Last saved by: blion

The hungarian text

István Pisont Roma football player in Hungary, now the trainer of the young national team of the country.

He played in Hungary in first league clubs, then abroad and since 3 years he is the trainer of the young national team.

Begin dressing in the house with the son:

It is cold outside. They say it will snow today, we have to be careful.

Music

Giorgos: 
Basketball is my life’s passion…!
When I play basketball I feel happy, fulfilled… I have fun, I exercise… I enjoy training just as much as the actual games
I started playing basketball when I was 8 years old… during my “special school” years… my teacher thought I should go watch a Special Olympics basketball training… so I did… I liked what I saw and joined them…I’ve been playing basketball ever since… for the past 11 years or so! //

1:13  What will be your first lesson?
	Sport.
	You will wake up then.
1.28  Have a nice day…
	Hallo Niki, how are  your?
	Isn't cold today?
	No the coat is warm.

1:46 I changed of course, my environment changed a lot. I finished active football. I am now a trainer, a lot happened in this period. I am a very lucky person, because I became the trainer of national selection. Life gave me this chance to become so young a trainer with this background. I have to work a lot and I have to work very seriously to do this job. well.

Giorgos: 
When I was younger I pretty much kept to myself… I was lonely, I had nobody to hang out with; I was too intimidated to be friends with people…
Basketball changed my life, I socialised, met people, made new friends…occasionally I go out with them, have fun…
Because of the problem I was facing… being accepted by others, especially when I was younger… it was very difficult… I experienced many rejections… I still do, I believe, but… o.k. you learn to get over them!
The first time someone put a gold medal around my neck I felt so proud, Cyprus’ National Anthem was played out and that made me even happier, seeing Cyprus flag on the top post was just too much for me…! I felt so very proud; I just didn’t want it to be over.
Playing basketball makes me so very strong and empowers me to fulfil all my dreams.//

3:38 2006 I became the head trainer of the football club of Vecsés and three years later I changed to the national football association. Sándor Egervári asked me to travel with them to Egypt to help them and they asked me afterwards to become they trainer. This is the category of a trainer job I can be proud of. As roma life is much harder for a player. If you are already an insider and you have proven your talent and they accept you, you become a part of the system and you work, I don't think there is a trainer, even a hungarian, who wouldn't take a talented young player only because he is a Roma. I don't see it like this, I think when someone is gifted, he will get his chance.

Giorgos: 
When I first started playing basketball I found it almost too difficult to cope… so what I did was that I simply decided to overcome these difficulties… just to prove that I can play, too, that I’m not a… I may not be like all the rest of the people to begin with, but “I can do this!”
I started playing very moderately, I didn’t know how I should go about making it… but here I am, I learnt how to set goals, achieving them… I had to learn!//

5:18 Istvan Borbély, spokesperson of the hungarian national football association
István Pisont is a model for every child, when it wants to achieve something. Where he started, where he is now is a role model for everyone. Doesn't matter where was it born.

Giorgos: 
The difficulties I was faced against were those of my inability to walk or talk, but in time, due to the doctors’ and my teacher’s efforts, basically…I made it! Slowly – slowly I walked, I spoke…
I’ve been awarded quite a few medals and trophies, and that made me realise that I can achieve the impossible, so I’m no longer afraid to risk because I can do everything (others can)!//

6.08  In my group lots of very talented young Roma and I ask them to play football with passion, this is the way to the success. If they take this game seriously, it will bring them and us success and helps to bring out the talent.

6:38
The Roma families do a lot more even above their possibilities to support their children in football. I ask the parents, not to give up their children, as I don't let them down. Football helps to find hidden talents, it is an opportunity to break out. The most important is to achieve something and I support them in every way in this. If I see a gifted youngster, I'll lead him to the right way.

Giorgos: When I started playing basketball I realised that I was able to achieve things, so when I came of age responding to my country’s call to serve in the National Guard (military service) without letting them (the military authorities) know what I’d been through, and that I had a military service exemption, I tore the document and enlisted for service. I wanted to serve in the military just to show everybody that, YES, I was up to that as well…!//

7:53 I would be very happy, if I could have the same success, as a trainer, than I had as a player. This will be decided by life. Now I work very hard and learn a lot. I hope very much, that there will be a good result.

Giorgos: To me, the word “different” signifies what I was before, the person I was before who couldn’t do all that I can do today, because in fact what I can do today is so Different… I mean I couldn’t talk or walk…now I can talk and I can walk and occasionally I can think… so, for me the word “different” is my own evolution…what I am now! That I can be now! And how I will be even better in the years to come…//

8:47 What would make me satisfied? To be part of the success of the national football team. To go european and world championships with them. If God will be with me and I work hard, it hope than it will happen. This is what I wish for myself.