A New Place to Play for Boa Vista
Welcome to the Arena Raíces del Futuro, a brand new court built around the games and people that make the Boa Vista Spirit what it is.
Juníor and many other Venezuelan children at the Waraotuma a Tuaranoko shelter in Boa Vista, Brazil, had been playing on sand that became scorching hot during the summer. Since the KLABU clubhouse was initiated in 2024, the community had one clear wish: to build a new court! Now, in partnership with UEFA Foundation, there’s a proper place to kick a ball, play volleyball, practise and bring everyone together.
"Sports mean a lot to me. I’d like to be part of a club, but if that’s not possible... with the new court, we’ve got a space where we can practise and do all sorts of things."
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The whole shelter community has had a hand in making the court their own, from painting and decorating to adding their own colours, club badge and a message of encouragement.
“Raices del Futuro” or Roots of the Future is a line that the community came up with to capture what the court means for Boa Vista Spirit. The words are handwritten by the children themselves. They stand for the spirit of the Venezuelan community, who have been rebuilding their lives at the shelter since it was established.
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"Sport is important for the future, for our kids, and for a new generation that is growing up now: that loves sport, follows sport, follows the project, follows KLABU, and stands behind it alongside the community."
The inauguration day brought a burst of colour to what once was just barren sand.
The community gathered to celebrate. Bright, flowing skirts swayed to Brazilian funk playing throughout the day. Footballs rolled between feet as the crowd cheered. Purple shirts were everywhere, each carrying “Raíces del Futuro” in bold green letters, while others wore their KLABU shirts, ready to take to the court.
Just one week after opening, around 200 community members are coming to the court every day, and it’s fully booked, from 8am to 11pm.
Around the clubhouse, community members can watch sports on TV, play board games, and now take on the court together.
Football and volleyball were already being played on the sand, but the new court has brought a whole new energy. It gives bigger groups space to play, welcomes new players and creates more opportunities for women’s and mixed games.
"It really feels like a club and a community space now. The court brought everything together. It has added real purpose and has diversified the people who join and the activities we do."
The project came together through that same spirit of teamwork, in partnership with UEFA Foundation, love.fútbol, AVSI Brasil and Mews.
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