The Message They Carry

The Message They Carry

This blog was written by Rudy Sanchez, Darfur United Assistant Coach.  During our stay, one of my tasks was to conduct a short interview where one of the questions asked the refugees what they missed most about their home in Darfur. Little to my surprise, the answer...
The Goal Without a Net

The Goal Without a Net

We’ve all come a long way in terms of distance traveled as players and as human beings. I still remember with vivid clarity the time we ran a football tryout, in the unlikely, apocalyptic setting of a refugee camp in Eastern Chad. If the truth be told, I had no idea...
The Ultimate Gift

The Ultimate Gift

We arrived in Ostersund with six staff members. If you ask the players, we will only be returning with five.  Mohammad Adam and Sadaam had a hint of sincerity when they jokingly told me the team is going to do “whatever it takes” to keep Coach Mark in...
Darfur United Joy

Darfur United Joy

We walk off of the plane and a nice, sharp cold hits us. This is not southern California, and it’s definitely not eastern Chad. Östersund, Sweden might be an odd place for an all-refugee team from Darfur to meet up with its coaching and management team from the...
Take Part in Darfur United’s Story

Take Part in Darfur United’s Story

It did not start as a happy story. On the contrary, Ismail’s refugee story begins as most refugee stories do: with violence, loss, and heartbreak. Young Ismail used soccer to renew his heart, and he grew up to be one of the most positive, joyful people...