Around 120 young footballers with Latin American roots played in a futsal tournament yesterday in Crystal Palace. 16 teams competed. Watching from the sidelines were scouts and coaches from top football clubs in London and Latin American footballers who play for clubs in the UK.
The event was put together by Carnaval del Pueblo and the London Football Association and Futsallers to celebrate Colombia’s Independence Day. It is part of an initiative by Futsallers that aims to offer 675,000 UK students aged 13 to 15 more opportunities in sport over the next four years.
CEO of Futsallers (foundation dedicated to making futsal a global community sport) and vice president of the London Football Association, Drew Patterson, said “We are committed to positively impacting our young players’ lives. That’s why we’re striving to develop Futsal as an Olympic sport. We are enjoying being pioneers on this; it’s a project we will announce soon.”
However, this tournament was very much built with Latin American talent in mind. Patterson believes that Latin Americans are underrepresented in UK football and said the ‘vibrant spice and colour’ that is often associated with cultures from the region translates to flair on the futsal court.
“We aim to shine a light on the immense talent within the Latin American community in the UK. Futsal is more than a game; it’s a movement that redefines grassroots sports by fostering community, inclusivity, and opportunity while nurturing future talent,” he added.
Up and coming Latin American entrepreneurs were welcomed along to show off their culinary and artisan work with pop-up shops. Director of Carnaval del Pueblo, Nuala Riddell-Morales, said the tournament was about more than just sport: “This family-friendly event is a celebration of Colombian culture and heritage with Latin American food stalls and cultural performances.” Carnaval del Pueblo is the largest Latin American festival in the UK, celebrating the rich and diverse cultures of the 19 Latin American countries through music, dance, and community events.
(Photos: Pixabay)
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