From: michael seium (michael.seium@gmail.com)
Date: Wed Jul 09 2008 - 10:48:30 EDT
For Immediate Release
July 8th 2008
23rd Annual Eritrean Sports festival In N.A Concludes successfully
Dallas, Texas: The 23rd annual Eritrean sports festival in North
America that took place starting on June 29th, 2008 concluded on
Saturday July 5th, 2008 in the city of Dallas, Texas. This year's
event in Dallas could not have been any better. The Dallas community
as well as the host team did an outstanding job and should be
commended highly.
To begin with the sports facilities with a huge soccer stadium was an
excellent choice and also included a huge basketball center within the
vicinity of the soccer field and made the festival very inclusive of
all participants. The Westin Hotel Park Center was also home away from
home and also served as a venue for the successful Friday and Saturday
night events.
The theme "Transition to the Youth" that started in Minnesota three
years ago continued strongly, this year in Dallas 18 teams
participated in boys and girls youth soccer. The Under 15 youth soccer
was won by Team Houston as they defeated Team Minnesota Denden on
Penalty kicks which indicates that the competition was very good among
the youth teams. There were two other penalty kick final games in
youth soccer which clearly indicates that the games were competitive.
In the under 12 boys DC Bahlina defeated Atlanta in the finals, while
in the under 12 girls Houston Asseb defeated Minnesota Denden and in
the under 10 age group Dallas Sawa defeated TEAM DC on penalty kicks,
while Dallas Massawa defeated Dallas Dahlak in the under 10 girls age
group. This was one of the best achievements of the ERSFNA since its
inception 23 years ago and all parents and teams should be commended
for an outstanding tournament.
In Basketball the level of play continues to improve from year to year
and this year was no different as Team Indiana who goes by their
sponsor "Instant Tax" Hagerseb defeated Team DC in the finals of the
adult competition and Team Dallas defeated Team Houston in the Junior
varsity championship game.
This year's sports festival was sponsored by two major sponsors and it
was a first time collaboration for the ERSFNA to work in collaboration
with sponsors. What makes it unique is also the fact that both main
sponsors have some connection to Eritrea. The first one being World TV
and globe cast which brings Eri-TV to your home and the the second an
Eritrean owned business "Instant Tax". ERSFNA would like to extend
thanks to both organizations as they have become pioneers in helping
out the Eritrean Sports federation and in the process enhancing the
sports festival.
Vendors were ready and this year a lot of new CDS, creative T-Shirts
and other items were on sale. A few seminars also took place on
several topics including one on Eritrean Professionals hosted by an
Eritrean organization and also another one on youth soccer and how to
enhance and help create youth soccer programs by the sports
federation.
The final of the adult soccer competition was very exciting all the
way from the beginning until the end. Team Alexandria proved that with
discipline anything is possible. Hats of to all the teams that are
utilizing their youth players and Team Alexandria was absolutely a
team that needs to be used as an example as they used quite a lot of
young players to claim the title for the 5th time making them the
Brazil of the Eritrean sports federation.
The participation of team Norway also added a lot of spice to the
tournament as they showed that the game of soccer has so much beauty
and eloquence despite their final loss on Penalty kicks to Team
Alexandria. Orange County, California got the good behavior award. The
Bocretsion award for the most valuable player went to Alem Kifle the
goal keeper of Alexandria for playing outstandingly throughout the
tournament and saving his team from a couple of Penalty shootouts. As
you all know Bocre an Eritrean legend who lived in the greater Dallas
area was one of the founders of this organization. Another Dallas area
community member Michael Woldino who was also a strong supporter of
the Dallas soccer teams and a person who captured so much memory as a
videographer were both remembered. They were both recognized for the
legacy they left the younger generation and the role they played to
bring all Eritreans together. Bocre's wife along with Woldino's family
were present at the awards ceremony making the event one to remember
for years to come.
ERSFNA always remembers some of the Eritrean youth whom we have lost
because they had no guidance and as an organization we would like to
emphasize that by bringing people together to this annual event, it is
also great to see so many young people being transformed to good
citizens via sports and culture. It something that should make us all
proud. ERSFNA encourages all Cities throughout North America with
Eritrean populations to do more to get involved in the future of the
organization and in the process should attend these types of events
that allow their children to be good role model citizens while
maintaining their beautiful culture.
What was so unique about this year's festival is that there were kids,
adults and family all over the stadium and it was great to see the
sports complex as a gathering place for all. The youth and adults were
heavily involved all throughout the week. The women coaches from
Minnesota were a classic example for others that if all parents get
involved in this family affair the sky is the limit. In the seniors
game Team Atlanta defeated a strong Dallas/DC combination team by the
score of 7-3. Atlanta was in full gear as they represented their
community by sending three team to the event this year seniors (Oldies
but Goldies), adult and a youth team.
Last but not least Helen Meles and the rest of the musicians and
performers were incredible and the evening entertainment was awesome
on both Friday and Saturday evenings as one of the main sports
federation events of the week. Some of the highlights of this year's
event include the opening ceremony as well as the closing ceremonies.
On the last day the local Dallas youth group performed a dance to an
English and Tigrinya song and a youngster from Houston by the name of
Salem Yemane wearing the bright Eritrean Flag T-Shirt and a an
Eritrean Flag bandana played the national anthem of Eritrea on her
violin set. It was a great site to see.
The Dallas Eritrean community should serve as an example to all other
communities that if people collaborate together and work hard this
annual event can be very successful.
Mean while the entire board of the ERSFNA would like to say thanks and
if you have any comments feel free to contact us via e-mail. Next
year's venue will be announced once the organizing committee convenes
its meeting. Until then so long. Keep checking our website for more
information and new feature articles and more.
Eritrean Sports federation in North America
Mike Seium/Public Relations
mseium@yahoo.com
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