AVOI CF: Spain's First Oncohematological Football Team for Children Officially Presented
AVOI CF, Spain’s first football team for children undergoing oncohematological treatment, was launched at a memorable event with strong community and institutional support.
- • AVOI CF is Spain's first football team composed of children undergoing oncohematological treatment, officially presented at Málaga's Materno Infantil hospital.
- • The team consists of 21 players aged 6 to 14 and will train at Conejito field, participating in friendly matches and tournaments.
- • The launch event was attended by local government officials, Málaga CF representatives, and included spirited introductions of each child player.
- • The project has strong backing from nine partner organizations for the 2025/26 season and aims to promote sports values and hope among young patients.
Key details
Spain has witnessed a pioneering initiative with the official presentation of AVOI CF, the country's first football team composed entirely of children undergoing or recovering from oncohematological treatments. This groundbreaking team, consisting of 21 mixed-gender players aged between 6 and 14, was unveiled in an emotive event held at Málaga's Hospital Materno Infantil. The atmosphere was transformed into a football arena, complete with artificial turf, goals, and banners proudly displaying the team's name and motto, 'Sonrisas por bandera' (Smiles as a Flag).
The initiative originated from a heartfelt conversation when a child expressed to the president of Asociación de Voluntarios de Oncología Infantil (AVOI) his desire to return to playing football during treatment. Since 2014, AVOI has been organizing ‘oncofútbol’ tournaments, and this milestone marks the official establishment of a registered team with the Federación Andaluza de Fútbol. Guided by coaches Luis Sánchez and Francis Panadero alongside dedicated volunteers, the team will train on the Conejito field and participate in friendly matches and tournaments to foster sports values.
The launch event featured introductions of each young player by sports journalist Emilio Guerrero, as they walked a blue carpet to the stage, buoyed by the support of family, friends, and a dedicated fan base known as #SiempreFuerte. Esteemed attendees included Francisco Salado, president of the Diputación Provincial de Málaga, who highlighted the team's role as a vital connection to the realities faced by these children and expressed strong institutional support through the Sports Area. Other dignitaries and representatives from the Málaga CF football club also voiced their enthusiasm and backing for the project.
AVOI CF secured support from nine partner organizations for the 2025/26 season, with their logos displayed on the team's official kit. The team is set to debut in Alhaurín el Grande and has been invited by Fundación Málaga CF to visit their sports city and compete against their Supercapacitad@s team. This initiative embodies hope, resilience, and community solidarity, offering children undergoing challenging treatments the chance to play, have fun, and smile.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.