Philadelphia Junior Cup-Keep Racism Out, Centro Bortolotti hosted the 17th stage

Atalanta BC’s involvement in the Philadelphia Junior Cup – Keep Racism Out, the national 7-a-side tournament that brings together parish youth centres from the cities of clubs competing in the 2025/26 Serie A Enilive campaign, continues. Now in its thirteenth edition, the initiative keeps promoting the values of inclusion and respect through football.

On Monday, April 13, youngsters from Oratorio Curno and players from Atalanta’s Under-14 women’s team had the chance to meet first-team midfielder Yunus Musah. Highlighting the core values of sport - friendship, respect, teamwork- and the ongoing fight against racism and all forms of discrimination, he delivered an engaging talk to the boys and girls, centred on the same guiding principles at the heart of the educational project that brings together Philadelphia (the iconic brand of the Mondelēz International group and title sponsor of the competition) Lega Serie A and the Centro Sportivo Italiano.

At the end of the meeting, the Oratorio Curno youngsters presented Musah with a jersey featuring the slogan “Football is friendship”, a symbol of the competition and a meaningful reminder of sport’s power to bring people together and build genuine connections, both on and off the pitch. In return, Lega Serie A awarded the team captain with the official Philadelphia Junior Cup – Keep Racism Out kit, personalised and signed by Musah himself.

“We are proud to support the Philadelphia Junior Cup which, once again this year, promotes the ‘Keep Racism Out’ campaign, renewing a commitment that we feel very strongly about”, said Andrea Fabris, Corporate General Director of Atalanta BC. “We firmly believe that sport is a fundamental educational tool, especially for younger generations. The values of inclusion and respect are conveyed not only through the game itself, but also through moments of dialogue and awareness, enriched by the contribution of leading figures from the sporting world, such as Yunus Musah. Initiatives like this clearly reflect our commitment to supporting projects that can generate a positive impact on communities, promoting universal values and contributing to the building of a more fair and inclusive society.”

The guiding thread of the educational activities is reflected in the very name of the tournament, supporting the “Keep Racism Out” awareness campaign against racism and all forms of discrimination, promoted by Lega Serie A in collaboration with the National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR) of the Italian Prime Minister’s Office.

Emphasising the project’s strong educational value, alongside the Under-14 players from Oratorio Curno and Atalanta’s Under-14 women’s team, the event also featured: Lucia Castelli, psychopedagogist within Atalanta’s educational staff; Martina Quintarelli, CSR Manager at Atalanta BC; Alessandra Maltempi from Lega Serie A’s Corporate Social Responsibility department; Alessio Franchina, National Coordinator for Communication, Marketing and Digital Innovation at CSI, and Enrico Merelli from CSI Bergamo.

All awareness sessions are held at Serie A clubs’ training centres, with the presence of players who, together with educators, psychologists and experts, engage directly with the boys and girls taking part in the tournament to explore its key themes. The initiative helps bridge the gap between grassroots and elite football, giving young athletes the opportunity to experience the game like true professionals: from entering Serie A Enilive stadiums through dedicated walkabouts to stepping onto the pitch in the pre-match build-up, experiencing top-level football from up close.