Finnish football has already seen several refugees progress to the national teams, with Shefki Kuqi and the Hetemaj brothers among the most prominent. The Football Players’ Association of Finland and the Finnish Immigration Service decided this year to use their combined experience to highlight the possibilities football offers to improve integration of new arrivals.
On Thursday the tour brought an exceptionally international group of players to Helsinki football stadium, home of HJK Helsinki. Bosa Nana Yaw, who arrived in Finland from Ghana nine months ago, was happy with his day’s play.
”I’m a goalkeeper for the asylum-seekers’ team and I’m really happy that this tournament has happened,” said Yaw.
From enemies to friends
Cameroonian Tervis Tegha also believes in the power of football.
”I can speak from experience, and I know that football has brought enemies back to being friends and even more than that,” observed Tegha.
FPA chair Hannu Tihinen had a long career in Belgium and Switzerland, as well as in Finland. His international experience taught him the value of football in adjusting to new cultures.
”I played for four years for Anderlecht in Brussels, and it was a real melting pot with players from a dozen different cultures,” said Tihinen. ”It opens your eyes. I believe that contacts made through sport can help, and when you can offer an example from on the field or outside it, that helps too.”
Integration help
Football can be even more important to people in limbo at reception centres, according to Tihinen.
”Exercise, sport and especially football are important parts of the centres’ everyday life,” notes Tihinen. ”It is good for people, gives them belief and hope and I am quite sure that football and sport are a big part of integration as well.”
Tervis Tegha has high hopes for football. While at the reception centre he has been training with HJK’s reserve team, but the tantalising possibility of progressing further with a Finnish club seems to be within touching distance.
”I am going to an immigration interview as regards my process in the asylum case on the 29th of this month, and I pray that I succeed so I can continue my football career,” says Tegha.
