The 'Tre Fontane' soccer team uses sport as a means of integration and chance to meet for asylum seekers and refugees in Anzio and Nettuno.
Tre Fontane is a soccer team formed entirely of refugees and asylum seekers from the special reception centres in Anzio and Nettuno to promote integration through sport.
Soccer that breaks down barriers
The idea of creating a team dates back to 2015. "We watched the African Cup all together in the bar I ran", said Valerio Marchione, who is responsible for the project and the team's trainer. The young men from four reception centres in the Lazio coastal towns of Anzio took part in a tournament involving the centres and won.
In 2017, together with the cooperative Tre Fontane, they presented the project for participation in the Third Category tournament. It was accepted thanks also to the support of the Italian national Olympic committee CONI and the Federation of Italian football associations FIGC.
There are currently 25 players coming mostly from sub-Saharan Africa."Before the project, many of the players didn't know each other, they didn't talk," Marchione said. "Through the team, it has been possible to integrate and create a group of friends".
Opportunity for the future
The initiative is supported by AS Rome, which has donated equipment through its foundation Rome Cares. Sport is a way to "make them have fun, play and forget about the torture, abuse and difficulties that many experienced in order to get to Italy," Marchione said. In addition, many have always dreamed of being a football player, and the intention is also to "get the boys noticed by other amateur sporting associations".
Koumba, 19, is one of the refugees in the team. "For me, this team is very important, I want to play and these people help me," the Guinean told ANSA. He arrived in Italy 13 months ago and has been granted international protection.
"The theme of immigration often has a negative connotation, instead we want to bring out the positive aspects," said Rosa Perrotta, coordinator of immigration services for Tre Fontane. "We don't just provide reception services but we also transfer specific skills and organize recreational activities," she added.