Young footballers from east London have told of an “emotional” international tournament at which they joined players from war-torn Syria.
Eight 12- to 14-year-olds from the West Ham United Foundation starred with teams from around the world at Football For Friendship in Milan.
Players from Syrian side Al Wahda SC’s youth academy have had their lives devastated by the civil war, with some losing relatives, but the Damascus team wanted to show the positive role football can provide young people at the two-day street soccer tournament.
Elliot Wavika, 14, from Hainault, West Ham’s goalkeeper at the six-a-side tournament, said it was “emotional” to meet the Syrian players.
He said: “It must be hard for them, how they have come straight out of a war zone and have had to go back. It is hard for them to forget about what has happened and play football, but it can help, too. Football gives them something to take their mind off what is happening in their country.”
Ziad Chabo, 37, former captain of the Syrian national side and youth team coach, said: “Syria is a dirty war. I have lost two uncles, my sister, but this is normal for us, this is life. We must still stand up for our country, for our nation, and football gives us hope and shows there can be a normal life, too. In Syria we try to have a normal life, too.” The Football For Friendship international children’s forum, now in its fourth year, is an initiative by Gazprom, sponsor of the Uefa Champions League, and aims to develop youth football and foster tolerance and respect for different cultures among children worldwide.
Some 250 12- to 14-year-olds from clubs in countries including China, Brazil and Japan took part, with each player having the chance to watch Real Madrid win the Champions League at the San Siro stadium on Saturday.
West Ham’s foundation works with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and the players it chose for Milan included those who have grown up in the shadow of violence.
Shamajul Motin, 31, the foundation’s community sports manager, said: “We didn’t just choose the best players, but chose children who maybe needed the confidence boost to get them going.”
Malachi David, 14, from Newham,said: “I have faced a few problems and had to drop out of a team’s academy.
“But the foundation has helped and supported me and I’m on the up now and hope to get back into academy football next year. To come out to Milan was an amazing opportunity.”
West Ham’s side lost in the last 16 to eventual winners NK Maribor from Slovenia after qualifying from a group with sides including Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.
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