THERE was a carnival atmosphere and a few Irish soccer heroes at Phoenix Park last month for this year’s Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI) Soccerfest.
The annual event is celebrating 21 years and Ireland’s migrant community was joined in the park by the Ireland U-20 team that won the bronze medal at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championships.
That team was managed by SARI Director, Brian Kerr, who said this year’s Soccerfest was an extra special event.
“While every Soccerfest is special we are especially proud that we are now marking 21 years of this fantastic sporting and cultural event,” he explained.
“This event is a unique mix of top quality football, fun and free events and in the past 21 years it has been a space for Ireland’s migrant communities to take another step forward on the path to integration.”
Kerr’s legendary U-20 World Cup team came back together for Soccerfest, playing under the Team Malaysia banner in honour of the country where they won their bronze medals 20 years ago.
Two decades later and under the captaincy of Thomas Morgan, they went on to win the SARI Soccerfest Cup 2017 beating Sunday Astro 2-1 in extra time.
“We are all so delighted to be here to show our support for SARI Soccerfest on this very special occasion,” Morgan said.
“Looking around today it is so clear to see that sport – all sport – can break down barriers of ethnicity, religion, gender, geography, political affiliation, sexual orientation, age and any other difference you can name.”
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mícheál MacDonncha, welcomed the teams to the Phoenix Park for Soccerfest.
“This is a great day of celebration for SARI and all the participant in SARI Soccerfest,” he said.
“I am also delighted to see so many people here in the Phoenix Park to support the teams and the work that SARI does.”
The first SARI Soccerfest was held in 1996 and since then over 6,000 people have participated in the tournament and a further 8,000 have travelled from migrant and minority communities across the country to enjoy the event.
This year, Soccerfest also hosted the launch of the European Week of Sport, which was coordinated by Sport Ireland to promote sport and physical activity across the country.
Sports clubs from across the country were in the Garda Grounds in the Park to showcase their sports including walking football, GAA rounders, orienteering, table tennis, cricket and volleyball.
“One of the key strategic objectives of Sport Ireland is increasing participation in sport and physical activity for all and we are determined to get as many people active as possible,” said Sport Ireland Director of Participation, Dr Una May.
“It is absolutely inspiring to see so many people willing to embrace new sports and activities so wholeheartedly.”
