The great creator of indoor soccer, Professor Juan Carlos Ceriani Gravier, destined to mark a milestone in the history of universal sport, was born on a day like today, March 9, 1907. He would have turned 117 years old on that date.
As a just recognition to this visionary pioneer, March 9 has been declared as the International Day of Indoor Soccer.
A few days ago, the YMCA World (the world organization of the Young Men's Christian Association), in Bucharest, Romania, paid tribute to him considering his merits in service to the aforementioned entity, in whose establishment he worked as a physical education teacher and in fulfillment of this mission he devised the rules and promoted the practice of a sport that is now played practically all over the world.
This discipline is now at a global level and its progress, despite external situations that put obstacles in its way, knows no pause, because it represents an entire culture, which we should not only enjoy but respect, preserving its identity and independence.
The head of the World Indoor Soccer Association, Dr. Rolando Juan Alarcón Rios, has summarized the feelings of the leaders of this sport today, highlighting that their conduct is inspired by this great pioneer, being the referred international entity, "the true heir of the principles and values that Maestro Ceriani marked as a guide and route to follow from Montevideo, Uruguay, so today remembering him, we honor his memory and the authentic values treasured by our sport."
