On Tuesday the team of the next year’s European Capital of Culture Maribor decided to express their support to Estonia with a special flyer on their Facebook site carrying the slogan „Maribor for Estonia“.

One of the initiators, Maribor European Capital of Culture creative strategist Matjaž Germ said: „This is from us to you. We hope our players will have brave Estonian heart today.“ Facebook flyer carried the promise: „Today we play for Estonia!“

The Slovenians’ Facebook support spread through the Facebook site of Tallinn 2011 like a wildfire among Estonian football fans and resulted in a flood of thank you messages to Maribor.
As the Slovenian team and especially the goal keeper Samir Handanovic, who averted the penalty of Serbian team, gave their all, this year’s European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011 wants to thank our Slovenian friends by sending to the whole team Tallinn 2011 mementoes like T-shirts, sweets, pins, books and nit-pickers cudgel – a traditional Estonian past-time tool representing the Estonian’s stubbornness.

„We can say that this was the most important game of Estonian national football team that was held without the participation of the team – Slovenia put its best abilities in this game to help Estonian football reach a level where it has never been before. It was a fantastic goal and a fantastic defence by the goal keeper,“ commented the board member of Tallinn 2011 foundation Jaanus Mutli, who is also an active international football referee.

After the game Maribor 2012 Facebook site issued a nice comment: „Promise given, promise fulfilled, promise kept. ;) Have a wonderful night of celebration, European Capital of Culture 2011 and the rest of Estonia. See you in Maribor next year. Culture connects.”