More Than a Game

On a busy afternoon in one of Tirana’s poorest neighbourhoods, the football pitches at the Friends for Life Sports Centre are full of energy. Children laugh, run and compete. From the sidelines, Rezi watches closely, encouraging a nervous player, praising good teamwork and helping settle a disagreement. To many of the children, he is more than a coach. He is a trusted mentor, a positive role model and someone who genuinely cares about their future.

For Rezi, football has always been part of his story, As a boy, he dreamed of becoming a professional player. He spent hours playing with friends, watching matches and working hard to improve his skills. Although circumstances prevented him from pursuing a football career, his love for the game never faded. Later, after coming to faith in Jesus in his early twenties, he began to see football differently. What had once been a personal ambition became an opportunity to serve God and invest in the lives of others.

That opportunity came when he was invited to coach children from SOS Children’s Village in Tirana. Many of the young people had already faced difficult circumstances in life and needed adults who would encourage and support them. As he coached, Rezi discovered something powerful: football could open doors not only to friendship and confidence but also to conversations about faith, hope and purpose.

Today, through the Bible Society of Albania’s Bible Match project, that vision continues to transform lives.

Bible Match uses the appeal of football to reach children and young people across Tirana, particularly those living in poverty and social exclusion. Many come from Roma communities where families face significant challenges. Others live in neighbourhoods marked by unemployment, violence and limited opportunities. Some spend much of their time on the streets because there are few safe places to play and socialise.

Through Bible Match, they discover a welcoming environment where they can belong, build friendships and learn positive values. The project provides football training three times each week, regular tournaments, summer camps and special events throughout the year. At the heart of every activity is an opportunity to engage with God’s Word.

For many children, this is their very first encounter with the Bible.

Before matches, coaches share Bible stories and explain their meaning. During summer camps, children hear Scripture every day alongside sports and games. Special events such as the Easter Cup and Christmas Cup bring together Christian and non-Christian young people, creating natural opportunities to hear the Gospel in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Most participants com from Muslim backgrounds and may never otherwise have engaged with the Bible’s message.

The impact extends beyond the pitch.

Parents are invited to events and encouraged to become involved in their children’s journey. Families receive copies of Scripture and experience Christian care in practical ways. The project helps children develop confidence, discipline and teamwork while providing a safe environment away from harmful influences. Bible Match also offers support for children facing economic hardship, ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent them from participating.

Rezi has seen first-hand how important this support can be. Through years of coaching, he has learned that every child needs someone who believes in them. Not every young player will become a professional footballer, but every child deserves the chance to realise their potential and discover their God-given value. His Christian faith motivates him to care for the children not simply as players but as individuals with hopes, struggles and futures ahead of them.

This autumn, you can help make that possible for even more children and families.

In 2026, Bible Match aims to provide 380 Children’s Bibles and 611 New Testaments, helping children and parents encounter God’s Word for themselves. Your support will also help sustain coaching sessions, Bible storytelling, outreach tournaments, summer camps and practical assistance for vulnerable young people.

Football may be what first brings children through the gates, but Bible Match offers something far greater than a game. It offers friendship, belonging, hope and the opportunity to encounter God’s transforming Word.

As Rezi’s story reminds us, God can use a childhood passion to change countless lives. With your support, more children in Albania will hear the Good News, receive Scripture and discover people who care about their future.

Will you help make that possible today?

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

— Romans 12:13

Please give generously and pray for the children, families, coaches and volunteers involved in Bible Match, that many more lives will be transformed through sport and God’s Word.