The story of the GGWCup 2019 Champion: Team Yellow Ladies from Czech Republic
by Magdaléna Benesová, Association of Social Responsibility.
Team Yellow Ladies together with Lucie Madlova and choreographer, professional dancer & SDG ambassador Yemi A.D. at the Finals in NYC September 25th, 2020.
Where does this story begin?
The tourning point was surely in March 2019 after the Czech Post’s team Yellow Ladies, named after their shiny yellow uniforms, decided to sign up and participate in the first GGWCup in the Czech republic: GGWCup Prague 2019 on May 29 and step onto the pitch at the Wenceslas Square - one of the main city squares and the centre of the business and cultural communities of Prague.
After this very first big step the group of nine completely unknown women met for the first time on the training field.
To qualify the team had to choose one of the Global Goals to play for. Because the Czech Post has an extensive preventive program on early detection of both breast and skin cancer, the team decided to play for SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being.
The Yellow Ladies represented one of the biggest public institutions in Czechia, the Czech Post, with more than 30,000 employees across the country, and had a very strong fan base throughout the whole company.
With the most visible fan called ‘The Package’, Yellow Ladies went easily through four games and defeated two ministry teams – one from Ministry of Trade & Industry of the Czech Republic and team FK Lvice Černín from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in the final match.
The nine ladies from the nine different departments whithin the Czech Post was the first GGWCup Prague Champions and qualified to participate in the GGWCup Finals in New York City during the UN Assembly Week.
“I couldn‘t even imagine, that 9 girls can fit to each other just at first sight. It’s an absolute fortune that the destiny put us together, the strong team with a huge dream to win tournament and travel accross the ocean to the NYC GGWCup finals. When I saw the determination and desire to play, I knew that we can make it.”
The Ladies was no longer unknown. Next stop was New York City.
For some of the players on team Yellow Ladies, this was a first time wearing football shoes. For some it was a first time playing football. For all players this was a first time crossing the Atlantic. Dreams came true - and with this skyrocketing energy boost, it was obviously that anything was possible for the Yellow Ladies, when they entered the football pitch on the 48th floor in New York City September 25th, 2019.
The Yellow Ladies was unstoppable.
After winnings in the first matches, the match between the Ladies and team Hestia FC (refugees from Greece) when into overtime and was decided in a penalty kicks competition. In the final match Team Yellow Ladies defeated the very strong and talented team Greens from Saudi Arabia.
The pitch on the 48th floor was theirs, and the Yellow Ladies took home the unique golden trophy design by artist Olafur Eliasson.
The tournaments first in Prague on May 29 and then the finals in NYC, were for the Ladies more than playing football. The events got the all participants motivated speak up and showcase how they support each to reach their individual goals, the corporate goals and the Global Goals.
About Yellow Ladies
Česká pošta´s team Yellow Ladies play for Global Goal 3: Good health and well-being
By their activities they want to support Česká pošta’s preventive programs that support breast and skin cancer prevention and are intended not only for employees but also for the public.
Host Partner
About Association of Social Responsibility
The Association of Social Responsibility is the largest initiative of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Czechia. Within its unique vision, and with more than 300 members, the Association brings together involved parties and it links organizations from the corporate, non-profit, educational, and public sectors to increase their CSR and sustainable business potential and abilities.
Since 2016, A-CSR has been the national ambassador of a major global event Giving Tuesday and as such, the Association has contributed to the culture of donation in Czechia. Since 2017, the Association has been organizing the prestigious SDGs Awards that are a unique way of recognition of fulfilling the UN SDGs in Czechia. In cooperation with its members, the Association brings to Czechia other global initiatives such as Plogging Czechia, an eco-friendly activity combining jogging with picking up litter. As the national partner of the United Nations Global Compact, A-CSR helps to bring to Czechia the global and unique know-how of this world’s largest sustainable business platform within the United Nations.
In 2020 we will continue our collaboration and bring back the GGWCup. Team sign up will open Match 8th, 2020.