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An Uplifting Soccer Story: The Fugees
by Admin (Monday, January 11, 2010)

A significant number of residents of Clarkston, Georgia come from war-torn countries like Afghanistan, Bosnia, Congo, Gambia, Iraq, Kosovo, Liberia, Somalia and Sudan. These refugees are typically given 90 days of government assistance and are then faced with an entirely different challenge: communicating with many who only speak English, finding employment or fitting in at school, and living in a new country.

Some of these refugees have found hope and a sense of community in soccer, a game that they played in their native countries. Jordanian-born Luma Mufleh serves as coach and manager for the Fugees, a soccer organization that she developed to help these kids, ages 9 17 years-old. In her role, she wears many hats. After each practice, tutoring sessions are held with the aid of volunteers. Player attendance is mandatory. She started a cleaning business in town that employs refugee women. She advises her players on a wide variety of topics.

The team has enjoyed success at many levels despite competing against better-funded teams. One of the Fugees received word that hed received a academic and soccer scholarship which will cover all of his tuition. A book, Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, An American Town was recently published and a movie deal on the team has been inked with Universal. As part of the deal Universal is paying $500,000 to the Fugee Family, a non-profit set up to help support child survivors of war.

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