March 29, young people from all over Sweden gathered in Linköping for the annual football tournament Abgar U’Komo, organized by the Syriac-Aramaic Youth Federation of Sweden (SAUF). The day was filled with exciting matches and a grand cultural celebration of community, competition, and festivity—an event that strengthens the bonds within the Syriac-Aramaic youth movement.
This year’s tournament was a great success, breaking all previous records. A total of 35 teams registered, but SAUF had to limit participation to 20 teams to ensure the tournament was manageable. More than 200 players competed for victory in front of an audience of 300–400 supporters. After many tough and evenly matched games, the team TÄNK INTE FC from Linköping ultimately claimed the championship title.
But the day was not just about football. After the matches, the celebration continued with an unforgettable evening of festivities. The chairman of the local SAUF association, Emanuel Mourad, opened the night with a speech, expressing his joy over the successful tournament and the incredible sense of unity it fostered. This was followed by SAUF President Jonas Ergül, who thanked all the young participants for a day that will be remembered for a long time. He emphasized the importance of bringing so many young people together under one roof to share their culture and strengthen their identity within the Syriac (Aramaic) community.
During the evening, several awards were handed out, including Best Male Player, Best Female Player, Best Goalkeeper, and Best Outfit. The highlight of the awards ceremony was undoubtedly when the victorious TÄNK INTE FC team received their well-deserved trophy for first place.
The celebrations continued with a magical evening as the renowned singer Tomas Demir and his band delivered an unforgettable musical experience. The dance floor quickly filled up, and the energy remained high as the music played long into the night.
Emanuel Mourad, chairman of SAUF-Linköping, expressed his immense joy at how the day and evening had exceeded all expectations:
“These past weeks have been intense with planning, hard work, and coordination to bring everything together. But seeing the result, we can’t help but feel proud. The tournament was a success, and the party was even better! We at SAUF-Linköping are incredibly grateful to all the young people who joined us and made this day special.”
SAUF President Jonas Ergül also shared his pride in the event’s success:
“It is amazing to see how this tournament brings together so many young people from all over Sweden. Experiencing this day, watching the youth interact, compete, and feel a sense of belonging is exactly what we aim for. We would have loved to allow more teams to participate, but to keep the tournament feasible, we had to limit it to 20 teams. However, our ambition is to expand it even further in the future.
“Abgar U’Komo is more than just a football tournament—it carries historical significance and is a tribute to the Aramean King Abgar V of Urhoy (Edessa), who, according to tradition, was healed of leprosy by Jesus and later became the first Christian king. This is a tradition we are proud to uphold,” Jonas continues.
Representatives from the Syriac Federation of Sweden (SRF) were also present throughout the day, showing their support.
“I was truly impressed by the incredible atmosphere during both the tournament and the celebration. A big recognition goes to SAUF and the local organizations for their dedication and hard work. We take great pride in seeing our youth not only excel on the field but also demonstrate responsibility and unity,” says Ibrahim Akgül, board member of SRF.
Once again, the Abgar U’Komo football tournament has proven to be more than just a competition—it is a tradition that unites, inspires, and strengthens the Syriac-Aramaic youth movement. With another successful event behind them, both participants and organizers are already looking forward to next year’s edition.