Immigrant amateur team holds soccer tournament in Athens before World Cup

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Before North America; world cup Magic made a stop in Greece.

The players competed and bonded not in giant stadiums in Mexico, Canada or the United States, but on a practice field squeezed into the urban center of Athens.

There were no luxurious suites or grand stadiums, just a local soccer tournament in which immigrants and Greek players kicked a ball around the city’s fields as music streamed into the street and crowds squeezed against chain-link fences.

Albania, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria and Sudan did not qualify for the World Cup, but amateur players with ties to these countries put on their best games in Athens.

Many immigrant athletes are preparing for stricter immigration and asylum rules to come into force in Europe in June. But the tournament for immigrant and refugee communities was a fun diversion, a celebration of football and identity.

At a venue near Plato’s Academy, where ancient Athenians once debated the meaning of citizenship, the Acropolis loomed over a field. In the densely populated area of ​​Kypseli, supporters waved Congolese and Ivorian flags, and volunteers led outdoor drumming lessons nearby.

The teams competed to a soundtrack of African pop music as coaches shouted instructions and supporters cheered from the sidelines.

Cameroon’s Amélie Guedia danced onto the field with other players joining in before kick-off, eliciting laughter from those around her.

“It’s really nice to come here,” she said. “We’re not professionals, but we love participating.”

Guedia said he will be rooting for Ivory Coast at the World Cup after Cameroon failed to qualify.

Kypseli Mundial Tournament was founded three years ago by Moussa Sangare from Ivory Coast. He said he wanted to use soccer to combat fear and mistrust of immigrants in Greece.

mediterranean nation It is at the forefront of migrants entering the European Union illegally and was the scene of the 2015 refugee crisis. Although the number of irregular border crossings into Greece has declined over the past decade, anti-immigrant sentiment has increased and the government has vowed to tighten border controls and increase deportations.

“People are often afraid of immigrants, but we wanted to change this narrative,” he said. “Interact with immigrants and second-generation immigrants and do things together. People change their minds through experience.”

Sangare was virtually non-stop during the tournament, setting schedules, welcoming teams, filming social videos and cleaning up after games.

“For us, this tournament is like a mini-World Cup in Greece,” he said.

The timing of the Athens Games had its own symbolism.

The five-week World Cup begins on June 11th. The next day, new EU migration and asylum rules come into force, including tighter border controls and faster deportations. Greece also wants to move its migrant detention facilities to African countries.

Despite this background, there was a festive atmosphere in Athens.

The matches were competitive, but rarely hostile. The fierce tackle drew cheers from the sideline. Coaches were yelling instructions from a cramped dugout. Fans joked with rival supporters on the other side of the fence.

After a while they laughed.

For most players, tournaments were a break from their daily lives. Many people work long hours away from public view in restaurant kitchens, hotels, construction sites, and food delivery jobs across Athens.

“I’m very proud to be playing in this tournament for the first time,” Malian midfielder Amissi said immediately after the match. He works at a factory that assembles water heaters.

With 21 teams participating, Nigeria’s team won the men’s competition, while neighboring Greek club Fostilas won the women’s competition.

Referee Chara Vojacidaki said the significance of the tournament goes beyond the results on the field.

“There are so many countries and different cultures. I think the main goal is to show respect to all communities,” she said.

“Some teams are very technologically advanced, some are not so advanced, but the important thing is that all teams have the mindset of having fun,” Vojacidaki said. “It’s really beautiful.”