Football Federation SA’s African Nations Cup set for long weekend
ALHASSAN Toure was just four when his family fled poverty-stricken west African nation Guinea in search of a better life in SA. Now he hopes to lead his country of birth to soccer glory in his adopted homeland.
ALHASSAN Toure was just four when his family fled poverty-stricken west African nation Guinea in search of a better life in Australia.
The move continued a nomadic existence for the Croydon Kings soccer players’ parents, who were forced out of their homeland in Liberia several years earlier due to civil war.
“It was really difficult for them,” Toure, 17, said.
“They barely had food to eat and my mum when she had me was really sick.
“But it was really good to come to Australia and have a fresh start.
“My dad was a soccer player as well, so he’s happy that I now have the opportunity that he didn’t to play soccer.”
Toure will look to lead his country of birth to glory in his adopted homeland this long weekend.
The Year 12 Underdale High student will line up for a Guinea representative side at Football Federation SA’s African Nations Cup at the Parks, Angle Park.
The 16-team tournament provides a stage for more than 450 local players of African-descent to display their skill while celebrating cultural diversity and inclusion.
“It’s a big tournament for all the Africans to showcase their talent and a big opportunity for young African players to show to their communities what they can do,” winger Toure said.
“This is the reason we do the African Cup, because we all want to get together to celebrate that we all have a chance to play soccer.
“Most of us had to run away from war unfortunately so it was hard for us.
“But the African Cup is a celebration to show that we all can have dreams.”
Teams representing the likes of Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and defending champion Burundi will battle it out from Saturday in four preliminary groups for a place in Monday’s final.
The three-day tournament features players from across the state as well as interstate-based SA talents such as Elvis Kamsoba (Melbourne Knights) and Shomari Sabatho (Nepean, NSW).
Toure, who helped Guinea to last year’s semi-finals, hoped to go one better this campaign.
“It’s a pretty competitive tournament … and there’s some big rivalries between the countries,” said Toure, who broke into Croydon’s first team this past season.
“Guinea was the underdog and no one really wanted us to play in the cup because people didn’t think we had enough talent.
“Two years ago we signed up and we went to the quarter-finals, last year to the semis and now this year hopefully we can win it.”