23 June 2011 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 27
GazetteSPORT
MAKING THE RULES:
Ireland get set for Aussie Rules international cup: Page 29
SOCCER: DO ONE THING UNHCR INTERNATIONAL EVENT TAKES PLACE IN DUBLIN
Fair Play Cup sees SARI side take the spoils sport@gazettegroup.com
WORLD Refugee Day’s Do 1 Thing soccer celebrations kicked off in style when the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Office in Ireland and Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI) held its second annual Fair Play Football Cup in Dublin’s Law Society gardens. On a day which also saw UNHCR commemorating the 60th anniver-
sary of the UN Convention Relating to Refugees, this year’s Fair Play Football Cup was won by SARI Insaka when they beat the holders, Hot Press 1-0, courtesy of a first-half goal from Eddie Sirbu. In a repeat of last year’s final it was SARI Insaka who started the brighter with early efforts coming from Sirbu and Chris Amour, with Hot Press, led by Niall Stokes, chasing the game. With very
little space or time given on the ball neither team seemed like breaking the deadlock until Sirbu popped up to score the decisive goal with a wonder individual low drive just before half time. Hot Press chased the game after the restart, with Rafael Souto having their best opportunity but he blasted his shot just over the bar from close range, leaving the SARI Insaka captain Toheeb ‘Tiger’ Adigun
Action from the final between SARI Insaka and Hot Press at the World Refugee Day event last week
to lift the cup aloft after Newstalk’s Global Village presenter Dil Wickremasinghe presented the 2011 winners with the Fair Play Football Cup. “It was a brilliant tournament, we all really had fun, it’s not just about
winning but to take part was ver y impor tant. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and we’re all looking forward to coming back next year to defend the cup,” said a jubilant Adigun after the final whistle. Sophie Magennis, of
UNHCR Ireland, said: “We had a brilliant day today. It was great that lots of kids and families came down, and SARI Insaka were very worthy winners. “It was also a great way to mark the 60th anniversary of the UN
convention on the status of refugees and we’d like to mark the importance of the convention in offering protection to refugees. But it’s also a day to mark the contribution refugees and asylum seekers make to Irish society.”