1/2 Nasser El Jackson (photo: Leon Voskamp).
Nasser El Jackson can rightly be called a ball magician. The former street football world champion is a well-known presence in Tilburg-Noord. To give something back to his neighborhood, he guided a group of eight young people who organized a well-attended street football event this Sunday afternoon. “Nasser is really a hero, that man can play football so well,” says 11-year-old Yasin.
Nasser El Jackson, the stage name of Nasser El Hajoui, can do a lot with a ball. A lot. With his ground moves he has already become world champion twice. He gave a short football show for about sixty young people from Tilburg-Noord on Sunday afternoon.
The 14-year-old Hasmieu also showed that he has special football qualities. The Tilburg teenager became world panna knockout champion in the summer of this year – under his stage name Hasmieu El Jackson.
Hasmieu was not just there to show tricks: he was one of the eight young people who set up the street football event. The youngest of the group even. “When Nasser approached me, I immediately thought it was a good idea,” says Hasmieu. “Together with a nice group from Tilburg-Noord, we learned in eight weeks how to create a… event had to organize. With success, because many boys and girls have registered. The process was very educational, this will help me for the rest of my life.”
The Tilburg street football player sees El Jackson as a role model. Hasmieu: “In any case, I owe a lot to Nasser. I have known him for years and as a football player he teaches me all kinds of things. Also things outside of football, such as socializing with other people. I hope our bond continues for many years to come.”
Tilburg-Noord is known as a district with its fair share of problems. When the news is made, it is not always because of positive things. El Jackson is a child of the neighborhood and wants to make a positive contribution to the development of youth. He looks with pride at Hasmieu and the seven other young people from the project. But also to all the football players who competed against each other in the hall or in the panna cage.
“I call the boys from the project eight local heroes. Talented boys, all with different backgrounds. One is at school, another works, a third wants to become a youth worker. All boys who are curious and skills want to learn. They had never organized a tournament before and that required creativity. In the future, a certificate will allow them to be used more often in tournaments, which are great opportunities for them. I am happy to commit myself to that.”
Tilburg
The project was previously successfully organized in Rotterdam, Assen and Delft. With the support of the BrabantSport Fund, Nasser el Jackson managed to bring the project to his own city.
