"The Leather Ball" has already become Pridnestrovian tradition. The Soviet practice of holding annual football battles between school teams, revived in 2019 at the initiative of the President Vadim Krasnoselsky, has found favor with today's youth. Around 400 teams, approximately 4000 players, participated in the 2025-2026 tournament. The finals began in April. First, teams from Tiraspol, Bendery, Slobodzeya, and Dnestrovsk played in Slobodzeya, while representatives from the Kamenka, Rybnitsa, Grigoriopol, and Dubossary districts battled for the winning goal on the fields in Dubossary. The strongest teams met today in the capital. Twenty-four teams (300 young players) competed for first through fourth place in their age groups. The championship was won by boys from the School No. 2 of Tiraspol and the girls' team from the village of Butor in the Grigoriopol District in the 4th-5th grade category. The winners among students in grades 6-8 were students from the Glinoye boarding school and the football players from the Krasnyanskaya secondary school. The young men from Kamenka School No. 2 and the senior girls from Kitskany (School No. 2) defeated their competitors in the 9th-11th grade category.
The PMR President welcomed the tournament participants and organizers. He presented the winners with well-deserved awards: cups to the teams and medals to the football players. "Football is a popular sport. There is tremendous involvement and great interest. Today, the exciting finals took place, and the winners have been determined. There are no losers here for me personally. You all did well. Everyone worked hard. It's clear that you dedicate your personal time to this, you're passionate about it, and you're achieving results. I was especially pleased today with Kamenka, which achieved its first significant result, winning the final among adult boys. Those who lost today, don't despair. You're great, too, and better luck next time," Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized.
