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BURBANK HOMENETMEN PARTICIPATES IN SOUTH AMERICAN NAVASARTIAN GAMES
Monday, November 3rd, 2014
http://asbarez.com/128488/burbank-homenetmen-participates-in-south-american-navasartian-games/
Standing from left to right, Timmy Mardirosian, Very Reverend Father
from Buenos Aires , Varaga Zeinali, Argin Haghoubian, Vardan Adzemian,
Ara Margoosian, Robik Khodadadian, Gurgen Adzemian, Eduardo D.
Tateosian, Homenetmen South America Regional, Albert (Afo) Eskandari,
Alec Baghdasaryan, seating from left to right, Eric Hartoonian,
Tomik Baghoomian, Ishkhan Setagayan, Shahen Hartoonian and Christian
Der Gregorian
BY ALEC BAGHDASARYAN
Last month, I was fortunate to have attended the South American
Homenetmen Navasartian Games in Argentina. I was part of a group
representing the Homenetmen Sipan - Burbank Chapter at the games. I am
sure every person, who knows anything about soccer, would be wondering
about the sanity of taking a Homenetmen Soccer team from the USA to
Argentina to play in a tournament with players from Brazil, Argentina,
Uruguay, Peru and Chile. These countries are soccer powerhouses. For
many kids growing up in these countries, soccer is second to none.
Realizing that winning on the court, however, is not the lone objective
of these games, and that all athletes attending the Navasartian Games
are winners, on October 8, 2014, thanks to the generosity of Timmy
Mardirossian, the Homenetmen Sipan - Burbank Chapter's soccer team
became the first Homenetmen team from Northern America to participate
in the South American Homenetmen Navasartian Games.
Our team made up of the following players; Christian Der Gregorian,
Ara Margoosian, Vardan Adzemian, Gurgen Adzemian, Argin Haghoubian,
Varaga Zeinali, Eric Hartoonian, Tomik Baghoomian, Ishkhan Setagayan.
Our team was coached by Albert Eskandari, assistant coach was Shahen
Hartoonian, Robik Khodadadian was assisting the coaching staff with
their needs and Timmy Mardirosian as the team sponsor.
At the airport we were greeted by true Homenetmen-akans. It is amazing
how an organization can instill in its members from throughout the
world such an intimate feeling towards a fellow Homenetmen-akan and
towards Homenetmen. It was as if Eduardo, the head of the Regional
Homenetmen Committee, was one of the members of the Massis Chapter
in the San Fernando Valley, or the Ararat Chapter in Glendale.
Homenetmen provided lunch for all the attendees in the restaurant of
the center
The experience of our players dealing with other athletes was no
different than the one experienced at the airport. As it happens with
all Homenetmen games, athletes start talking, laughing, and forming
friendships that will certainly last for many decades. On their part,
our team players made us proud since, as true Homenetmen-akans, their
demeanor was exemplary on and off of the court. Our athletes grew
fond of their South American counterparts asking to take pictures
with them, cheering them during the games, and exchanging gifts as
a reminder of their friendship. Their popularity was boosted by the
fact that, from the very first game, they proved themselves to be
worthy opponents to the teams with which they competed. In fact,
they became the team to beat for the championship. I may be biased,
but I believe they were the best soccer team at the South American
Navasartian Games, and, as such, they were able to beat every team
they played, and proudly brought the Championship Cup back to the
Homenetemen - Sipan Chapter. In addition, Vardan Adzemian, one of
our players, was named the most valuable player of the tournament.
The hotel where our chapter members stayed was about 30 minutes from
the Homenetmen Agoump. Our team was transported to the center every
morning by bus, where we spent our time in between games, enjoying the
Homenetmen Center's facilities. The Homenetmen Center in Argentina is
the largest that I have seen since the Ararat Center in Tehran. It
includes two full-size swimming pools, indoor and outdoor soccer
fields, tennis courts, many other playing fields, indoor and outdoor
restaurants, and a number of meeting and conference rooms. I was told
that Armenians of all ages come to the center to play backgammon,
chess and rummy with friends, or simply sit at the cafeteria or an
outside seating area to chat and enjoy one another's company. Of
course, as fellow Homenetmen-akans, and, especially, as first time
visitors to the South American Homenetmen games from the USA, we were
always treated kindly by all Armenians from different participating
countries. Everyone was pleasant and courteous, and spent time chatting
with us about our community in Los Angeles, and shared information
with us about their own communities.
