Latest News
Roberto Carlos exclusive: the Global Ambassador for Football for Friendship answers the questions of Young Participants from all over the world
The former Brazilian international, three-time winner of the Champions League and Global Ambassador of the Gazprom International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship (F4F), Roberto Carlos, spoke in an exclusive press conference with Young Players and Young Journalists about his life, his career and his support for F4F.
Roberto Carlos won the World Cup with the Brazilian national team in 2002. He also won the UEFA Champions League title three times (1998, 2000 and 2002) with Real Madrid as well as numerous national league championship titles. Currently, he is working as a youth coach at Real Madrid. Since 2020 he has also been a Global Ambassador for Football for Friendship. He has supported the programme since 2019, when he presented the winners of the F4F World Championship the cup at the closing events in Madrid, having taken part in other important highlights of the tournament as well.
In an online press conference at the end of May, he answered a wide range of questions from Young Players and Young Journalists with charm and wit. The topics ranged from the highlights of his career to his relationship with his family, his native country Brazil, and his support for Football for Friendship.
Asked about his most famous goal, Roberto Carlos couldn’t suppress a smile at first because, as he explained, he is often asked this question. But he then went on to mention his free kick against France on 3rd June 1997 at the Tournament of France in the 21st minute of the game and also his spectacular goal against CD Teneriffa on 21st February 1998. He also explained that the derby match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona had always been a highlight. He said that the Brazilian national team of 2002 and Real Madrid with its galacticos were his favourite teams, and argued that whether or not football was becoming more and more commercialised depended a lot on the actual club. Overall, football would continue to develop both technically and tactically.
He told David Sargent from Ireland that it was true that he had been named after the famous Brazilian singer Roberto Carlos Braga. It had been the wish of his father, whose favourite singer this was. He, Roberto Carlos, was a great admirer of the Brazilian singer Alexandre Pires. He explained that his family had been poor and that, when he was twelve, he had wanted to become a lawyer. But then everything had quickly turned out differently: a football career in Brazil, the national team and an invitation to play in Europe. He said that his family had always supported him, particularly his father, who had played football himself. And, of course, it had been painful to leave his family when he was just 13 years old.
Kinley Deki Yangzom from Bhutan asked him what he would do differently. He replied that everything had gone well and had helped him to develop personally and professionally. He told Miriam Sheahan from Ireland that he had never been afraid. But of course he had had dreams, for example to be able to build his parents a house.
In his view, respect towards others, and good, friendly behaviour – towards one’s opponent as well – were important qualities. He told Dominic Kramberger from Sweden that teamwork was an important precondition for success. And his answer to the question from Xuance Li, a Young Journalist from China, was that, because he himself had always behaved properly towards others, he had never been offended by anyone. Mihajlo Nasik, a Young Journalist from Serbia, played Roberto Carlos a serenade on his piano and then asked him about his creative hobbies. Roberto answered that he didn’t have any special talents and that his life was taken up with football 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Doro Yusupov from Tajikistan wanted to know what, in his view, were typical traditions in Brazil. The football star’s answer was good fortune, good food, respect for one’s family and the desire to spend the weekend with one’s family. Aahana Kamboj from India observed that Brazil had so many good footballers and asked whether it was to do with a particular kind of sand on the beaches there. Carlos replied that he had lived in India for some time and had a great love for the country. He went on to explain that the sand on the beaches most certainly wasn’t the reason why Brazil had so many good footballers. Quite simply, the people in his country played football everywhere and everyone wanted to become a star.
What he found good about Football for Friendship was that so many Young Players and Young Journalists meet up and can interact with one another. He thanked the young people for their many interesting questions and wished them all every success.
The 9th season of Football for Friendship is taking place in an online format from 14th to 29th May 2021. This year, F4F is bringing boys and girls together from more than 200 countries and regions. Young Players aged 12 are taking part in the 2021 Football for Friendship eWorld Championship (eF4F). The competition is being played on “F4F World”, the football simulator, which is available free of charge in 27 languages on MS Windows, Apple MacOS, Android and iOS.
Young Journalists report in the International Children’s Press Centre on the events in the 9th season of Football for Friendship and share with their friends the most important values in the programme: friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions, and honour.
You can watch the video of this press conference by clicking on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi6qD7wkhWA.
Aahana Kamboj, India: “I really enjoyed the session with Football for Friendship Global Ambassador, Roberto Carlos, where the Young Journalists from different countries asked questions related to his football career. Even I got the opportunity to ask a question. According to Roberto, teamwork is the key to success, and everyone must follow this rule to be successful in life.”
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Digitain
Digitain Nominated for iGaming Platform Provider Category at the Italian Gaming Awards 2026
Digitain has announced that it has been shortlisted in the iGaming Platform Provider category at the Italian Gaming Awards 2026, one of the industry’s most recognised platforms that celebrates excellence, innovation and impact.
