Refugee Soccer to bring the game to Afghans waiting for placement
Dec 15, 2021, 4:16 PM | Updated: Dec 16, 2021, 12:22 pm
Tahim has played with and collaborated with the Utah-based group, Refugee Soccer. Mohammad Tamim Solhadost, a recent refugee from Afghanistan, goes through a short workout at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Photo: Scott G Winterton / Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — Refugee Soccer, a group from Utah, is hoping to welcome Afghan refugees to America, through playing soccer.
Refugee Soccer organizes soccer teams of those who’ve settled in Utah. They gather equipment and help place players on mainstream soccer clubs.
“Really the mission is to bridge the gap between mainstream and Refugee communities,” Executive Director, Adam Miles told KSL Newsradio.
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It’s Miles who is now leading a group of 10 volunteers from La Roca Futbol Club to a military base in New Mexico after Christmas to play soccer with Afghans who fled the country this summer. Refuge Soccer partners with La Roca FC.
According to Miles, thousands of Afghans are living on the base near El Paso as they wait for placement in homes around the country.
Miles and his team will head there after Christmas and stay through the first of the year.
“Three weeks of concentrated, intense [soccer] clinics, and getting to know these kids and building some relationships.” Miles said.
Miles says soccer allows them to build those relationships.
“It’s creating that bridge between people that don’t look like them, don’t speak their language, and probably don’t practice their religion, but are connecting over the world’s sport — the beautiful game of soccer.”
Miles said they would like about 20 more volunteers to go on the trip.
Refugee Soccer hopes to fill a big need
The group also has another big challenge.
Miles said many kids fled Afghanistan with nothing.
“They fled for their lives…a lot of these kids don’t have shoes.”
So, Refugee Soccer is trying to collect 500 to 800 pairs of shoes and cleats for the kids to wear. They are asking for donations of new or gently used shoes or cleats.
“We have kids up to 18 so adults sizes are definitely welcome.”
To find out where to drop shoe donations visit the Refugee Soccer website.
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