Kilometers apart, separated by borders and difficult situations, but united by a passion for football and the dream of being able, one day, to chase the same ball on the same field. This is the story of the twinning between Spartak San Gennaro, a popular team created to offer sporting opportunities to children from families in difficulty, and theAl Haddaf Team, which brings together around one hundred children between the ages of 6 and 17 from the town of Beit Lahia, in the north of Gaza, today reduced to rubble.
A bond born about a month ago, when the two realities began to weave a network of solidarity and friendship based on sport. While the children of Gaza live in a camp in the south of the Strip, those of Spartak train in the heart of the popular neighborhood of Montesanto, in Naples, on the fields of Ventaglieri Park.
Today, right on that little pitch, a special moment will be experienced: the young Neapolitan footballers will witness a video of the match which, in the past few weeks, the Al Haddaf Team played against a team of JabaliahFor the occasion, a real show will be set up curve, with flags and chants in support of their Palestinian peers, in an atmosphere of celebration and sharing.
But the initiative goes beyond symbolism: to strengthen the bond and show concrete closeness, the Spartak San Gennaro has made one special t-shirt. On the uniform, next to their own crest, stands out that of the Al Haddaf Team and a phrase in Neapolitan dialect that summarizes the message of universal brotherhood: “All the same song and creatures” (or, “All children are equal”).
A gesture that aims to keep attention alive on the condition of the children of Gaza, but that also tells of the hope and desire to play and grow together, despite the distances and difficulties. And, above all, it reiterates how football, once again, can transform itself into a bridge capable of breaking down walls and creating deep human connections.
Article published on 8 January 2025 - 17:21
