Coptic Orthodox Football Tournament Association (COFTA) 2014 - Article by Samuel Michail

We were all missing a bit of COFTA in our lives. With no tournament in 2013, it had been too long. So we all strapped on the shin-pads, tied up our boots, and got going on the 10^th annual Coptic Orthodox Football tournament. Golders Green and the hosts, Stevenage, joined the holders and pre-tournament favourites, Brighton, in Group A. The 2012 runners-up, Croydon found themselves in what appeared a challenging group B with our friends from the north, Nottingham and Rotherham.

And so we began. Despite the fact that we were awoken at 5:00am on Saturday morning to the sounds of a thunderstorm, we didn’t allow that to rain on our parade as we marched out onto the oh so familiar pitches in Shephalbury Park.

The opening game in group A was a tentative affair with neither Golders Green nor Brighton able to find the breakthrough, and it ended a goalless draw, a result which should’ve been repeated when Golders faced Stevenage, but for a Golders goal which the Croydon linesman deemed to have crossed the line. Despite numerous onlookers, the players AND the ref believing it hadn’t, he was adamant it did and the game ended 1-0. No, I’m not bitter at all. When Brighton faced Stevenage, the St George boys defended like warriors and for all Brighton’s attacking flair, they just couldn’t find a way through our resolute defence, until a penalty was awarded for a handball that wasn’t, and it was coolly slotted home. Stevenage found themselves in the familiar position of “If we win our next two games by large margins we can still go through”, as we walked into lunch.

Unfortunately, my knowledge of group B’s game isn’t as in depth as it should be as I was so indulged in the events of my team and my group. However, the highlights include an inspired fight back from Nottingham against Croydon, rescuing a point after being 2-0 down thanks to two headers from their striker Nduoma Chilaki, and an Amir Ameen hat-trick giving Rotherham the three points they needed. Going into lunch, it was clear that group B would have a much tighter finish then that of group A.

We hobbled back onto the pitches, our muscles aching and our stomach’s filled with spaghetti bolognaise, determined to find out who will compete in Sundays semi-finals. Group A resumed very similar to how it started, with a close match between the holders and Golders, ending 1-0 to Brighton. This flung the group wide open but as soon as Golders defeated Stevenage 2-0, we had lost all hope of qualifying and the final game between Brighton and Stevenage ended up being a chance to rest those in need of rest and give the whole squad a run out.

Group B was much tighter as expected. Croydon found their form thanks to some inspired team talks from John Halaka and Anthony Daniel, to beat the Nottingham boys, this time managing to hold onto their lead. Nottingham then beat Rotherham, so it was down to the final game. Croydon v Rotherham. The winner joins Nottingham in the semi final. A draw suited Croydon. It was beautifully poised for a thrilling finish. Rotherham take the lead. Half time. Anthony tells his boys, ‘get me the ball, I will make something happen’. Amir Ameen takes on responsibility of man-marking Anthony. Dying moments, Amir looses his man, Anthony is free, and he scores! The Croydon fans erupt, Rotherham heartbroken. Croydon see the game out at 1-1 and they’ve done it! (Sorry for picking on you there Amir)

And so, the day was almost over. We hobbled back into the cathedral to end the day in the unity of prayer as we prayed Vespers together. The topic of the Vespers sermon by HG Bishop Angaelos was about fellowship and our responsibility to encourage and support one another not just on the football pitch, but spiritually as well.

Sunday would offer us the chance to see a repeat of the 2012 final. Brighton v Croydon on first and they would play the winner of Golders Green v Nottingham in the final. The day started on a lovely note as we were joined by Bishop Moussa to pray the mass with us. Following that, rooms were tidied, brunch was taken and then everyone got into game mode. Brighton opened the scoring, with Mina ‘Deutch’ Muharib bagging his fourth of the campaign. Croydon went for it, they had to, they threw the kitchen sink at it. However, inevitably with them pushing on so hard, gaps were created and Brighton took full advantage as they grabbed the goal that sent them to the final on the break. Another deep and inspiring team talk delivered by John and they promised to be back even stronger next year.

