VIVA Moments

VIVA Moments

by | Jun 4, 2012

So, to start, I am Ben Holden, a teacher from the North East of England with a passion for football. So when my good friend called to ask whether I’d be interested in the Darfur United project, I jumped at the chance and what an experience it has proved to be so...
We’ve Already Won

We’ve Already Won

by | Jun 4, 2012

“We’ve already won……we’ve already won……We’re Darfur United and we’ve already won!” It’s 4am…Game day…I can’t sleep! Tonight we play our first ever “official game.” Indeed Darfur’s first ever game, and it is in the VIVA World Cup, in a real football stadium against the...

Watch the Games!

by | Jun 3, 2012

Game 1: The first game was at 5pm in Erbil, Iraq/7am PT/10am ET on June 4th against North Cyprus. The result was a 15-0 loss, but the team remains in high spirits. Unfortunately, we were not able to record the game. Read Coach Mark’s reflection here. Game 2:...
A View From “the Hospital”

A View From “the Hospital”

by | Jun 3, 2012

The first Viva World Cup match for Darfur United is tomorrow. I can sense the mounting excitement among the Darfur United players and coaches. We have settled quickly, after only two days, into a routine of practices, team meals, and medical treatments. The tournament...
We Are Up, Up and Away—Someone Pinch Us Please

We Are Up, Up and Away—Someone Pinch Us Please

by | Jun 1, 2012

Somehow, the driver that took us to a ten minute meeting left and did not come back for forty-five. It was now less than two hours before departure for us and a team of refugees, all of them carrying temporary travel documents on their very first international flight....