In Naples, as anywhere, football holds the heart and stirs the soul. But it also offers much-needed optimism to people creating their own narratives and new chapters while living in the shadow of Napoli’s Scudetto-winning legends.

In 2009, Afro Napoli United was founded as the second team in the city. Since then, they have seen past players succeed and play in Serie A and European competition, counted a Maradona in their ranks, and successfully petitioned Fifa.

The club has made its way up the Italian football pyramid, from the fourth tier to the fifth. However, their primary goal is only a joyful by-product of their success in sports.

Naples

Fighting racism and discrimination is more crucial since these issues make it easier for immigrants, asylum seekers, and young people at danger of exclusion to find housing, employment, and a stable existence.

According to Luigi Di Nunzio, one of the club’s directors, “football for us is not just a sport; we grew up playing in the street so it is a way of life.”

It serves as our guide and teaches us how to interact with others, coexist in a community, and respect one another.

It started off as a typical pick-up game.

Di Nunzio and his friends frequently ran out of players, as is the case throughout the world, so they started inviting people who were loitering outside their workplace, which was close to Naples’ central station, to join.

Since many of the original group involved in social integration and human rights, Di Nunzio and his pals wanted to assist their new team members as they settle in the city. They quickly learned that the majority had come to the United States from Africa in quest of employment and opportunity.

It was amazing because, as Di Nunzio says, “we suddenly realized that it was a two-way relationship that was very effective for both of us.”

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