AUFC U15 play USA Refugee Soccer team in a tight, but friendly game
Auckland United FC U15 Girls and the USA Refugee Soccer Team #SheBelongs at Waikaraka Park.
The AUFC U15 girls' team got a taste of international match play in the same week as the Football Ferns kicked off the Women’s World Cup right here in New Zealand.
The U15’s played the #SheBelongs team – a Utah-based squad that is part of Refugee Soccer, an organisation that uses football to help refugee youth settle and thrive in their new communities.
The #SheBelongs team, a mix of American teens and refugees who have settled in Utah, were in Auckland for the FIFA Women's World Cup. Their programme aims to bring girls of all nationalities together through the “international language” of football to create bonds and a safe empowering space for girls to enjoy and excel in sport.
On Tuesday 18th July, our Auckland United U15 girls joined with girls from Refugees As Survivors NZ (RASNZ) and Umma Trust to take on the #SheBelongs team.
It was a fun, friendly, and fast game at Onehunga Sports’ Waikaraka Park, with the #SheBelongs team winning 3-0 in celebratory style. AUFC was proud of the refugee girls in the U15 team who put in a gutsy performance taking it to the USA girls.
Team captain, Evie Fraser, says it was an amazing experience for all the girls involved.
“It was such a cool experience to meet the USA girls and to learn about their trip and what Refugee Soccer is trying to achieve for refugees and all girls.
“There was a great connection between the two teams, and we made firm friends with the USA girls. It was a really inspiring experience and made us realise that football can help to bridge barriers between different groups of people. We wish them all the best with their programme and hope to see them again!”
After the game, the teams mixed and mingled at the RASNZ Youth Centre, sharing a meal, stories, songs, dancing, and lots of laughs.
AUFC recognises that refugee girls here in NZ face challenges in participating in sports. There may be cultural restrictions, financial barriers, and transport issues that make it difficult for girls to participate. The Refugee Soccer programme highlighted these barriers and AUFC and Onehunga Sports are now taking this as an opportunity to look at what more we can do to provide accessible football opportunities for our refugee girls.
We would like to extend a special thanks to Faith and Sangavi from RASNZ for letting us join up with Halima, Shukofa, Dunia, and Sabiha to take on the USA team.
We would also like to acknowledge Onehunga Sports for the use of the spectacular Waikaraka Park and to Kathryn Clarke as our referee and for being a role model in demonstrating other football pathways for our female players.
Finally, we’d like to say a huge thank you to Adam Miles and Refugee Soccer for their vision in using football to bring girls of all nationalities and circumstances together to find joy and connection in sport.
