BARRY Elim Elevates Kick project with the Vale of Glamorgan 5x60 team, Streetgames and Communities First launched the first annual Futsal Street Cup for teenagers.

Elim Elevates Kick project worked with teenagers in St Richard Gwyn and the Vale of Glamorgan 5x60 team to host a Futsal street team Cup.

The Futsal cup was played on Sunday, April 26, and introduced Brazilian football to local teens from Communities First areas. The cup took place at Holm View Leisure centre, and provided an opportunity for the teens of all abilities to play the game in a safe, fun, learning environment.

Around 30 young people aged between 14 and 16 took part on the Sunday with teams of mixed ages, and abilities. They played the game of Futsal and some were involved in volunteering during the games.

The young people organised their own teams, and gave their teams the names they wanted, and then they fought it out for the much coveted Street Futsal Cup trophy and winners medals.

Elevate worked with St Richard Gwyn teenagers through schools based sports mentoring to put the day together.

“This is great opportunity for local teens to participate and organise events aimed at their peers, and learn valuable life skills along the way” said Kantz Misra, the Project manager for Elevate.

“We are looking to run it as an annual competition and attract more teams from the Vale to participate. We believe sport has an incredible capacity to develop young people, beyond the benefits of participation” he added.

The event was supported by Streetgames, through which Elevate volunteers also run doorstep clubs that coach youngsters to play Futsal, Ultimate Frisbee and Handball, all of which are non-contact games that help develop confidence for those who participate.

After a long day, players from Colcot Wanderers beat the Barry69ers to lift the first Barry Futsal Street Cup trophy.

To find out more about Elevates work visit elevatekck.org and to find out about the doorstep clubs contact Communities First and like Vale Futsal’s Facebook page.

Elim Elevate and the teenagers involved would like to thank the 5x60 team, the Friday night project, Streetgames and Mark Nickerson the referee.