Sport connects and fraternizes. It may be a cliché, but it works, says youth worker Kamal Qebayli in the Zaan district of Saendelft. On the last day of the Christmas holidays, boys play football against boas and city council members.
It is busy in the Trias sports hall, where dozens of young people from Zaanstad, Haarlem, Schagen and Middenmeer compete for the SMD cup. The Social Services Foundation in Zaanstad organizes this football festival.
The highlight for Kamal is the match against the boas and the municipal councilors of Zaanstad. Not so much sporty, because in no time it is 2-0 for the youngsters. Kamal is mainly concerned with getting to know each other, making contact and mutual understanding. “That the boys see that behind a uniform there is a person who also loves football.”
Issues
Kamal is one of the four youth workers. “Actually not enough when you see how serious the problems are among many young people in Saendelft. A lot of neglect, poverty and also crime.” But today in the sports hall the emphasis is on the fun aspects. Sports, food, chilling and playing football. Both in real life and in a game on one of the big screens.
Melchior Mattens, councilor on behalf of the Party of the Animals, sees from the stands how his colleagues are being beaten to death. It doesn’t bother him, because for him too it’s about being together. “It is important that young people are given the space to do fun things such as sports. And not just hang around mindlessly on the street.”