• Their team, the first of its kind in Italy, was created and funded by the managers of the Mineo centre for asylum seekers, one of Europe's largest such shelters. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    Their team, the first of its kind in Italy, was created and funded by the managers of the Mineo centre for asylum seekers, one of Europe's largest such shelters. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • ASD Mineo, as the team is called, is registered in the lowest category of Italy's official football pyramid, which groups 600 divisions and in which, in theory, any team can rise to the top of the league, or Serie A. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    ASD Mineo, as the team is called, is registered in the lowest category of Italy's official football pyramid, which groups 600 divisions and in which, in theory, any team can rise to the top of the league, or Serie A. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • "We can make it all the way to Serie A," says one of the players, 19-year-old Musa, from Gambia. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    "We can make it all the way to Serie A," says one of the players, 19-year-old Musa, from Gambia. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • In this country of football fanatics, ASD Mineo have become a test of racial integration. Though many Sicilians are critical of authorities for failing to provide enough resources to cope with the influx of immigrants, ASD Mineo have not suffered public resentment. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    In this country of football fanatics, ASD Mineo have become a test of racial integration. Though many Sicilians are critical of authorities for failing to provide enough resources to cope with the influx of immigrants, ASD Mineo have not suffered public resentment. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • Italy's first black government minister, Cecile Kyenge, has tried to introduce a law allowing anyone born on Italian soil to become a citizen. She herself has been a target of racists - likened to an orangutan and pelted with bananas in public. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    Italy's first black government minister, Cecile Kyenge, has tried to introduce a law allowing anyone born on Italian soil to become a citizen. She herself has been a target of racists - likened to an orangutan and pelted with bananas in public. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • "Immigration is a terrible battleground for politicians. But football can be a very effective tool in the fight against racism," says Maurizio Ambrosini, a sociologist at the University of Milan. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    "Immigration is a terrible battleground for politicians. But football can be a very effective tool in the fight against racism," says Maurizio Ambrosini, a sociologist at the University of Milan. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • Today Sicily, historically a stepping stone to the European mainland, is a gateway for migrants and asylum seekers from as far away as India, Pakistan and Syria. Most migrants come from Northern and sub-Saharan Africa. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    Today Sicily, historically a stepping stone to the European mainland, is a gateway for migrants and asylum seekers from as far away as India, Pakistan and Syria. Most migrants come from Northern and sub-Saharan Africa. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • Italy has struggled to provide basic services to the 40,000 new arrivals last year amid its worst recessions since World War Two. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    Italy has struggled to provide basic services to the 40,000 new arrivals last year amid its worst recessions since World War Two. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • The asylum centre in Lampedusa was badly overcrowded last year. Many migrants ended up in Mineo, which sits in an isolated valley southwest of the smouldering, snow-capped Mount Etna volcano. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    The asylum centre in Lampedusa was badly overcrowded last year. Many migrants ended up in Mineo, which sits in an isolated valley southwest of the smouldering, snow-capped Mount Etna volcano. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • Some 4,000 migrants from 40 nations occupy about 400 two-floor villas that once housed US Navy personnel who worked at the nearby Sigonella NATO air base. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    Some 4,000 migrants from 40 nations occupy about 400 two-floor villas that once housed US Navy personnel who worked at the nearby Sigonella NATO air base. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • Nineteen-year-old Mohammad from Togo, a defender, was orphaned at age 12. "In my village some people called me Balotelli, and then when I arrived in Italy they started calling me Balotelli," he says. He sports a similar mohawk haircut to the AC Milan striker. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    Nineteen-year-old Mohammad from Togo, a defender, was orphaned at age 12. "In my village some people called me Balotelli, and then when I arrived in Italy they started calling me Balotelli," he says. He sports a similar mohawk haircut to the AC Milan striker. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • The idea of forming a football team was hatched by the shelter's director Sebastiano Maccarrone after he watched residents' pick-up games. "Putting one team on the field was hard because there were so many good players to choose from," says Giuseppe Manzella, one of the two coaches. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    The idea of forming a football team was hatched by the shelter's director Sebastiano Maccarrone after he watched residents' pick-up games. "Putting one team on the field was hard because there were so many good players to choose from," says Giuseppe Manzella, one of the two coaches. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • "There are many people in the camp, and we are the lucky ones playing. We are living better here than we did in Africa," says Abu Anifa, a 19-year-old winger from Ghana. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    "There are many people in the camp, and we are the lucky ones playing. We are living better here than we did in Africa," says Abu Anifa, a 19-year-old winger from Ghana. Tony Gentile / Reuters
  • Before a recent match, a handful of fans shouted "Go America!" the nickname of 19-year-old Ghanaian Abdullahi, the top scorer in the league. "I love America and want to go there," he says of the nickname. ASD Mineo's coaches say he is good enough to become a pro, and scouts from Serie A club Catania have showed an interest in him. Tony Gentile / Reuters
    Before a recent match, a handful of fans shouted "Go America!" the nickname of 19-year-old Ghanaian Abdullahi, the top scorer in the league. "I love America and want to go there," he says of the nickname. ASD Mineo's coaches say he is good enough to become a pro, and scouts from Serie A club Catania have showed an interest in him. Tony Gentile / Reuters

Sport

In Pictures: The African migrants of Italian football club ASD Mineo

Robert Mickelson

February 13, 2014

  • English
  • Arabic

ASD Mineo is the first team composed entirely of African immigrants officially incorporated into Italy’s football pyramid. The players, young and mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, crossed the sea from Libya to settle in the Sicilian village of Mineo. (Captions by Reuters)

Serie A