At the closing ceremony
The most memorable events were the Opening and Closing Ceremonies,
when each country's participants entered the gym carrying their
respective flags, while singing and marching to patriotic songs. These
are the times that you appreciate the true power of the Armenian
Diaspora. You appreciate the hard work of the Armenian leaders
that have kept these communities alive since the 1920s and 1930s
in geographically distant South American countries. These are the
leaders, who work hard to organize the Navasartian Games, and bring
Armenians together to share in their common heritage, and learn about
our rich culture and treasured values. It is at such well-organized and
joyous celebrations that one cannot help but remember the part of the
William Saroyan's famous saying "... then see if they will not laugh,
sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world,
see if they will not create a New Armenia."
Bravo to Argentina's Armenian community, which has thrived for so many
decades as successful citizens of their country, while remaining true
to their Armenian heritage, and keeping an undying love towards Armenia
in their hearts. Of course, the Argentinian-Armenian community is no
different than any other Armenian community when facing challenges
such as assimilation and acculturation. No challenge is more apparent
than the youth's inability to speak in the Armenian language. I wish
the leadership of the Argentinian-Armenian community all the best in
addressing their challenges. I am confident in their abilities, knowing
that they are hard at work looking for ways to address all challenges,
in order to keep their community alive, while ensuring that the youth
remain engaged with the local Armenian community and our homeland.
This article will not be complete without mentioning that the trip was
made possible thanks to the kind sponsorship of Timmy Mardirossian. In
fact, the Homenetmen Burbank-Sipan Chapter is named after this
benefactor's family. Timmy has sponsored other trips for chapter
members in the past. He is a true community leader and a successful
business person, who, along with his wife Seda, always finds the time
to help Armenians of all ages, but especially Armenian youth. Timmy's
interest during these games was not the score of the game, but rather
the importance of the youth bonding with one another, in addition to
having a chance to learn about each player's plans for their future
education and careers.
Monday, November 3rd, 2014
http://asbarez.com/128488/burbank-homenetmen-participates-in-south-american-navasartian-games/
Standing from left to right, Timmy Mardirosian, Very Reverend Father
from Buenos Aires , Varaga Zeinali, Argin Haghoubian, Vardan Adzemian,
Ara Margoosian, Robik Khodadadian, Gurgen Adzemian, Eduardo D.
Tateosian, Homenetmen South America Regional, Albert (Afo) Eskandari,
Alec Baghdasaryan, seating from left to right, Eric Hartoonian,
Tomik Baghoomian, Ishkhan Setagayan, Shahen Hartoonian and Christian
Der Gregorian
BY ALEC BAGHDASARYAN
Last month, I was fortunate to have attended the South American
Homenetmen Navasartian Games in Argentina. I was part of a group
representing the Homenetmen Sipan - Burbank Chapter at the games. I am
sure every person, who knows anything about soccer, would be wondering
about the sanity of taking a Homenetmen Soccer team from the USA to
Argentina to play in a tournament with players from Brazil, Argentina,
Uruguay, Peru and Chile. These countries are soccer powerhouses. For
many kids growing up in these countries, soccer is second to none.
Realizing that winning on the court, however, is not the lone objective
of these games, and that all athletes attending the Navasartian Games
are winners, on October 8, 2014, thanks to the generosity of Timmy
Mardirossian, the Homenetmen Sipan - Burbank Chapter's soccer team
became the first Homenetmen team from Northern America to participate
in the South American Homenetmen Navasartian Games.
Our team made up of the following players; Christian Der Gregorian,
Ara Margoosian, Vardan Adzemian, Gurgen Adzemian, Argin Haghoubian,
Varaga Zeinali, Eric Hartoonian, Tomik Baghoomian, Ishkhan Setagayan.
Our team was coached by Albert Eskandari, assistant coach was Shahen
Hartoonian, Robik Khodadadian was assisting the coaching staff with
their needs and Timmy Mardirosian as the team sponsor.
