Cold breezes sweep across the football pitch late on a Saturday evening. Instead of clubbing, the AAU Football team is training for its upcoming games with a couple of new faces.
The team aims for a strong season with new players from around the globe. Although Mustafa Elhaj plays as a left defender, he can be seen running all over the pitch, repelling sharp shots from the opposing team and even scoring goals himself.
It seems he has been gathering all his energy for four years, and now he is letting it all out. “I like being tired after playing football, the sleep is always nice,” said newcomer Mustafa Elhaj after an almost three-hour long training session.
He joined AAU about a month ago – hardly long enough to support the Czech Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Naturally, Mustafa will support his home country Sudan. “If they don’t qualify, I am supporting Switzerland,” his second home for the past eight years.
Inspired by his older brother, Mustafa switched from the couch to the pitch. He joined his first football team in Switzerland, but the joy lasted only until 2020 when COVID-19 hit.
Four years later, he is back on the pitch, passing the ball with his teammates. “I like these guys,” said Mustafa. “Look at them! They are so smiley and cute!”
While the team is constantly uplifting, Mustafa tends to be critical of his personal performance during training. “I think I’m part of those people that take it [the game] seriously,” said Mustafa. But what happens on the field stays on the field. In the words of Mustafa, “It’s all sunshine and butterflies” when they exit the field as friends.
Matches are underway, and his position as a left defender is set. After four years, Mustafa is facing his first match with nervous excitement. But he is sure of one thing: “It is definitely a good decision that I signed up for the team.”
All upcoming matches to support \AAU football are free to watch. More information about the time and place can be found on their Instagram, @aaufootball.
