Rotterdam is the winner Amsterdam Futsal Tournament 2009

 

During 26th and 27th of December the Amsterdam Tournament Futsal (AFT) took place in the sporting halls Zuid. This year was another successful tournament. There were many applications from teams all wanting to win the Amsterdam Futsal Tournament 2009 cup. A total of 16 teams participated in this tournament. On Saturday, the teams played the group round in the groups A, B, C and D. On Sunday, the quarter finals, semi finals and finals took place. Before the tournament started, there was a debate on the issues: integration of Somali community in the Netherlands, the future of Amsterdam Futsal Tournament and the contribution of young people to develop cooperation in the VIB section of the sporting halls. Young people have participated actively in the debate.

 

This year, every team had the option of including two non-Somali youths into their teams, which they did in large numbers. Some teams even brought more than two into their team. Despite the snow which made biking or driving not as easy, almost everybody who signed up showed up to participate. Many friends, parents and soccer fans sat in the audience to encourage the teams. This resulted in many good matches with enthusiastic contestants. Team Rotterdam this year won the cup for the second time. The team had won the first cup of Amsterdam Futsal Tournament in 2005.

 

Afterwards a party was organized by the VIB for the trophy ceremony. The teams, the participants and the organization had the chance to give their speeches and to give thanks to the guests.

 

All this would of course not have been possible without the help of volunteers from Hirda Foundation, the officials, Somali Sports Legends, Universal TV and Somali journalists from various countries of Europe who all gave some of their time to help us out, so that this tournament could be called a success. Through this way, we thank you again for your help.

 

Futsal Hirda organizers

 

History Amsterdam Futsal Tournament

Over the last four years HIRDA has held an indoors tournament (Amsterdam futsal tournament) for Somali immigrant youth in particular. Every year, to promote awareness of young people in addition to organizing a tournament, a debate is held with a yearly changing theme.

In the first year (2005) the theme was development, youth and discrimination in 2006, in 2007 youth and cohesion, and last year youth and radicalization. This year, however, we focus on young people and ways of activating them. The theme will be "youth and activation", meaning the act of putting young people towards social activities, education, security and peace.

 

This fits well with the Cabinet paper "Sport Time" where the interests of a sporting society is central. Besides that the event is a meeting place for young people, it is also a step for them to actively participate in sports within their own social network, while teaching the younger immigrant and native (they are also welcome) to better deal with the differences between backgrounds on a neutral territory.

 "Sport brings people together from a single sporting experience and objective." Criteria which are distinctive in society do not need to be so in the sport. The rules for sport apply to everyone regardless of who is "indigenous" and "immigrant" in daily life.