4th Annual Evanston Soccer Unity Festival

The Fourth Annual Evanston Unity Soccer Festival kicked off last Saturday at Kamen Park under grey skies and a threat of rain, but that did not keep 24 teams from showing up to play the game they love. According to Elliott Hurtig, founder and organizer of the event, “The purpose of the festival is to celebrate Evanston, its wonderful diversity, and the passion that so many people have for the game of soccer.” Hurtig continued by saying, “This is really a grassroots effort to bring people together, to make connections and build a strong sense of community. Soccer is the vehicle for doing it, but the real energy for the Unity Festival comes from the players and fans who bring positive vibrations and appreciate the spirit that drives the event.” As Noel Abbot, participating in his 4th Soccer Festival said, “The Unity Cup brings together everything I’m truly passionate about: soccer, community and multi-culturalism. In this tournament you not only get to play “The Beautiful Game” with your neighbors but you witness the joy soccer brings to all of our different cultures.”

Each year, the Soccer Festival has continued to grow. In its first 2 years there were 10 teams, last year there were 15 and this year there were 24. Players ranged in age from 14-62 with a nice mix of men and women. This year there were returning teams from Campagnola Restaurant, JaHbat FC, Gross Pointe Social Club, and alumni teams from ETHS and New Trier and Deerfield. New teams included a team from Somalia called Banaadir f.c., Boltwood Restaurant, and St. Nicholas’ Church. Since this day emphasizes unity over competition, it is one of the few sporting events in which the score of the games are not kept and there are no officials. Franz Calixte, ETHS soccer coach and social studies teacher said, “It is so unique to have games with no winners and no refs, but it helps everyone buy into the goal of the day which is just to be together playing the game we love.” Hurtig echoed this sentiment as he addressed the over 175 participants before the games began with one of his favorite sayings, “Remember, the goals are not the goal!”

This year’s event was most notable for the impressive increase in women participating. There were six teams made up of women and several co-ed teams. Chrissy Peterson and Nicole Bosco

participated in their first Festival. Both of them played college soccer together at Augustana and noted that they continue to play and compete for themselves and to be role models for young girls who might be interested in picking up the game. “It’s important for the spectators, especially the girls to see women competing with and against men. I know I was influenced by the women soccer players I saw growing up because there weren’t too many of them. Now I am so excited that there are so many girls who have picked up the sport.”

Chrissy Peterson and Nicole Bosco are picture above!

This year, in addition to ETHS freshman girls and boys soccer coach Harold Bailey as DJ, the Unity Festival featured Tony Garrett and his Ajoite Drum and Percussion group. The mix of the West African Drum group and the Salsa, Funk and Soul music being pumped out by Bailey contributed to the festive air that was felt throughout the event.

The date for next year’s festival has already been set for Saturday, July 13th and if the trend continues, the Evanston Unity Soccer Festival will continue to build on the sense of community it has already established.