- A friendly match between the women’s teams of the two municipal football schools took place on Benitatxell’s field.
El Poble Nou de Benitatxell is strongly committed to women’s football. Yesterday, Thursday, as part of the #8M, International Women’s Day, the municipal field hosted a friendly match between the women’s teams of the municipal football schools of El Poble Nou de Benitatxell and Benissa.
The girls received a special and motivating visit. Gemma Pastor, Valencia CF goalkeeper, encouraged them to continue enjoying women’s football, which is experiencing its best moment in Spain, with great references for girls, after the victory of the women’s national team in the 2023 World Cup. ‘When I was younger, my teammates at Verger always welcomed me very well, but I know that there have been girls who have been excluded. That’s why it’s nice to see that there are more and more women’s teams’.
Gemma Pastor (El Verger, 2008) started playing with the mixed team of CEF El Verger at a very young age. In her second year of alevín, when she was only 11 years old, she joined Valencia CF. She then played in the infantile category, winning the league championship for the first time along with the rest of her teammates. She also played in the National Autonomous National Team with the U-15 and later with the U-17. Last season, she spent the pre-season with the Valencia CF first team, and now plays for Valencia Féminas CF B.
The event, organised by the Councillorship of Equality, in charge of Isa Garrido, in collaboration with the Sports Department led by Javi Cabrera, was also attended by the Councillor of Sports of Benissa, Adrián Cabrera, and representatives of the football schools of El Poble Nou de Benitatxell and Benissa.
Councillor Isa Garrido presented a commemorative plaque to the guest team, and councillor Javi Cabrera presented Gemma Pastor with goalkeeper’s gloves decorated with the Benitatxell shield. The players also received a small gift consisting of a purple backpack for March 8th. The match finished with a 2-0 victory for the team from El Poble Nou de Benitatxell.
The 8M programme continues this weekend
The events continue this weekend with important offers. This Friday afternoon, the European Union of Women Marina Alta has organised a dance demonstration with Pam Small, the presentation of the book ‘No son heroínas’ by its author, Pilar Brotóns, and a small snack.
The main event of the programme will take place on Saturday March 8th. At 7.30 p.m. at the Social Centre, the documentary ‘Memoria Viva. Homage to the working women of the past’, which tells the story of seven women from the town who, at a time when women were relegated to the housework and the priests, broke down barriers and made their own way in the world of work outside the home. Before that, at 7pm, the photographer Jessica Hooghiemstra will present her exhibition ‘The Women of Benitatxell’ and in the morning, the library will host the storytelling with a gender perspective ‘Rosa Caramel’.
Sunday 9th will close the week with the traditional lunch of the Associació de Dones (Women’s Association) and the concert of female voices of the Cor de La Rectoria. However, next week, on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, the two activities postponed due to the weather warning have been rescheduled: the urban walk and snack at the l’Abiar washing house by the Associació de Dones and the cineforum of the film ‘La abuela y el forastero’ with its director, Sergi Miralles, and Arminda García.
