SINTER and ASSAF promote the 1st Integration Futsal Tournament for International Students at UFSC
On Sunday, 17 March, the Office of International Relations (SINTER) and the Association of Angolans in Florianópolis (ASSAF), represented by member Nataniel Kuanza, organized the 1st Integration Futsal Tournament for International Students at UFSC. The event was part of UFSC’s initiatives to welcome international students in the first semester of 2025, which included a series of cultural and integration activities.
Held at the UFSC School of Sports (CDS) Gymnasium, the tournament brought together 77 international students, both degree-seeking and exchange students, from various countries around the world, along with Brazilian study buddies. Some students participated in the matches, while others came to cheer and integrate with each other.
Four mixed-gender teams were formed – “America”, “Africa”, “Asia” and “Europe” – each featuring students from various nationalities. The America team – with participants from Brazil, Germany, Angola, France and Gabon – was the winner of the tournament. The tournament’s top scorer was the female student Iadira António Impanta, from Guinea-Bissau, who scored 7 goals.
Reflecting on the event, the former president and current member of ASSAF, Nataniel Kuanza, highlighted the positive experience of forming diverse teams. This allowed students from different nationalities, backgrounds, cultures, personalities and genders to form the same team, which had at least one person from one of the 13 nationalities registered in the tournament. The main objective, which he said was duly fulfilled, was to provide a space for students to play, connect, make new friends, and enjoy themselves through futsal.
Kuanza added that the crowd also reacted with enthusiasm: “They cheered for every great move, celebrating dribbles, and even calling out some players by name.” Finally, he expressed his feelings about having been part of the organization of the tournament and the importance of sports in uniting people: “Organizing the tournament meant a lot to me. Bringing people together and fostering integration is something truly amazing. I could see that through sports we can really do many wonderful things, whether for the good of UFSC, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia or the world as a whole. It’s no surprise that football is the most unifying sport in the world. Sports have this power: they can save lives, they can unite individuals, peoples and nations, they can support people and offer a new perspective on life. Now, I feel like I’ve fulfilled my duty, because the tournament started and ended well. The teams were all balanced, they played great football and, in the end, the winner was the one that showed the best performance and consistency.”
The Director of International Relations and President of the Organizing Committee for the 2025.1 International Community Welcome Activities, Fernanda Leal, described the tournament as a milestone in UFSC’s efforts to enhance the welcome experience for international students: “In recent years, we have expanded our welcome events with new cultural activities. Our main goal is to ensure international students feel welcomed and connected. This semester, alongside a visit to the São José da Ponta Grossa Fortress, two dance workshops, and a guided campus tour, we introduced the UFSC International Community Integration Futsal Tournament, in partnership with ASSAF. The activity was an opportunity to integrate students of different nationalities and promote the spirit of sportsmanship and cooperation.”
SINTER and ASSAF express their gratitude to all participants in the tournament, as well as to the CDS administration and the partner institution Middlebury College for their support in making this event a reality.
