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It must have been at the age of eight when I developed my first addiction: football. I can still see myself running around the pitch, kicking a ball whilst imagining I would be the new Dennis Bergkamp. It took me a couple of years to wake up, realising I would never..
Addicted to T-Shirts
At that very same moment, I started another addiction thanks to COPA Football. Those gents started designing retro football shirts in the late nineties. I actually remember myself buying some shirts online, which now can be seen as collectors items. So when they moved their flagship store to the Prins Hendrikkade quite recently, I decided to pay them a visit. I was speechless and wandered around for hours to be amazed over and over again.
Open minded
The first thing I noticed was their impressive ‘Tibetan Hallway’. Obviously the Tibet National Soccer Association is not acknowledged by the UEFA which limits their activities by a lack of financial funds. COPA decided to dress up and help out the Tibetan National Football Team. With this, COPA contributes to establishing and promoting games and sports within the Tibetan community, and emphasizing sport’s character-building qualities.
Next to this remarkable hallway, there’s this little chapel at the back of the shop. Apparently, a lot of foreigners (specifically South-Americans) visiting the shop take a few minutes to pray. I couldn’t keep my eyes of the photographs staring at you; Andrés Escobar, George Best and Manchester United team (1958) a.k.a. ‘Busby Babes’ are honoured…
For those who have something to confess, we have built a special football chapel.
Obviously this staggering 250m2 is not your ordinary T-shirt shop. The shirts are designed by passionate designers who contribute from all over the world. Moreover their collection contains old school footballs (the ones with the lace on it, remember?) and recycled sports bags. In between they also sell all sorts of football related items like books and DVDs. They even serve their own Copa Beer at their old school canteen with a Trophy showcase. T-shirts, football and beer. What else does a man need?
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