The Henriksson family – black belt in ball sports and community life

Say the word “ball,” and you’ll instantly capture the full attention of the entire Henriksson family

For them, nothing beats ball sports. Whether it’s football, handball, or golf – as soon as they see a ball, you can be sure it won’t be long before it’s in play.

Just a stone’s throw from Björnevi (the football field in the center of Torsby) and Svennis Arena, as the artificial turf field is now called, live Jasmina, Claes, and their daughter Bella in a 200-square-meter functionalist-style house. Their oldest son, Pontus, has moved out and lives just a few hundred meters away. Downstairs lives Kim, who has been placed with the Henriksson family for about six months and has quickly become a natural part of the family.

Both Jasmina and Claes grew up in central Torsby. Jasmina moved here with her mother when she was seven years old.

– My mom is from Vitsand but has lived in different places around Sweden. She wanted me to start school in Torsby and grow up here, so she decided to move back home. My first years were in Kristinehamn, but then we settled in Torsby – and I’ve stayed ever since, says Jasmina.

Claes also stayed in Torsby. Even though he’s worked in Norway for periods, his home address has always been here.

Love and football combined

Jasmina and Claes met when they were young and have been together ever since. Their shared passion for football naturally became a common bond.

– We used to sit and come up with imaginary team lineups with professional players on our dates. Ha ha, so nerdy, laughs Jasmina. But our shared love for the sport has probably made us as close as we are.

Both have played themselves, coached youth teams, and served on boards. Claes now coaches Västanvik’s men’s team – the same club he joined when he was seven years old. Jasmina started playing football as soon as she moved to Torsby, back then in the boys’ team.

– Many of my friends at school played and encouraged me to start. I also played handball and floorball. When I was 13, I joined the women’s teams in Torsby, and at 19, I played for Mallbacken in the Allsvenskan (Swedish Premier League). I was basically raised by the women’s team players, she laughs.

The love for ball sports has been passed down. Both Bella and Pontus started playing at an early age.

– Pontus grew up on the football fields around here. He came along to every match and every training session we had. Several teams have helped raise him, really. He even managed to sneak into a team photo with Västanvik’s men’s team once when he was little – holding his toy spear in his hand. So silly, laughs Jasmina.

Community life – the heart of everyday life

There’s no doubt that community life plays a major role for the family. They’ve served on countless boards and help organize various events, such as the Svennis Cup. During that time, the whole family gets involved, you might find them in the office, refereeing, or announcing over the speakers.

– We love community life. It gives you so much – friendship, connection, and a sense of belonging. We spend a lot of time with other families who are part of the clubs. It also offers opportunities for further education. I’ve taken several leadership courses and trainings through the associations, says Jasmina. If you move here and want to get to know people, community life is perfect. And if you come from another country, it’s a great way to learn the language. You gain so much, and the clubs welcome you with open arms. There’s always a need for people in different roles – not just as coaches.

Lately, the whole family has also taken up golf, so they now spend a lot of time out on the golf course.

– It’s a ball sport too, so it suits us perfectly. One of the reasons we’ve stayed in Torsby is how close everything is: the golf course, football fields, swimming pool, gym, beaches, Hovfjället in the winter – and of course, the forest. You can fit so much into your day when everything is just a short distance away.

– Yes, and for me, it was worth so much that I could keep playing football at the highest level even though I became a mom early on, says Jasmina. Pontus could come along to everything, and no one ever complained about it. Of course, there are some things you might miss here. For example, there isn’t a huge selection of restaurants, but in the summer, several cozy restaurants and cafés pop up. And if you really miss city life, Karlstad isn’t far away. The cultural scene here is also very rich, even if we might not be the most cultural family ourselves.

– But I try to get out into the forest regularly, says Jasmina, especially with my relatives. We go around picking berries and admiring all the beautiful old houses in Vitsand.