Bragging rights were on the line for teams in the inaugural Chatham-Kent World Cup on Saturday.
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The tournament, organized by the Portuguese Canadian Social Club of Chatham, took place in the soccer fields behind the courthouse, as part of the ongoing Taste of Chatham-Kent celebrations.
Community members had the chance to enter teams, with participating squads including Canada, Asia, Netherlands, India, Chad, Ghana, Vietnam and Mexico.
The teams of five, plus a goalkeeper, were divided into two groups for pool play, with matches set at 40 minutes.
Carlos Pisquem, club president, and Michael Branco, vice-president, were the main organizers of the event.
“There’s a lot of excitement and energy, and enthusiasm,” Pisquem said. “A lot of people seem to be embracing it.”
Given the interest, he expects the tournament will continue in future years.
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It was also a chance to promote Portuguese culture and cuisine, with families welcome.
Taste of CK, which launched in July, aims to display the community’s diversity. Various cultural groups and businesses are involved, with different activities planned.
Tracy Callaghan, committee member, attended Saturday’s tournament, adding she was impressed.
“The representation is awesome,” she said. “I can see the potential for this to grow.
“They did a great job putting this together. Celebrating all these different cultures.”
Callaghan said there’s “so much more to look forward to,” as the festival continues to unfold throughout the next month.
“Every day, there’s more and more events that are being posted,” she said.
A complete schedule of Taste of CK events, including locations and times, is available at www.tasteofchathamkent.ca
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