African Stars Football Club Resurrected

 Sports                                           By ANH

Posing on Sept 4 before the kick off

The African Stars Football Club has returned to the Budapest Division 4 League (BLSZ IV) with a bang winning the two matches played so far with fantastic goal aggregates 3-1 and 7-3 respectively.

The club which is now known as Mahatma Gandhi African Stars FC, has officially registered to compete against 15 other clubs for this season which started on September 4 after disappearing for several years due to players' scarcity. 

The new players are of different nationalities ranging from Afghanistan, Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, Nigeria, Sudan, and Turkey.

Although ASFC won its first match at home in Orom against Káposztásmegyeri Footbal Club by 3-1, the result may not count as the referees refused to officiate the match, claiming some irregularities on the part of  the African side.

African News Hungary gathered that the club management did not get the players' identity card stamped by a competent medical authority thereby violating the rules set up by the State Football Management.

Officials explained that getting the ID stamped is a significant aspect of Budapest Board of Football Management requirement. "It's very important before a team can play in the league," said one of the three officials, adding that ASFC should get the cards stamped before their next match.

ASFC management meanwhile put the blame on the State Football Management Board saying, "It is their responsibility to contact or notify us about anything missing before the league starts but unfortunately they didn't do that. We're hoping for a replay since it's not hundred percent our fault ".

In spite of the incident, the players who are mostly students seemed to be enthusiastic and vowed to win their matches every week.The Club's captain, Abdalla Osman, told African News Hungary about the team's commitment to top the division and then move on to the next level.

vice captain & captain

"Playing for the club is a good thing. Most of us are friends and have been playing together for a long time and we have wanted to create a team in which to compete seriously in a series and we are happy that our dream has come true. It's a nice atmosphere."

Osman, 21, who scored the 2nd goal explained further that though "majority of us are students, it won't be a set back for the club as we would get in touch thereafter".

However, a set back for the club appears to be the rules that forbid one of its best players to play due to age category. Amadi Chukwudi who scored the third goal cannot officially play for the club because he is yet to be 17 - the minimum age requirement. Chukwudi will be 17 this December.

Founded in 1994 by Mr. Gibril Deen with the purpose of integrating Africans to the Hungarian society, the club management was delighted to see the club registered saying, "I finally brings the club back. What is important is that we have been registered. I'm happy".