MADRID, 30 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
‘The tracks’, by journalist Jorge Villena, is the winner of the third edition of the ‘AFE Carlos Matallanas Award’, which has an endowment of 18,000 euros and whose proceeds from its sales will go entirely to FUNDELA.
“Carlos has been and is a mirror in which to look at myself without ever having met him. Practically the same age, from Madrid like me, a journalist like me, he played soccer on land like me. It is impossible not to see myself reflected in him,” Jorge Villena highlighted in your thank you speech.
The winner began to read the articles by Carlos Matallanas and found that “not only did he talk about football, but he also wrote texts on complicated topics”, and that he did so “always with arguments in hand, with the utmost respect for all sensitivities. and opinions “.
“And that is neither so easy nor so common. He ended up becoming a benchmark for me because of his enormous passion for our profession and his attitude in life. If the award did not bear his name, I would not be here today, that I have it very clear, “Villena said.
For his part, David Aganzo, president of the AFE, believes that around this award “a family has been born that does not stop growing, that continues to walk together with a common goal, to join together so that research finds a cure this disease that can affect anyone “.
The former striker did not forget Juan Carlos Unzué, “another example of life and another leader like Carlos”, or “those people who daily fight against this disease”, and stressed that his union “will continue to reinforce this project, always with spirit positive, without ever considering throwing in the towel. “
The winning work has the prologue of the former player and former Atlético de Madrid captain Gabriel Fernández, ‘Gabi’, who stated that Carlos Matallanas taught him “to value life, and within it, football.” “He was able to focus attention and with his signature transmit a legacy that is eternal,” he stressed.
Finally, Maribel, mother of Carlos Matallanas, confessed that “nobody” prepares a person to “fire a son.” “And it is heartbreaking, but even more terrible is being his heir, although I am fortunate because that allows me to be here, collecting so many signs of affection and affection, and to ask for support to fulfill his legacy, which is to continue to make ALS visible, to fight for obtaining funds for FUNDELA to promote research and to help achieve a time when no one suffers from a death diagnosis, “he said.
On behalf of the jury, Fernando Schwartz took the floor, describing ‘The tracks’ as a “serious, fun and full of feelings” work. “It is simple and is very well written; it works the guilt, the shame, the triumph. All the members of the jury loved it and I encourage the winner to continue writing,” he celebrated.
‘The tracks’ is a solid novel that combines the football side with an entertaining and thought-provoking plot on topics such as friendship or roots. It is a convincing novel, with social sensitivity, well planned and narrated, managing to be an entertaining and interesting reading for the reader. She is sensitive, soccer, entertaining, manners, solid, reflective, social, close, dynamic and demanding.