
"This year our qualifying group is definitely conquerable. To be honest, I always found it strange when people celebrated when we were placed in a group with very strong teams from wealthy football federations. There will be broadcasts, there will be money. Wait, I don't understand what's there to celebrate about? Let's celebrate now when our opponents are weaker and we can beat them.
Now I am happy and I believe that we will find like-minded individuals because these years are years of hope for our national team and fans. All that's left is to believe and support the team seriously," invites M. Starkus.
Information about the opportunity to join the movement and become its members will be provided to football fans soon. According to P. Malžinskas, preparatory work is currently underway for the launch.
