BRITAIN PHOTO ESSAY SANCTUARY STRIKERS GRASSROOT SOCCER

Spirit of unity: Football helping refugees find their feet in England

epa09060941 (07/25) Adam Hussai of the Sanctuary Strikers Football Club poses for a portrait in Reading, Britain, 11 October 2020 (issued 08 March 2021).

For refugees and asylum seekers, starting a new life in the United Kingdom presents a host of tough challenges, from learning the language to finding common ground with the locals. The grassroot soccer team Sanctuary Strikers Football Club in southern England has stepped in to help the newcomers to integrate and make friends in their new home. The club, founded by Thomson Chalke from Zimbabwe in 2017 in Reading, was created to bring together refugees and non-refugees to play soccer in a spirit of unity, which he says is the essence of the world's most popular sport.

Adam Hussai, who left Sudan in 2015, says: "Everything is so different to Sudan but this is a really friendly team and they made me feel so welcome. I come every week even if I sit on the bench or am the linesman. One day I hope to break into the first team." EPA/NEIL HALL ATTENTION: For the full PHOTO ESSAY text please see Advisory Notice epa09060934

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