Watching World Cup football television broadcasts is teaching seminarians team spirit and unity, says a Yangon seminary professor.

“It also refreshes the seminarians’ minds after so much hard work each day,” St Joseph’s Catholic Major Seminary sports master, Father Augustine Ko, told ucanews.com.

“It is also important for their future mission in the Church,” he said.

Final year theology student, Brother Raphael Tin Nay Khine from Pathein diocese agreed.

“We learn sporting spirit, unity and cooperation from the matches,” he said.

“When the favorite team loses unexpectedly, we hope to witness the true sporting spirit,” added Brother Bruno Myint Oo, a second year student.

Myanmar television channels are broadcasting World Cup 2010 matches live and seminarians are able to watch on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Seminarians also compete in friendly football matches with teams of young people from Yangon parishes.

These matches are considered a part of the seminarians’ apostolic activity in the parishes to which they are posted, Father Ko explained.

“To be a priest, a candidate is expected to be not only spiritually mature but also mentally and physically strong,” he said.

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