Ħamrun Spartans have enjoyed great success in European football after becoming the first Maltese club to reach the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League.
But during their successful run in Europe, the Malta champions, through their social arm Ħamrun Ħanin, have realised the dream of a nine-year-old boy who got the opportunity of stepping onto the pitch with the Malta champions for a UEFA Champions League match.
Sheldon is an energetic boy whose biggest passion is to play football.
Life has not been easy for him. He comes from a challenging background, but with the care and support of his carers, Sheldon has found hope and direction.
Ħamrun Ħanin has been close to Sheldon, an avid supporter of Ħamrun Spartans, for several months now.
In collaboration with Ħamrun Ħanin, Sheldon joined the club’s nursery – the Hamrun Spartans FC School of Excellence. This past season, he began refining his skills, confidence, and future.
Ħamrun Spartans were not just happy to let Sheldon join their nursery; they wanted him to fulfil a dream he may never have dared to dream.
Sheldon’s passion for football runs deep, and his favourite position is goalkeeper. It’s no wonder that his football idol is Ħamrun Spartans and Malta goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
On July 15, Sheldon could not hide his excitement when he was allowed to go to the Centenary Stadium and watch Ħamrun Spartans face Lithuania’s FK Zalgiris in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
The young boy could not hide his excitement at not only seeing his favourite team come out victorious on the night after a thrilling shoot-out but also watching his idol Bonello emerge as the team’s hero when saving two penalties.
But there was more to come for Sheldon as two weeks later he was invited to join the Ħamrun Spartans contingent for the away trip to Poland, where they would face Dynamo Kyiv, in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
Sheldon thought that he would be just a mere spectator of the match.
During his stay in Poland, Sheldon had the chance to spend some time with his football hero, Henry Bonello, and even played football with him.
But the veteran Ħamrun goalkeeper had a huge surprise for his little friend.
On the eve of the match, Bonello joined Sheldon on the stands and asked him if he wanted to accompany him on the pitch in the following day’s match against Dynamo Kyiv.
A visibly emotional Sheldon quickly accepted and hugged his hero for the huge surprise he had for him.
On match day, Sheldon lined up holding hands with Bonello, and along with the other Ħamrun Spartans players, he stepped onto the pitch of the Arena Lublin.
“During the past season, we have made several campaigns that have touched various areas in our society,” Ħamrun Ħanin said in a statement.
“We helped people with disability, women who suffer domestic abuse – we always went towards helping a group of people in need. This time, we identified a person who had a particular challenge, and we did something that can make a major difference in his life.
“We didn’t just do a campaign or raise awareness about a social issue, but we got to know a person who had a particular goal and helped him realise this dream, and hopefully this experience will help him gain more self-confidence and self-esteem so that he can continue to move forward in his life.”
Sheldon has fulfilled a dream that very few children experience: accompanying his hero in such a prestigious match, and it’s an experience that he will cherish forever.
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