Twenty-four football teams featuring players from all over the globe will participate in a Unity Cup Football tournament in Manchester to mark National Refugee Week.
Teams including refugees, asylum seekers and British-born players will go head to head in the six-a-side Unity Cup and Unity Shield being held at Salford Sports Village on Sunday June 15th 2008.
Matt Pickford, Social Inclusion Co-ordinator at Manchester FA, said: "This unique event will see players of all abilities and from multiple backgrounds coming together for a day of football and family fun.
"Manchester FA has been heavily involved in Refugee Week football tournaments in Manchester for the past eight years and is delighted that for the second year it is being staged in Salford.
This event may be a football competition but the underlying feature of the day is community cohesion and social inclusion. Sport and football particularly can be a fantastic tool in assisting refugees and asylum seekers in integrating into their communities."
The countries represented in the Unity Cup include Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Cameroon and Yemen. There are also mixed teams of refugees and British-born players.
There will be no lack of entertainment for spectators and youngsters, as there will also be play workshops, fun interactive sessions and live entertainment.
The Unity Cup will take place at the Salford Sports Village on Littleton Road, Kersal from 10am until 4pm. Entrance is free and all are welcome.
For additional information on this and other Social Inclusion Initiatives operated by Manchester FA please contact Matt Pickford on 0161 604 7630 or email matt.pickford@manchesterfa.com
