By Aaron Cordy
SPORT is a great way to bring communities together. Done right, it can be an opportunity for groups of all ages to come together and engage in a fun social activity and build new friendships. The GV Afghan Youth Association (GVAYA) channelled this mantra last month when they hosted an indoor soccer competition at the Shepparton Sports Stadium.
A young Tekkerz FC team was crowned the Champions of the GVAYA Indoor Competition on Saturday, October 26. Empowered by the youth of the local Afghan community, eight teams and over 70 players competed in the round-robin event.
There were some exciting matches in both the group A and B section, which the top two teams from each played a semi-final. The final match was played between Zulfi Customs Fc Vs Tekkerz Fc. The first half was a tight battle with both sides on a goal apiece, before Tekkerz stormed away with three unanswered goals, winning the grand finale by 4 – 1.
“The objective of this tournament was to unite our diverse young community in a competitive indoor soccer event, fostering participation and enjoyment. It was a wonderful day filled with players, supporters, families, and volunteers all coming together to celebrate,” said player and volunteer Qader Karimi.
The event was sponsored by GSCC, the State Government, along with funding from members of the GVAYA community, who organised the event. FReeZA program was recognised for its role in empowering youth to take charge of organising such events, ensuring a safe, inclusive environment free from drugs, alcohol, vapes and smoke, thereby fostering a positive space for self-expression.
After the success of the day, the GVAFA community is looking to build upon the tournament by making it an annual event, and open it up to the wider community, and possibly attract teams from outside the region to come and compete in Shepparton.
