raised on concrete
The Balkan Mix crew ran rings around every European team they came up against.
partner
Balkan Mix
Category
Awareness
members
Sanel, Selvedin
Imagine walking through the austere grayness of Wedding’s Pankstraße in Berlin and being teased by the Boateng brothers. “Gewachsen auf Beton” (“raised on concrete”), they would laugh. But what was intended as a jibe, the Balkan Mix boys lived, with a whole lot of heart.
Balkan Mix, Berlin street football icons, won the Nike Street Football Cup of the same name, in addition to several other European tournaments, cementing themselves as neighbourhood heroes. Having fled from war-torn countries, the young group found refuge in football and the camaraderie of the team.
It’s a crew that stands for honest, authentic football.
For us, they are the epitome of how football can provide friendship, learning and experience that transcends difference in culture or privilege. Understanding and respect are the cornerstones of togetherness and inclusion, and football can play a crucial role in setting those examples.
Balkan Mix shows us how. And we couldn’t be prouder to have them in our community. Sevedin, Sanel and all the other members of Balkan Mix – welcome to the club.