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Street football with the landless

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Meem had to flee great horror in her life
For peace at Sadarghat ferry port
In Bangladesh we played football
After her family had sold her short

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Pass and move with the orphan Khayrun
We read, we wrote, we played football
She inspired the Manta boat school
Whilst fishing on the Bay of Bengal

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 We kicked balls with street children
Some respite from horrific strife
It’s not all about coaching football
We’ve formed bonds and friendships for life

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 28 10 19

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 number7
© emdad rahman

Notes

I’ve just returned from Bangladesh where amongst other roles I coached football to abused children who have experienced horrific trauma.

In a historic moment we played football on the boat school we have spent a year building for the Manta people who have been living four years on the waters after losing their homes to land erosion. They are much discriminated against and one out 59 families only one person can write their own name.

Education and football have been amazing in building bridges.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/street-football-with-the-landless/?shared=email&msg=fail