Set against the backdrop of Rome, the IGA brings together industry leaders for a dedicated evening focused in performance, progress and partnership. The event praises platforms and product innovations, payment solutions, marketing and data intelligence, as well as compliance and certification.
Tying all of the above is Digitain’s platform, with a nomination that reinforces a clear direction: building technology that delivers tangible operator value. Designed to achieve clarity, speed and results, it includes a rich portfolio of products and services that cater the most demanding operator needs, both excelling and setting new standards in the iGaming industry.
“For us, this nomination is another step forward in strengthening our position as a trusted partner for ambitious operators, with a platform that performs where it matters most,” the Company said.
The post Digitain Nominated for iGaming Platform Provider Category at the Italian Gaming Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
QTech Games Introduces Multi-Sportsbook Integration for Aggregation Platform
Emerging-markets leader expands its offerings with an international sportsbook plan as the 2026 World Cup approaches.
QTech Games, the top game aggregator for emerging markets, has revealed the launch of a multi-sportsbook strategy coinciding with the significant 2026 sporting calendar, led by the FIFA World Cup soccer, which will serve as a major acquisition and retention catalyst for its clients in the emerging markets of Africa and Latin America, where football reigns supreme.
This week, Song88, an emerging sportsbook, leads the launch of multiple sports-betting platform integrations, captivating the Far East with an extensive array of sports and exciting markets offered both before and during events. The suggested range of highly adaptable sportsbook options indicates QTech’s strategic growth and consolidation in promising new markets where the cross-selling potential between sports betting and igaming is still mostly unexploited.
Song88 has swiftly gained popularity as a sportsbook, having been specifically designed for the preferences and needs of customers in developing markets. This innovative sportsbook operates on advanced pricing models and data streams – enabling users to experience dynamic and responsive in-play odds right until the final moment of a game, featuring competitive pricing across all sports. This service has come at the ideal moment for next year’s amazing sports calendar – featuring the FIFA World Cup, NBA basketball, and ATP Tennis – and can also be customized for local markets and specialized sports.
Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, said: “We’re excited to finally be able to offer a sportsbook in our product portfolio. It will support our continued growth and we are really looking forward to finally being able to deliver to clients who have long been keen to take the sports-betting component from us. It’s a natural step for us as a pioneering aggregator across emerging markets to be able to offer more in the value chain, and this localised versatility will give our partners a competitive edge. We are also very happy to partner up with Song88 with their strong product and talented team.
“To which end, over the coming months, we will reveal a roster of several other renowned sportsbooks, handpicked by QTech in order to allow our clients to choose and refine what is most suitable for them. A handful of suppliers with complementary strengths is the perfect model for optionality and flexibility on a worldwide stage, since every operator will have their own USPs, local market adaptions, or specific managed trading requirements. And the timing couldn’t be better with the World Cup coming up fast!”
Magnus Karlsson, CEO at Song88, added: “Song88’s is fast-becoming a favourite among new sportsbooks, having been developed from the ground up with local customers in mind. Now, with QTech’s expert stewardship and reach, we can take it to more territories across global emerging markets, especially given next year’s spectacular sporting schedule which revolves around massive events in football, basketball, baseball and tennis – all key trading competencies at Song88.”
The post QTech Games Introduces Multi-Sportsbook Integration for Aggregation Platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
GLI Becomes the First Company Accredited by PAGCOR to Test and Certify iGaming Platforms in the Philippines
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has been named an Independent Testing Laboratory (ITL) by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). GLI is the first gaming testing company to achieve the accreditation and is now authorised to test and certify iGaming platforms in the Philippines.
GLI will bring its global and unsurpassed expertise to the Philippines, helping to ensure PAGCOR meets its policy and regulatory objectives as set out in its rules. GLI’s presence and its GLI-19 Standard will also help suppliers who wish to successfully and compliantly enter the marketplace.
Submissions will be tested against “GLI Standard Series GLI-19: Standards for Interactive Gaming Systems,” which has been widely accepted and adopted by jurisdictions around the world.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said: “Regulated gaming markets ensure a safer and more sustainable gaming industry for all to participate in. A regulated market enables compliance to responsible gaming standards and the provision of tax revenue for reinvestment back into the community. PAGCOR now requires all iGaming B2B suppliers operating in the Philippines to be accredited to ensure they comply to the rigorous requirements needed to protect iGaming players. We are pleased to acknowledge GLI as the first testing and game certification provider to be accredited in the Philippines under this new framework. GLI is a global leader in regulatory advisory, iGaming and EGM testing / certification, and data security.”
GLI President and CEO James R. Maida said: “We are grateful to PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco and to the entire PAGCOR team for the trust they continue to place in GLI. Under the Chairman’s skillful leadership, the market in the Philippines has improved steadily, and we are honored to be the first company to be accredited for iGaming testing and certification, and we look forward to working side- by-side with PAGCOR to meet their policy objectives.”
The post GLI Becomes the First Company Accredited by PAGCOR to Test and Certify iGaming Platforms in the Philippines appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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