Cultures play together in Husky World Cup

In about two weeks, the International Student Organization (ISO) will host the first Husky World Cup in order to spread awareness other cultures.

The Husky World Cup is a soccer tournament amongst cultural clubs and organizations, cultural centers or student-run groups will have a maximum of 16 teams competing. Jaclyn ‘Gina’ Getonga, president of the ISO, originally came up with the idea this past February and it was officially approved in July. With the goal of uniting cultures, Getonga felt soccer was the best way to bring cultures together.

“Soccer is a popular world sport,” said Getonga, a 6th- semester business marketing major and an international student from Kenya. “I’m really happy that this event is taking shape. The digital age has a strong effect on bringing people together.”

There is an entry fee of $15 per team, with profits paying for the t-shirts, prizes and the rest of the proceeds going towards Kicks for Africa Organization. The charity donates used shoes to poverty stricken areas on Africa.

Some of the 16 competing teams consist of the Latino Student Association, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Tarang, Polish Cultural Society, Japanese Student Association and many others. According to the Husky World Cup facebook page there will be various prizes awarded to teams.

“I’m interested and intrigued to see how Americans respond to a soccer tournament in contrast to one in Britain,” said Steven Bishop, a 5th-semester American studies major, an international student from Britain participating on Team Europe.

Each team will consist of approximately six players with three substitutes and will be held at the practice field 2 in the Burton Football Complex on Sept. 15, with the rain date of Sept. 23. Teams are divided into four different divisions with four groups per division playing against one another. The games will last about 40 minutes with a five-minute half time.

“It’s an excellent mechanism to bring people together in a non-threatening environment that is outside,” said Robert Chudy, the director of the International Center. “The event will build more and better relations with other cultures. It will help people to think more internationally.”

The Department of Athletics provided the field on which the tournament while community outreach provided tents and tables. The International Center helped raise money in order for the event to take place and will be donating water.

“I think it’s (Husky World Cup) a great and fun idea,” said Calvin Knecht, a 1st-semester international business major. “We are all from different places on this floor. It’s an awesome way to get to know each other better.”