Soccer, community fundraising and effigy-stomping at first ‘solidarity cup’

Over 50 people gathered at the Halifax Common for a day of soccer, fundraising and the surprise destruction of an effigy at the first-ever Great Harbour Solidarity Cup on Sept. 20.

The soccer tournament was organized to build community connections and raise funds for Mutual Aid Mi’kma’ki, a community care network which directly provides money to marginalized families in Halifax.

The student unions of the University of King’s College and Nova Scotia College of Art and Design organized the event along with Nova Scotia Student Strike and Workers’ Alliance Halifax. 

“Everyone [was] really engaged and supportive; it’s just so beautiful to see the community come together through sport and through social activism,” says Leah Walter, the lead organizer of NSSS for Dalhousie University. “Joining those two together, that’s a pretty win-win combination.”

The event featured tournament-style soccer games, free food for participants and a surprise effigy of Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, which participants destroyed on the field.

In total, the event raised slightly over $1,000 for Mutual Aid Mi’kma’ki through a pay-what-you-can entrance donation.

“It fills such a need in the community,” says Walter. “It just helps all the marginalized communities that fall through the cracks.”

The tournament was the final event of NSSS’s Disorientation Week, a series of events used to promote the organization, which plans to organize another two-week student strike in March.

Related: Student Strike organizers push for two-week strike in March

Before the final game, organizers unveiled a paper mâché effigy of Infantino’s head. Attendees then took penalty kicks as it hung from the crossbar. Eventually, the effigy was pulled down and stomped on to reveal the head was filled with chocolate coins. 

“[Infantino’s] just the perfect image of what we’re trying to organize against and the culture we’re trying to build our strength against,” says Zoe Neustaedter, one of the event’s lead organizers, citing Infantino’s support of U.S. President Donald Trump and his attempts to privatize parts of FIFA.

“He’s a recognizable face after the World Cup this summer and also just a fun one to make a piñata,” Neustaedter says. “It’s not about being violent, but it’s about showing who our enemy is, in this case.”

Sequoia Sky, a fourth-year student at Dalhousie University studying biology and environmental science, says that he enjoyed the event and found everyone welcoming, especially the organizers.

Sky says even though he hadn’t signed up previously, the organizers were welcoming and helped him join a team. “I really appreciate them being open by letting me join, and my team’s been great. Everyone’s super nice.”