Semi-final number 2 saw Golders Green start at a rapid pace as they took a quick 2-goal lead, which should’ve been extended even more. However, as the Nottingham team has already shown us this tournament, they are not ones to give up and feel sorry for themselves. Captain Mark Khalil rallied the troupes as they gave it everything against the tiring Golders boys and they pulled level before the final whistle went. The nerving affair of a penalty shootout to come. Nottingham scored all their penalties, they had ice running through their veins, but regrettably the Golders boys couldn’t do the same and they were knocked out. Hani Mohib, the Golders coach, lamented the fact they couldn’t hold on to a 2-0 lead, but also exclaimed just how proud he was of his boys and what a fantastic job they’ve done. I second that, Hani.

And now onto the COFTA 2014 Final. The atmosphere was filled with a mixture of tension, excitement and nerves. Nottingham found themselves in the lead when the tournaments top-scorer, Nduoma, ‘scored’ a simply stunning bending and curling free-kick. He ended the tournament with 5 goals, the free-kick deemed to have gone in of the keepers heel, so awarded as an own-goal. However, Brighton fought back and levelled the scoring, but when Nottingham scored again, Brighton had to summon every last ounce of energy to hold on to their trophy, which has found home with them for the last 4 years. Lead by the incredible, player of the tournament, Ashley Brown they produced wave after wave of attacks, but David Morgan was an absolute rock in defence. The few times they did manage to get behind him, the captain, and winner of the golden glove award, Mark Khalil pulled of some simply outstanding saves. The final whistle blew and the celebrations began! Everyone joined in the group bundle, including the Nottingham priest. Thrilling scenes. Nottingham lifted the famous cup as the Brighton boys looked on, vowing to come back stronger next year, with captain Mikael stating that training will go up to three times a week! Congratulations to Nottingham and well done Brighton for playing your part in what was a thrilling final. 

I personally can’t wait till COFTA 2015. I would like to thank everyone who made this tournament so successful, from the kitchen staff, to the fans, to the players to the priests and bishops and to all the captains, coaches and managers. See you all next September!

                                                                                                                                                      Samuel Michail

Revive 2014 - Hidden Treasures

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 2 Timothy 2:1-3

Revive 2014 ‘Hidden Treasures’ (22-24 August) was yet again another unforgettable and epic weekend of fellowship and joy! With youth aged 14-21 split up into four age-specific groups, the ‘traditions’ and ‘Traditions’ of the Coptic Orthodox Church were unpacked and explored, and the theme sought to reveal the beauty of Orthodoxy, the Church  and its heritage. His Grace Bishop Angaelos spoke to us about the Church being a means to an end, not an end in itself. He spoke of the Church as a vehicle for us all to become, and guide one another closer to God in our words, actions and lifestyle.  There was a variety of things for people of all ages to engage with, including a variety of sessions, vespers, Tasbeha, contemporary worship, and of course the Liturgy on Sunday morning. The activities were also great fun, with obstacle courses, basketball, volleyball, and the beloved bonfire on Saturday night. All in all it was a wonderful experience, but you do not need to take our word for it; read below to hear what a couple of youth have to say about Revive2014, and we hope to see you next year!

Veronica Amin, from Saint Mary and Saint Shenouda
I would like to take a minute to say thank you to Sayedna, all the servants, especially Sally Tadross and Mina Badawi, and everyone who came to Revive 2014 for making it such an enjoyable weekend, with beneficial talks, fun activities and the opportunity to make lovely friends! I came away from this weekend spiritually and personally nourished due to the talks that were led by the committed servants who tried their very best to help our every need throughout the entire weekend. For me I found the talks to be spiritually beneficial because they increased my knowledge of the traditions and culture of the Coptic Orthodox Faith. The activities were a means to make new friends and have loads of fun with old ones, and they were very well organised with lots of creative games that even the rain couldn't ruin! I would personally like to thank my strand servants; Shanuda Abadeir, Mina Mansor, Mina Arsanious and Kiroulus Abadir for the fun, interesting sessions and for helping us all grow spiritually over the weekend.

Marina Facouri from Saint Mark’s Church, London
Starting off the conference was great as we were reunited with friends who we haven't seen for over 2 years. Sayedna started off the conference with an introduction about tradition and how there are 2 types of tradition, "T" and "t" tradition. The "t" can be changed or adapted according to the time, era and place that you are in, however the "T" tradition cannot change. There are 3 traditions which cannot change, 1) Theology 2) Faith 3) Dogma.

