On the warmest day of the summer so far, we organised the first qLit Women’s Football Cup on the pitches of Újbuda Sportcentrum next to Bikás Park, where eight teams competed against each other and the heat.
The tournament was open to both established and amateur teams, and we also encouraged individuals to sign up and we would find them a team. In the end, we ended up with a total of seven and a half teams and eight individuals. To our great delight, an international team called Ballz and Beers had also been formed.
Teams that arrived in their own jerseys, like NAÉS and HelloYellow, showed that these players were not new to the game. Class 1.A, representing qLit, arrived in a specially designed jersey for the event to show their unity. Showing their preparedness, team Mellesleg wore white shirts and team SakkeEgyLett had black shirts as their uniforms. Dykes on Bikes and Girlpower (the latter was formed on the spot) distinguished themselves with training vests. These two teams struggled with substitute shortages, but 1-2 players from other teams stepped in to help them out. This kind of attitude best describes the friendly nature of the cup, but that doesn’t mean the teams weren’t giving their all.
On the contrary, seeing how committed the players were to win was incredible. The stakes were high: taking home the trophy and the tickets to the Rainbow Party on June 22, offered by Budapest Pride. Despite the stakes, the event was characterised by fair play, and the referees had minimal work to do.
During breaks between matches, a wonderful picnic atmosphere formed. Everyone brought blankets, creating small islands under the trees next to the pitches. Over 50 supporters attended the event, and the whole event came alive. Class 1.A was supported by a whole cheerleading squad.
From an outsider’s view, the day flew by. Although 2×10 minutes of playtime doesn’t seem much, time seemed to stand still on the hot turf. The matches began at 10:40 with some breaks, and the final started at 16:30. The cup had a framed structure, as Ballz and Beers and SakkeEgyLett played both the first and last match of the tournament. In the end, SakkeEgyLett won.
After the cup, many of the teams sat down at a pub nearby. It was great to see how players who had arrived alone now celebrate together with their teams.
Feedback indicated that everyone would prefer not to wait a year for the next occasion. It is quite possible that our first football cup was not the last, as there is a high demand to play, exercise and spend the day together with nice people.
This event was funded by the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community and co-funded by the European Union. The content of this account is the sole responsibility of qLit.hu, the implementer of the project, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community or the European Union.
Translated by Vivi
