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Navy Blues boss calls for unity

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 23 March 2019

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC coach Ramon Tribulietx has shared his hopes for a more peaceful world following last week's terror attack in Christchurch.

New Zealand was left shaken last week following the attack on two Mosques and the ripple effect has spread throughout society and the football community.

Tribulietx has had to add another role to his busy task as Auckland City FC coach - managing the grief of players affected by what happened.

Terrorism has escalated around the world in recent years and Tribulietx has experienced in his native Barcelona when in August 2017, 13 people were killed in an attack at La Rambla.

130 people were injured in the attack.

"This terror attack is something nobody expected could happen in New Zealand.

"It's very hard on everyone and something similar happened in Barcelona a year-and-a-half ago which everyone there found difficult.

"But New Zealand is so far away from the rest of the world that you just don't expect it to happen here. But now it has," he told www.aucklandcityfc.com.

"The world is in danger with so much hate manifesting itself but it's important we send a message of unity.

"It's been hard for a couple of our players who have been affected by this tragedy through knowing people indirectly and it has been emotional for them.

"We've tried to support our players very closely and that is a positive," he said.

Auckland City FC has been an inclusive football club open to players and fans of any faith, colour, creed or religion since it's inception in 2004.

It was a base value for the Navy Blues sister club, Central United, a team founded by Croatian immigrants more than 50 years ago.

With the destruction of diversity and religious freedom a target of that terrorist attack, the death of Atta Elayyan, the New Zealand futsal goalkeeper, has given the football community a very visible and painful connection to the atrocity.

Dylan Manickum, a new signing for the Navy Blues this season, has been active in the media with BBC World and Radio Sport to try and raise awareness of the Atta Elayyan givealittle fund.

Tribulietx said Manickum's bravery has helped process an impossible sense of loss and grief.

"Dylan Manickum played international futsal with the late Atta Elayyan and they knew each other very
well.

"Dylan travelled to Christchurch to be with Atta's family and friends earlier this week and had plans to go back if the opportunity arose.

"It has been upsetting for everyone but we have tried to move ahead as normally as possible," he said.

Auckland City FC and Team Wellington will attempt to keep that forward momentum going when they meet in the ISPS Handa Premiership semi-final on Sunday.

Tribulietx's preparations for that game have been as meticulous as ever and there is a sense that his players are desperate to get back to the escapism competitive football provides.

The Navy Blues coach had some final thoughts ahead of the weekend.

"We have to see what we can do better as a country to stop these things happening.

"This is what we did in Barcelona. We tried to change a few things to stop hate spreading in the world and I hope we learned the lesson there and I hope we learn it here, too.

"It's important that we support each other and do our best to stop hate spreading.

"In the Auckland City FC dressing room our ethos has always been about mutual respect and acceptance of people as they are.

"We've always had a lot of different cultures in our squad and the key to it's success has been the way we have bonded.

"Respect is key and this should transcend the dressing room into everyday life," he said..

The Atta Elayyan givealittle fund can be donated to by using the link below. 

Ends

Givealittle Page
Help Atta Elayyan's Family - click here to donate 

Use of Funds
The funds will go to Farah directly to help her continue to raise their young daughter during this tragic time.

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