The Dragonas de Lavapiés will be the female team benefiting from the Donosti Cup Munduan 2025 scholarship
A new chapter for the girls of CDE Dragones de Lavapiés following the cancellation of Hold My Hand's visa
The female team of Dragonas de Lavapiés, from CDE Dragones de Lavapiés, will finally be the beneficiary of the Donosti Cup Munduan 2025 scholarship. Initially, the beneficiary team was supposed to be Hold My Hand Charity from Ethiopia, who were the winners of the scholarship, but unfortunately, due to the denial of their visas to participate, the Dragonas will now take on this important role.
"Hold My Hand Charity" was chosen as the winner in the female category, recognized for their work with vulnerable children in Ethiopia, using football as a tool for social transformation. However, despite the efforts made by the NGO, collaboration with the embassy, and their efforts, the Ethiopian players' visa was recently denied. The organization did everything possible to allow the girls to participate, but unfortunately, the goal was not achieved.
In response to this situation, Donosti Cup has decided to award the scholarship to Dragonas de Lavapiés. This Madrid-based club has been a leader in inclusion and gender equality in football, and their female team has shown impressive growth, representing hard work and overcoming challenges, values that Donosti Cup strongly supports.
CDE Dragones de Lavapiés has participated in several Donosti Cup editions with their male teams, but now, for the first time, they will compete with their female team. The club, which has over 600 players from more than 50 nationalities, has turned football into a powerful tool for integration and respect in one of the most diverse neighborhoods of Madrid.
The club president, Dolores Galindo, says: "Our effort to promote women's football in the club has been constant, and although it was difficult at first to attract more girls, now women and girls make up almost a third of the club. We are excited to represent our neighborhood and to have the opportunity to compete in the Donosti Cup."
This project is made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Donosti Cup Foundation and the support of Alfa Laval, the female football partner of the tournament, which also backs the scholarships in 2025. Without a doubt, the Dragonas de Lavapiés will be a great representation of women's football in the upcoming edition of the Donosti Cup.
Pictures: Juan David Cortés and CDE Dragones de Lavapiés
