New Programming: Football’s Hidden Story

Thursday’s at 8:30pm ET on GolTV An inspirational 26-episode documentary-style program, which captures extraordinary stories from around the world of people whose lives have been positively impacted by the game of soccer. From helping sufferers of schizophrenia rehabilitate in Italy to taking orphans off the streets and getting them into schools and onto soccer fields in Nepal, Football’s Hidden Story reveals true stories of lives changed and inspired by soccer.Episode 1: A New Dawn: The Rebirth of a Troubled NationIn 1974 Haiti won a place at the World Cup Finals in Germany. Thirty-three revolutionary years later, the impoverished country’s under-17 team was at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea in 2007. The team had its newly-built training ground ransacked, but due to the will and courage of many people, it has been able to maintain its training amidst the shoestring rebuild. It has managed to maintain good form and the nation hopes the national Under-17 team can harness its natural football skills and eventually bring glory back to the island. The main characters are members of the Vorbe family: Dominic Vorbe is FIFA and Haiti U-17 Co-ordinator and brother of Philippe who played in midfield in the 1974 FIFA World Cup; Fabian Vorbe is a nephew of the brothers and current star of U-17 side.

Episode 2: Women Referees: A Hard Job Made Harder

Finding out about the life and experiences of a female Moslem referee, Fatou Gaye, who has travelled across the world from impoverished Senegal to be a part of the elite group of women referees who officiate at international matches and is now training referees herself.