Football unites at Valentine Sports Park
Football United took centre stage at Valentine Sports Park on Thursday as over 300 school kids from across Sydney participated in their eighth successive ‘Fair Play Festival’ as part of the organisations ten-year anniversary celebrations.
One of Football United’s key drivers and ambassadors has been their Operations Manager and keen football advocate Assmaah Helal, who took part in the festivities at Football NSW’s headquarters.
Helal was delighted with how the ‘Fair Play Festival’ took shape, witnessing a number of smiling faces at the Valentine Sports Park precinct.
“It’s definitely been a successful day today.
“Today’s our eighth annual festival and it’s also celebrating Football United’s tenth anniversary which is pretty amazing and exciting.
“It’s also the biggest festival we’ve ever had with over 300 participants taking part from across parts of Sydney ranging from Campbelltown and Parramatta all the way to Penrith, Mt Druitt and the Eastern Suburbs, so we’ve got young people from over 40 different nationalities and backgrounds playing football getting to know one another today.”
The Festival was part of Football United’s ten-year anniversary activations, an achievement Helal and co were very proud of.
“It’s such an amazing achievement to be celebrating our ten-year anniversary because we’ve faced so many roadblocks and so many challenges specifically around sustaining our programs through different government funding and various sources and initiatives like ours.
“These initiatives usually last up to two to three years but thanks to the energy and inspiration from our founder Anne Bunde-Birouste, trickling down to our management staff, through to our participants and coaches, everyone’s inspired by our dream to make a change through football and I think that’s what’s kept us going for so long and have found creative ways in keeping us going.”
Helal, a footballer herself, was proud of how Football United has progressed ever since its early beginnings in 2006.
“Football United started in 2006 as an initiative from the University of NSW to assist with newly arrived refugees from all different backgrounds to come together, to be able to play football and to meet new people.
“Football United’s core focus is social inclusion and promoting education to youth.
“Football is a universal language, communities, regardless of their background, skin colour and language are all on a level playing field when they enter that pitch.
“Football United also focuses on promoting youth leadership so today is amazing as participants have been involved with the program since the beginning and have now taken up leadership opportunities, and are now coaching and leading some of our programs today.”
Asked what steps were needed to become involved with the program, Helal replied.
“There are a number of ways to get involved with this wonderful program.
“Firstly, check out the website footballunited.com.au – we’ve got volunteering opportunities especially coaching opportunities but also chances to get involved in the admin side and event coordinator opportunities as well.
“We’ve also started a new initiative called creating chances which is specifically aimed towards education and employment across all different sports and we look for opportunities for youth to engage in cross cultural camps and leadership opportunities but also to train up as facilitators.”