We learned that over time, we have adapted the language which we use during the liturgy depending upon the era and place we are in, however this does not mean we forget about Coptic, it means we build up on what we have, thus building up the Church together. He then explained how the word "Orthodox" means straight, which goes back to Saint Mark who received the message directly from our Lord Jesus and passed it to us, giving us a direct link to our Lord. He concluded saying that we should not pick and choose what we want from God, like we do in a supermarket, but that we should just embrace the whole treasure that we have been given.

Amir Michaeel then gave us our first talk based upon praise and how our Church is always praising God. He showed us that the Holy Bible, depending on the translation, says "praise" 250 times (150 of those are said by David in the psalms). He then explained that if we are praising without understanding then we are missing out on the treasure; but if we understand the praise then we become more engaged in Church and will not be bored.


Abouna Shenouda then gave the 2nd talk about the treasures found in the Liturgy. He explained that if we do not know the value of what we have, we don't realise that we have a treasure. For the treasure to be of value, it must be shown and not hidden. The word " Liturgy" in Greek means "Work of People" , so we should all work together in order to show people our treasures.  He then further explained that the Liturgy prepares us and sanctifies us in order to be ready for Holy Communion. If we only arrive in time for Holy Communion, then it is pointless; if we learn to value the Holy Liturgy and attend it, then we are sanctified and prepared for Christ to enter into our hearts, and thus in the future we will be able to pass on the right message to the next generation.

In our 3rd session, Adam Wahba spoke to us about why we follow traditions in Church. He explained that there are 3 reasons, which are :
1) We are in fellowship in one Body(Kononia), the Body of Jesus Christ.
2) We have a strong foundation to build on.
3) Living traditions daily draw us close to God, and Him to us.


He also spoke about icons, fasting and candles in the Church. He clarified in the end that these traditions are all Biblical, although some may not be written as clearly or directly as others, but still in the Bible. Sayedna wrapped up the conference by saying that the Church is a means to an end; to be gathered together to reach God's kingdom. To reach God's kingdom we must do it all with ONE mind and ONE accord.

The conference was full of fellowship, and it was a great idea to split into age groups rather than churches, in order to allow us to bond with people of the same age from all the churches. The activities were great and a wide range of activities were available to all. Team leaders were very friendly and supportive and were constantly giving out sweets throughout the conference which I believe many people enjoyed! The leaders of the conference came up with great ideas to keep us entertained and the theme overall was excellent and definitely needed to be covered. The barbecue was also amazing and delicious!Overall, Revive2014 was great, as was the environment and the people serving. I would definitely recommend this conference to others in the future as people benefit from it spiritually and socially as well. 



To summarise the conference in one word, I would say it was treasurastic! :)Thank you and God bless.

More photographs from Revive 2014 can be found via the CopticYouth-uk Facebook group.

For more information on Coptic Youth Mission visit www.CopticYouthMission.com @CopticYouthUK

Revive 2013

 Well, it has come and gone again, but not without a lasting impact on everyone who attended or served at Revive 2013!

The theme this year was ‘Shine’ inspired by Matthew 5:16 where our Lord instructs us all to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

With an unprecedented number of people in attendance this year, well over 200, the Coptic Centre UK was filled with lively and dynamic youth in search of spiritual nourishment, fruitful fellowship and exciting activities. His Grace Bishop Angaelos, our beloved host, said of this year’s Revive:

“It was lovely to see our youth actively engaging in the spiritual talks and benefitting from the words of His Grace Bishop Youssef, who journeyed across the world to give us all the benefit of His insight and knowledge. I am so pleased to see the high turnout this year, because it is in coming together that we can truly experience the power of the Holy Spirit that works in us all to shine to those closest to us, and then to all who we encounter. Thank you to all the faithful servants who contributed to this year’s Revive, and to all those who attended; may we continue to let the light of God within us shine.”

