“Having a lot of fun with the girls, having fun and just having fun playing football,” says a player about participating in the tournament. Yet not everyone is equally relaxed. “We can still laugh now, but later when we are on the field there will be competition,” says another participant.
The organization also visibly enjoys the competitions. “I am personally very happy,” says Desmond Post of the Cruyff Foundation: “I always think of a statement by Cruijff himself: go outside and enjoy. I think children here go outside and enjoy themselves, so in that sense I am very satisfied.”
More girls on the square
The organization is very happy that many girls are participating in the street football tournament. Although women’s football has grown considerably in recent years, street football is still often seen as something for boys, according to the organization.
“You notice that squares are very much dominated by boys and that football is still subconsciously seen as a boys’ sport,” says Dounia el Ghayyati Fares, coordinator at El Mazouni coaching. “But when we organize activities, you notice that girls really enjoy it. I think the stigma needs to be removed a bit.”
“They often say: football is for boys. But in the end you see how many girls there are and how fun it is. Everyone is just the same,” says one of the players.
The winners of the semi-finals can play the final on Dam Square on June 13.
