AAN FC Athens
The purpose
The Art and Action Network Football Club Athens (AAN F.C. Athens) was founded on August, 1st of 2018. Formerly under the umbrella of the Greek Forum of Refugees, named GFR F.C., the team has been always working as a rallying point for newcomers of a refugee or migrant background and as a bridge between these communities and the host society. Sports and football are the means to achieve social inclusion and interaction.
The Team
The team consists of asylum seekers, refugees, migrants of first and second generation and native people who participate in the daily life of the time with their own will. This endeavor is way more than just football. We are one team, we are one family and we share one dream; Football is our vehicle to initiate a proper intercultural discourse with the host society and within a diverse group of communities with a diverse cultural background.
The plan
Therefore, people coming from a wide range of different countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Mali, Guinea, Congo, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and so many others, have proved through the very existence of this team that inclusion happens despite the lack of a common language, if the goal that is shared is common; we fight to earn respect in the pitch, portraying our talent and winning in our way; what’s that? Well, we are opponents only for 90 minutes that the match lasts, we portray our skills and we gain opponents’ respect. Being on the pitch is our blessing and our confirmation that our dream remains intact.
We will keep fighting to achieve social acceptance and respect.
