Going bananas for football

WANNABE Wayne Rooneys from across East Renfrewshire are gearing up for the battle that is the third annual Fairtrade Football Festival.
Councilllor Vincent Waters, 'Bananaman' Savio DSouza and Steve Taylor from the Chamber of Commerce.Councilllor Vincent Waters, 'Bananaman' Savio DSouza and Steve Taylor from the Chamber of Commerce.
Councilllor Vincent Waters, 'Bananaman' Savio DSouza and Steve Taylor from the Chamber of Commerce.

The seven-a-side tournament will take place on March 7 and is being billed as “a lighthearted, networking opportunity to spread the serious message of Fairtrade”.

The event is a joint effort between East Ren council and East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce with the chamber providing the trophy — won last year by council team Mahon’s Mavericks.

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Some 14 teams will participate this year from the council, parliamentary office and business community and it will be run by ERC Sports Service.

Businesses will include teams from Whole Foods Market, DMS Energy Solutions and Manorview Hotels.

Fairtrade fortnight runs from Febuary 24 until March 9 this year and the Fairtrade Foundation’s campaign aims to transform the banana industry.

Environment convener councillor Vincent Waters, whose remit covers Fairtrade, said: “The Fairtrade Foundations wants to ensure every banana farmer and worker earns enough to have a decent stadard of living, works in conditions that are safe and has rights and benefits.

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“It also means bananas are produced in a way that is environmentaly sustainable too.

In the last 10 years, the UK supermarket sector has almost halved the shelf price of loose bananas while the costs of producing them has doubled, trapping many of the farmers and workers who grow them in a cycle of poverty.

“Our Fairtrade Football Festival will help to promote this message this year.”