In Naples, as anywhere, football holds the heart and stirs the soul, but it also offers much-needed optimism to people creating their own narratives and new chapters while living in the shadow of Napoli’s Scudetto-winning legends. In 2009, African Napoli United was founded as the second team in the city. Since then, they have seen past players succeed and play in Serie A and European competition, counted a Maradona in their ranks, and successfully petitioned Fifa. The club has made its way up the Italian football pyramid, from the fourth tier to the fifth. But, their primary goal is only a joyful by-product of their success in sports. Fighting racism and discrimination is more crucial since these issues make it easier for immigrants, asylum seekers, and young people at danger of exclusion to find housing, employment, and a stable existence. Being street players who grew up playing the game, Luigi Di Nunzio, one of the club’s directors, tells BBC Sport, “Football for us is not only a sport; it is a way of life.” READ: It serves as our teacher and teaches us how to connect with others, coexist in a community, and respect one another. Di Nunzio and his friends frequently ran out of players, as is commonplace throughout the world, so they started inviting passersby outside their office, which was close to Naples’ central station, to join in. Since many of the original group were involved in social integration and human rights, Di Nunzio and his pals wanted to assist their new team members as they settled in the city. They quickly learned that the majority had come to the United States from Africa in quest of employment and opportunity. Di Nunzio says, “That was amazing because we instantly realized it was a two-way interaction that was very effective for both of us.” “Anybody with prejudices or biases toward immigrants actually started to comprehend them and connect with them, and suddenly started losing all that prejudice. “From the standpoint of the migrants, it was the best strategy for assimilating into society. “We consider paperwork, shelter, having food, and employment. Yet, they typically form a tight-knit society, and their integration stops there. As a result, we never observe them becoming truly part of the community or forming relationships with the locals. “Football allowed them to accomplish this, and we gained a lot of friends,” This informal kickaround quickly […]