Let’s hear what some of the youth had to say about Revive 2013:

‘I learnt how to build a better relationship with God in order to shine! My favourite activity was the bouncy castle. A very hectic, yet unusually calm experience.’ - Alexander Malhar, Strand 14-15

 ‘I think the spiritual content of the talks were really good because I got more about how we can shine in other people’s lives. Also, it was presented really well, not only by talks but by a video clip which made it more interesting. Activities were good; I went on the bouncy castle and also took part in the indoor activities. I met loads of new people by participating in these activities. The atmosphere was amazing! Everybody was positive, especially at the bonfire when everyone was singing – it was brilliant! The praise and worship was also amazing, because there was a positive vibe in the atmosphere which makes you feel so close to God in the moment! And not to mention, the food was brilliant!’ - Yustina Zan, Strand 16-17

‘The talks were really good. Anba Youseff’s lectures were really interesting, length and subject was very appropriate. The analogy used with the earth, moon and sun was very helpful as it helped explain the concept of ‘shine’ really well. Mary’s talk was also very good, she was really interactive and I felt I learnt a lot during this conference. There needed to be more interactive group activities, not just football and treasure hunt, also, two years ago we had a talent show/ church presentations which were a lot of fun and helped bring people together. I also think there were too many young people this year. Maybe split it up into two conferences? I liked the talks the most as I really benefitted from them. ’-  Eustina Hanna, Strand 18-19

 ‘Anba Youseff’s talks I found beneficial as the advice applied to my daily life. E.g. prayer distractions and when attending weddings how to come together for the bride and groom while evangelising. I enjoyed the bouncy castle/football/smaller games in the main hall/bonfire. It was chaotic, but timing was spot on. Organisation for the workshop I was in was difficult due to large numbers, the food was great. Personally, I appreciated getting to know girls and boys from my church on a better level and other kids from different churches. Also, tasbeha was amazing, and the overall atmosphere with both the Sayedna’s presence was great with their laid back and friendly attitudes.’ - Julie Kheir, Servant

 ‘Anba Youssef’s talk was really good, I benefitted a lot, I wish he gave us more talks. There were good activities but there needs to be more for the kids. Overall it was a great atmosphere, I loved seeing friends from different churches.’ Mina Hanna, Servant

 

EuroCOFTA 2012

A wise man once said “football is more than a sport or a mere activity, it is a means of unifying individuals; provoking emotion in all people, irrespective of age, race or gender, and that is why it is considered a universal language.”

That wise man, is me. The above is an accurate description of what I witnessed over the weekend of 13-15 July 2012 where The Coptic Centre hosted the 2nd Euro COFTA.

England, France, Holland, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland; 7 teams coming together to compete for the most desired title in Church football, whilst representing their churches and countries.

A couple of teams arrived before the weekend and international friendships were already being formed. By Friday all teams had arrived with their fans, coaches and high spirits as they prepared to showcase their talents. The Coptic Centre felt like an EU summit!

As the games kicked off under the infamous English rain, fans persisted in cheering for their countries and the teams did not fail to deliver highly entertaining matches, whether with high scores or tight games. The day was full of thrilling football and provided excitement, laughter and frustration as both groups played for the top 2 spots in their respective groups.

A delicious BBQ and candy-floss as well as outdoor activities ensured that everyone had much to enjoy alongside the football. In the evening, His Grace Bishop Angaelos gave a bible study after a highly energetic vespers where the teams came together for prayer and to share the word of God.

The liturgy was an amazing experience, multilingual but united in spirit, heart and prayer. It was a real testament to the ministry of the Coptic Church and how, with its expansion into all parts of the earth, she still maintains common foundations upon which her children can come together and worship in unity.

During the knockouts, England failed to defend its title, and lost to last year’s runners up, France, with the heart-ache of an own goal. In the other semi-final, tournament debutants Sweden beat the Swiss in an exciting game. In the thrilling final, France and Sweden were battling each other as well as exhaustion, yet the Swedes managed to edge past the French to claim their first Euro COFTA cup.

What was evident more than anything was that despite having 7 teams playing football, there were more teams elsewhere: in the kitchen, at the BBQ, arranging accommodation, activities and transport. The spirit of unity and fellowship displayed over the weekend really made me proud of our youth. May God continue to bless this wonderful ministry.


By Amir Michaeel

CY March 2012 - For Youth By Youth

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Coptic Youth Mission's CY Newsletter January edition

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