Platinum Sponsor Assyriska Football Club
A special message from Zaya Younan to the Assyrian people during the Assyrian Convention, speaking about the importance of supporting Assyriska Football Club and standing together as one community. Assyriska represents far more than football — it represents our people, our identity, our culture, and the Assyrian name on an international stage. We encourage Assyrians around the world to support Assyriska, contribute to the club’s future, and help strengthen something that belongs to all of us. Together, we can continue building a stronger future for Assyriska and for the Assyrian community worldwide.
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Hello My brothers and sisters - My name is Zaya Younan.
I was supposed to be there among you in this convention, this gathering that I always looked forward to it. But I couldn’t this time because I had schedule conflict. I am in another part of this world far away from America. But I’m happy that you are here today. I am happy that all Assyrians of Chicago and surrounding areas are gathered socializing, dining, dancing together and keeping the Assyrian spirit alive and not forgotten.
This convention is very important for us. God willing, we have this convention all over the world and every year or even 2 to 3 times a year for Assyrians to meet each other.
For those of you that don’t know me, I was raised in Chicago after arriving from Iran. I am now living in Los Angeles mainly. For the last 35 years, I am devoted to help Assyrian causes all over the world from Egypt to Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, European countries and other countries.
I have met with Assyrians of Africa, met Assyrian of Morocco. I meet Assyrian in Egypt, Turkey all over the world that we are scattered and I have always tried and worked toward bringing Assyrian to a smaller area so that we can talk the language of our fathers and elders, the blessed Aramaic.
I was on my trip to Sweden last year, about 10 months ago when I met with this organization that I would like to talk about it today. Assyriska Soccer Football Organization in Europe.
When I went there, to meet this organization and talk to them, shockingly my blood immediately warmed up to them. I had the chills when I went inside and saw posters of Assyrian athletes with our Assyrian flag on their chest. I saw their condition which was not very good. This football organization has a lot of organizers that are trying so hard to maintain this organization – to make improvements and advanced it beyond Sweden, so that the whole world knows of the Assyriska team in Sweden. They are a very good football team. Today they are division three and are getting to division two, and with our help and yours, will get to division one. This is the reason that I am trying in different ways to help this organization. Today, I am asking all of you - maybe 150 people are listening to me. I want to ask you, although I have not seen you and this is the first time we are meeting, I want to ask you to please help me to help this organization so that the impact of this organization will affect all Assyrians across the world.
This organization is in need of your donations. It needs your help. I am pleading to you today, tonight, and not next week. Before you exit the door of this hall, each one of you to write a check to your abilities, small or big whatever you want. It is very important that we help this organization so that it stays alive and does not vanish. Because we need this organization more than they need us frankly.
Another point that was surprising to me is that the inter marriage to non-Assyrian was less than 1% over the last 40 years. But in the last 10 years, it has been tracking to 18% in America and Europe, and in 20 years from today, 50% of Assyrian will marry non-Assyrian. This will eventually in 100, 150 years cause us to forget who we are. We won’t consider ourselves Assyrian, and we will think we are American or other nationalities. For this reason, it is important that support our common causes, like Assyriska. So that we are reminded of who we are, and where we came from, and where we heading in the future
Again, thank you so much. I would like to meet you soon. Today at this dinner event, you will have wine that we make in France, please enjoy it. Also, at the end we will give you cigars that have Assyrian King Gilgamesh that we use as a marketing tools to educate people about Assyrians. Enjoyed them.
Thank you very much on my behalf, Zaya Younan, thank you for your help today for Assyriska’s football organization.
Thank you so much, may God bless you all.