One of the organisers behind the now weekly football matches played in west Dublin by a group of immigrants from Africa and parts of the Caribbean has called on the local community to come out and get involved.
Glen Eneh, who has been playing in the matches at a park in Clonsilla for the past three years, told Metro Eireann that so far native locals are yet to line out.
“We haven’t had many Irish people playing in our games,” said the Nigerian. “But a few Eastern Europeans have joined in.”
However, the lack of Irish representation is something he and the other players, who are mostly from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Jamaica, are hoping to change.
“Our games our open to everyone,” said Eneh. “We got the games up and running for the benefit of the whole community and we are looking for others to get involved.”
Eneh continued: “We feel that it is very important for us to mix with other clubs and play with and against people from other nationalities. It helps our players to integrate into the local community.
“There is a lot of potential in our club, 50 people came along one week, and we are looking into how best to use it in a meaningful way which will benefit our current players and the local community.”
The group has flirted with the idea of taking to the field against existing teams, and has met with some success. “I founded a football club in Drogheda so they sometimes send down a team to play against us,” said Eneh.
He added: “We have also played games against a local club and a five-a-side against a group of players on the Southside. All of these games went very well, but logistics are a problem.
“We would like to do more of these types of things but time-wise, it is very difficult.”
There are some 35 people playing regularly but Eneh admitted that work commitments can interfere with the numbers who turn out. However, on any given Sunday at 2pm, there still will still be upwards of 22 to 24 players taking to the field in Clonsilla Park on Dublin’s Northside.
Eneh continued: “We are hoping to get into more tournaments and more formal games when we have a more regular number turning up each week.”
Eneh also feels that the games, which have been going on for over three years, have become hugely important to the migrant community in the Clonsilla area.
He pointed out: “It is vitally important that we engage ourselves in some sort of physical activity.”
The organiser added: “It’s an important outlet for people who have come to Dublin. It gives us, as a minority community, the chance to gel.”
The sense of community that has sprang up among the players has meant that the club is now an important part of the participants’ lives beyond the playing pitch
“As well as our matches we have an end of year party, so it’s a good social outlet,” said Eneh.
“And of course, playing football is good for you – it’s far better than spending your Sunday eating and drinking!”
