In sport in general and in football in particular, there is a widespread trend in the Basque Country, even in the most Basque towns. Strategies in Spanish and celebrations in Spanish; players and hobbies in Spanish and French. On the contrary, the new Union Tutera team has done the opposite. Through sport, they want to make the Basque voice heard in the Ribera and, at the same time, they are based on values such as diversity, feminism, antifascism… They play football and futsal with feminine and masculine teams, and partner Ander Alfaro has recognized that, although it is a “difficult start”, they have a great atmosphere between boys and girls and followers. That helps to move forward.

In the creation of the club there were soccer partners and some members of the Euskaltzaindia, so they decided to combine both ideas and join the two. The strategy of Tudela's youth has been to incorporate Euskera into an area of direct influence in society and bring it to the field: “Football is a good speaker to say a few things to Tudela. Sometimes actions and mobilizations are carried out in favor of the Basque people, but people do not see them”. At least, when the Korrika has gone through the people, the Euskaltzales have been the protagonists, and also Union Tudela has taken the witness. The Basque Country has become visible not only on the day of the Korrika, but also the rest of the days.

Beyond the sports results, Alfaro says they have scored Gol, as they have made a bilingual team considered a normal team in the Ribera. It seems important to him that he agrees with Castilian to normalize the Basque language in Tudela, since although many do not understand it, they take the language to the plaza. “In places like Euskaldunes they may struggle differently, but in a people like ours, seeing the Basque on the Twitter of Union Tudela is already winning.”

From ear to mouth

At the moment it is impossible for the Basque Country to be in the mouths of all the members of the group, because many do not know, but at least they have it in the ears. The football team coach is Basque and some players are also. Therefore, Alfaro has underlined that an attempt is made to speak in Basque among those who know it, and that those who do not know it or are learning it, try to use a few words. “It sounds strange to some opponents, because in the Ribera they all do it in Spanish.” Some who don't know are taking classes at AEK and encouraging everyone to do so. In fact, Union Tudela has been assisted by the Ageraldia initiative, and has an agreement with AEK, which allows him to give more information. With words and play, Euskera is gradually taking to the campas of the Ribera, and with it around it: to the stands, to the social networks, and to all the eyes and ears that have to do with Union Tudela.