Yannick Carrasco is the first to kick a ball at the Belgian Red Court in Vilvoorde
Social football field at Tyndalepark opened
Red Devil Yannick Carrasco opened his Belgian Red Court in Vilvoorde today. From now on, the young people of Vilvoorde can play football to their heart's content on that small football pitch and meet their comrades. Activities will be organised on a regular basis, which should further increase the connection in the city.
Proud ambassador
He enjoyed great success at Atletico Madrid and soon will at Al- Shabab, but Carrasco's love for football has its origins on a football pitch in his home city of Vilvoorde. He wore out several pairs of shoes near the viaduct before he exchanged the squares for the youth academy of Racing Genk at the age of eleven. His career then went via AS Monaco to Atletico Madrid and Chinese club Dailan, before ending up back in the Spanish capital in 2020. Since 2015, he has also continuously defended the colours of the national team.
Despite his impressive record and busy football schedule, Carrasco regularly returns to his home city. At the beginning of the summer, he opened YCFive, a sports complex with padel, football and crossfit. It is the base of Vilvoorde Younited, a football team for homeless people.
Today, Carrasco once again emphasised his special love for Vilvoorde. He opened his own Belgian Red Court at the W. Tyndale Park, and kicked a ball with mayor Hans Bonte and alderman for youth, sports and culture Moad El Boudaati, as well as a number of young people from Vilvoorde. Thanks to these social football fields, the RBFA wants to bring young and old together through football, make the sport more accessible and promote social cohesion in the participating cities and municipalities.
“Kicking a ball on a football field in Vilvoorde really feels like coming home. Spending hours there in my youth has not only shaped me as a footballer, but also as a person. We know no discrimination or racism on these kinds of fields, the love for football connects us. I want the youth of Vilvoorde to be able to experience that togetherness too, that they put their mobile phones and PlayStation aside and meet their friends. That is why I like to support projects such as the Belgian Red Courts. And when I am in Vilvoorde, I like to come and play a game.”
– Yannick Carrasco , ambassador Red Court Vilvoorde
"It is with great pleasure that we as a city have been able to invest in this inspiring project, which not only gives a sporting boost, but also strengthens the social dynamics of our community. Yannick Carrasco's dedication to Vilvoorde is a source of immense gratitude. His commitment for creating this sporting meeting place will undoubtedly have a long-lasting and positive impact on the young people in our city. His willingness to give back to the place where his own football journey began is a credit to him as an athlete and as a fellow human being"
– Moad El Boudaati, alderman Vilvoorde
– Moad El Boudaati, alderman Vilvoorde
“It is admirable that our Red Devil and the Royal Belgian Football Association have an eye for the importance of an accessible place where children can really meet each other around the game of football. Yannick Carrasco clearly knows where he comes from and more than keeps his word that he wants to give something back to the children of Vilvoorde and give them opportunities to develop themselves.”
– Hans Bonte, mayor of Vilvoorde
Seventh Red Court
After Lier, Hasselt, Sint-Niklaas, Lokeren, Waregem and Genk, Vilvoorde is the seventh city with a Belgian Red Court. In the long term, the RBFA wants to open no less than 40 of these social football fields, spread over the entire country, starting with Westerlo, Peer, Borgerhout, Halle, and Bilzen this year.
This festive opening of the Red Court in Vilvoorde is also the starting signal for numerous activities on the decorated football field. For example, young people can always go there to kick a ball, but Red Court Coaches Ilias Akkabal and Yassir El Abbouti will also organise weekly activities and increase the connection in Vilvoorde thanks to football. This additional activity will mainly take place on Mondays, since most youth activities are closed then. During the summer holidays, the Red Court will be part of the neighbourhood sports project of the city of Vilvoorde.
