Nouraldeen

Sport builds bridges into society.

Nouraldeen Hamzeh (30) comes from the Syrian city of Jaramana, and has been in Germany since 2016. He is a qualified football coach, and has been doing Federal Volunteer Service at the SV Empor Berlin sports club since March 2017.

“I’ve loved football ever since I was a child. I had to stop playing it myself because of an injury. After completing my sports studies, I worked in Lebanon as a sports teacher and football coach, before returning to Syria and opening my own sports academy. In 2015, I travelled to Germany via Lebanon and Turkey, eventually arriving at an accommodation facility in Spandau in 2016. My window looked out directly on a football field.

That motivated me, and I introduced myself to the local club, Blau-Weiss Spandau 03. The club was very welcoming, and I was able to put my football coaching skills to the test. After moving to Pankow, I contacted Pfeffersport and SV Empor Berlin, where I have been doing Federal Volunteer Service since March 2017. Through sport and my work at the club, I have been able to meet a lot of new people, make friends, and improve my German.

The Federal Volunteer Service also allows me to obtain exercise instructor’s licences and undertake further training. The people at the club support me a lot, and help me achieve my goals. I am very grateful to them for that. With regards to my future in Germany, I want to improve my German, complete my sports studies, and obtain additional football coaching licences. My aim is to coach a German Bundesliga team, and win the German football championship and the Champions League with them.”