Guides:

Ethiopian Soccer Tournament

by Cassandra Gonzalez, Sagal Summer Intern 2011, Emory University (Ethics and Servant Leadership Program)

The Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) hosted its tournament in Atlanta from July 3 to July 9 and celebrated its 28th anniversary here. The tournament began in 1984 with just four teams playing and has grown to the over twenty-eight playing this year. Fifteen North American cities have hosted the event after the first one in Houston, and this was Atlanta's second time.

The federation's mission is to promote amateur sports and celebrations of Ethiopian culture in North America. The event filled the inside and lined the outside of the Georgia Dome with tables of people selling Ethiopian goods, promoting charity organizations and serving up traditional Ethiopian cuisine.

Yegle, who was there fundraising for a monastery said, "I'm having a really good time...the people here are really nice and giving."

The place buzzed all evening and into the night with dancing, music and people catching up and sharing stories.

Martha, who had just run into a cousin she had not seen since leaving Ethiopia while selling coffee with her mother said, "For me, [it's] more about meeting people."

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