At the airport we were greeted by true Homenetmen-akans. It is amazing
how an organization can instill in its members from throughout the
world such an intimate feeling towards a fellow Homenetmen-akan and
towards Homenetmen. It was as if Eduardo, the head of the Regional
Homenetmen Committee, was one of the members of the Massis Chapter
in the San Fernando Valley, or the Ararat Chapter in Glendale.
Homenetmen provided lunch for all the attendees in the restaurant of
the center
The experience of our players dealing with other athletes was no
different than the one experienced at the airport. As it happens with
all Homenetmen games, athletes start talking, laughing, and forming
friendships that will certainly last for many decades. On their part,
our team players made us proud since, as true Homenetmen-akans, their
demeanor was exemplary on and off of the court. Our athletes grew
fond of their South American counterparts asking to take pictures
with them, cheering them during the games, and exchanging gifts as
a reminder of their friendship. Their popularity was boosted by the
fact that, from the very first game, they proved themselves to be
worthy opponents to the teams with which they competed. In fact,
they became the team to beat for the championship. I may be biased,
but I believe they were the best soccer team at the South American
Navasartian Games, and, as such, they were able to beat every team
they played, and proudly brought the Championship Cup back to the
Homenetemen - Sipan Chapter. In addition, Vardan Adzemian, one of
our players, was named the most valuable player of the tournament.
The hotel where our chapter members stayed was about 30 minutes from
the Homenetmen Agoump. Our team was transported to the center every
morning by bus, where we spent our time in between games, enjoying the
Homenetmen Center's facilities. The Homenetmen Center in Argentina is
the largest that I have seen since the Ararat Center in Tehran. It
includes two full-size swimming pools, indoor and outdoor soccer
fields, tennis courts, many other playing fields, indoor and outdoor
restaurants, and a number of meeting and conference rooms. I was told
that Armenians of all ages come to the center to play backgammon,
chess and rummy with friends, or simply sit at the cafeteria or an
outside seating area to chat and enjoy one another's company. Of
course, as fellow Homenetmen-akans, and, especially, as first time
visitors to the South American Homenetmen games from the USA, we were
always treated kindly by all Armenians from different participating
countries. Everyone was pleasant and courteous, and spent time chatting
with us about our community in Los Angeles, and shared information
with us about their own communities.
At the closing ceremony
The most memorable events were the Opening and Closing Ceremonies,
when each country's participants entered the gym carrying their
respective flags, while singing and marching to patriotic songs. These
are the times that you appreciate the true power of the Armenian
Diaspora. You appreciate the hard work of the Armenian leaders
that have kept these communities alive since the 1920s and 1930s
in geographically distant South American countries. These are the
leaders, who work hard to organize the Navasartian Games, and bring
Armenians together to share in their common heritage, and learn about
our rich culture and treasured values. It is at such well-organized and
joyous celebrations that one cannot help but remember the part of the
William Saroyan's famous saying "... then see if they will not laugh,
sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world,
see if they will not create a New Armenia."
Bravo to Argentina's Armenian community, which has thrived for so many
decades as successful citizens of their country, while remaining true
to their Armenian heritage, and keeping an undying love towards Armenia
in their hearts. Of course, the Argentinian-Armenian community is no
different than any other Armenian community when facing challenges
such as assimilation and acculturation. No challenge is more apparent
than the youth's inability to speak in the Armenian language. I wish
the leadership of the Argentinian-Armenian community all the best in
addressing their challenges. I am confident in their abilities, knowing
that they are hard at work looking for ways to address all challenges,
in order to keep their community alive, while ensuring that the youth
remain engaged with the local Armenian community and our homeland.
This article will not be complete without mentioning that the trip was
made possible thanks to the kind sponsorship of Timmy Mardirossian. In
fact, the Homenetmen Burbank-Sipan Chapter is named after this
benefactor's family. Timmy has sponsored other trips for chapter
members in the past. He is a true community leader and a successful
business person, who, along with his wife Seda, always finds the time
to help Armenians of all ages, but especially Armenian youth. Timmy's
interest during these games was not the score of the game, but rather
the importance of the youth bonding with one another, in addition to
having a chance to learn about each player's plans for their future
education and careers.