EMSONI Cup 2023

16 Teams, 16 Cultures, 1 Confederation Cup

Press Release - September 2023

Players from across the globe made up the 16 teams competing for the Confederation Cup 2023 organised by Ethnic Minority Sports Organisation Northern Ireland (EMSONI).

The Confederation Cup 2023 was supported by Radius and Clanmil Housing Associations through their T:buc and Housing for All delivery across Belfast, Dungannon, Newry & Ballymena. The project saw 11-aside games take place over 8 weeks with up to 38 matches played in total across 6 locations in Belfast & Cookstown and the 16 competing teams were made up of a diverse range of BME, LGBTQIA+ and local teams.  

The Confederation Cup Final and Festival took place at Ullida Playing fields in the grounds of Rosario YFC Football Club, Ormeau Road and saw Ghana NI beat Poland NI to take the Confederation Cup 2023. Among the fans in attendance at the final were the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Ryan Murphy, Chair of Mid Ulster Council, Cllr Dominic Molloy and IFA president, Conrad Kirkwood.

EMSONI is the first and the leading community-driven multi-sports organisation for the development of ethnic minority sports with the focus of diversifying the face of sport in Northern Ireland. They use the medium of sports to promote equality, diversity and inclusiveness with the vision to strengthening a shared and sustainable sporting society.

The aim of the Confederation Cup was to increase participation among a range of minority groups and to tackle the perceived justification of a lack of opportunity as a reason for not integrating and being active in sports.

Speaking at the final Kanmi Abayomi from EMSONI, said “The goal of the Confederation Cup is to bring together as many communities who live across Northern Ireland as possible using the medium of sport to break down barriers, build new friendships and develop a more cohesive community. The level of participation and the enjoyment experienced by everyone who took part over the eight weeks has been reflected in the success and growth each year of the Confederation Cup.”

The project was supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme. The Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.  

Loma Wilson, Director of Communities at Radius Housing, added “This has been such an exciting project and Radius is delighted to have been able to support EMSONI with the delivery of the Confederation Cup and Festival over the past couple of years. Programmes like this one allow us to work in partnership with well-placed organisations and to engage with and improve the lives of people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. It breaks down barriers to inclusion and promotes diversity across our Shared Housing areas in NI. Thank you to EMSONI, our staff and everyone who supported the tournament and made it such a success.”

Jennifer Cuthbert, Community Investment Manager with Clanmil said: “We were pleased to support this project as it promotes positive messages around teamwork as well as helping to challenge division, encourage diversity and bring communities together. At Clanmil we believe that people who live in areas close to our shared neighborhoods have a great deal to offer and we look forward to working with our colleagues in Radius and others to deliver more projects like this one.”

Shared Housing development is supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Radius continues to work in partnership with local Advisory Groups of stakeholders, and with residents to develop each scheme’s Good Relations Plan. £22.2m was invested in total in the development of all schemes involved and associated five-year Good Relations Plan’s. The Belfast, Dungannon, Newry & Ballymena Good Relations Plans includes ‘Bridging’ events which are delivered to the wider community to encourage a range of good relations outcomes which include Health and Wellbeing, Training Education & Employment and Arts & Culture.

ENDS 

Further Information:

Brendan Scott
MW Advocate
brendan.scott@mwadvocate.com