DUSHANBE (UCAN) -- The Argentine team may have been eliminated in the World Cup quarterfinals in Germany, but that did not stop people from watching "Argentina" compete at the stadium in the Tajik capital.

The flag of Argentina flew and the team wore the distinctive Argentine jerseys of white and sky blue, but the players all were Tajiks, 10-15 years old. Their coaches were Catholic priests, all from Argentina.

Interest in the World Cup, for which matches were played most days from June 9 until the final week, culminating in the July 9 championship match, provided the backdrop for the priests' "football apostolate."

Every Sunday and Wednesday a whistle blown by one of the missioner would start two teams, one wearing the Argentine uniform and the other that of a different country, battling for the ball and the chance to score.

Dozens of "fans" would cheer the youngsters on while waiting their chance to take the pitch or just watching the games going on at Aviator Stadium. Sometimes a couple games would be taking place at the same time, since the management of the stadium, home of the semi-professional Aviators football team, allowed the public free use of the field when the team did not need it.

The regulars on the Argentine and opposing teams were 10 Catholic children of St. Joseph Parish, half a kilometer from the stadium. Sometimes other children would join them, with the teams ranging from five to eight on a side.

The priests, also dressed in shirts and shorts of their home country's white and blue, get to show off their dribbling, passing, tackling and scoring techniques. They hoped to pass on soccer skills instilled when they were youngsters in Argentina to these youngsters in Dushanbe.

"Sport is one of our basic ways of working with children," said Incarnate Word Father Ezequiel Ayala, who plays football with the children and who appears to enjoy himself in the process.

Standing on the pitch, the 29-year-old priest told UCA News: "We can positively influence them, indirectly teach them good Christian values such as honesty, patience and generosity, and also bring them closer to the Church."

He added that some children who are not Christians join the young Catholics in football matches and thus get a chance to meet the priests.

"Tajikistan is a Muslim country and we cannot openly preach the Gospel in public places," the missioner pointed out. "But here, by good example, we can interest children, and next time, regardless of whether they win or lose, they will want to come and play with us again."

Muslims, mostly Sunni Muslims, account for 96 percent of the country's 6.5 million population. Members of the Russian Orthodox Church make up 3 percent.

The sui iuris mission of Tajikistan is relatively new, with only about 250 Catholics countrywide. The late Pope John Paul II entrusted their pastoral care to the Institute of the Incarnate Word when he established the mission in 1997. All five priests currently serving in the country are members of the institute, which was founded in Argentina in 1984.

They see their "football apostolate" as having several benefits.

"Sports, and particularly playing football, let us protect children from the street and its bad influence," said Father Pedro Lopez, in charge of work with children in St. Joseph Parish.

"We don't pay to much attention to technique, because we know that not all children can be great footballers, but we do try to inculcate in them a respect for each other, which is much more important," he told UCA News.

The 28-year-old priest said football offers them a healthy alternative to hanging out on the streets, where they might learn to smoke cigarettes or use illegal drugs.

The World Cup stimulated children's interest in the priests' alternative, with the stadium games bringing new participants. "I like to play football, especially when our priests play with us," said Artem, an 11-year-old Catholic boy from St. Joseph Parish. "It is so exciting."

Italy won the World Cup in a penalty shoot-out on July 9, beating France 5-3 in Berlin after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes. Argentina, the missioners' home team, considered a likely champion based on their performance in the early rounds, failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals after losing to hosts Germany 3-5 in penalty kicks on June 30.

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