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The Nigerian football star coaching Afghan migrants in Sweden | The Nigerian football star coaching Afghan migrants in Sweden |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Nigerian football star Perpetua Nkwocha knows what it's like to find yourself many miles from home, making a new life. | Nigerian football star Perpetua Nkwocha knows what it's like to find yourself many miles from home, making a new life. |
Her playing career took her from Nigeria to China and then to Sweden - where she has been based in the northern town of Skelleftea for more than seven years. | Her playing career took her from Nigeria to China and then to Sweden - where she has been based in the northern town of Skelleftea for more than seven years. |
Now the multiple African champion and African Women's Footballer of the Year is helping others who have made a very different journey, to the same destination. | Now the multiple African champion and African Women's Footballer of the Year is helping others who have made a very different journey, to the same destination. |
She is player-coach for a local team, but much of her spare time this winter is being taken up coaching a group of Afghan teenagers, some of the hundreds of young migrants who have arrived in the town in recent months. | She is player-coach for a local team, but much of her spare time this winter is being taken up coaching a group of Afghan teenagers, some of the hundreds of young migrants who have arrived in the town in recent months. |
"I feel that it's similar - which is why I have to try to make them happy, because I know where they came from," she told the BBC. | "I feel that it's similar - which is why I have to try to make them happy, because I know where they came from," she told the BBC. |
"I feel so glad that I connected with them and we started this project together. | "I feel so glad that I connected with them and we started this project together. |
"We try to make them feel welcome, try to make them feel happy, try to make them get friends and associate with other Swedish [people]." | "We try to make them feel welcome, try to make them feel happy, try to make them get friends and associate with other Swedish [people]." |
Afghan teenager Habibullah: | Afghan teenager Habibullah: |
"She's a good coach - you see there's many people playing football here and they're really enjoying it. We're all happy" | "She's a good coach - you see there's many people playing football here and they're really enjoying it. We're all happy" |
The project, which has only been running since November, was set up by her club, Clemensnas IF, in co-operation with the local football association and the Swedish church. | The project, which has only been running since November, was set up by her club, Clemensnas IF, in co-operation with the local football association and the Swedish church. |
"It is really a way of giving these immigrants and refugees something to do during the day," said Jens Karlsson, the chairman of Clemensnas. | "It is really a way of giving these immigrants and refugees something to do during the day," said Jens Karlsson, the chairman of Clemensnas. |
"If they love soccer they can come here and practise with Perpetua, who is a great soccer player - so that's the purpose of the whole thing, to help in the immigration of these guys." | "If they love soccer they can come here and practise with Perpetua, who is a great soccer player - so that's the purpose of the whole thing, to help in the immigration of these guys." |
The enthusiasm of the youngsters, many of whom travelled alone from Afghanistan, is plain to see as they get stuck in to their drills - under the watchful eye of their illustrious trainer. | The enthusiasm of the youngsters, many of whom travelled alone from Afghanistan, is plain to see as they get stuck in to their drills - under the watchful eye of their illustrious trainer. |
It is far from clear if the boys are aware of the stature and achievements of the player who is putting them through their paces. | It is far from clear if the boys are aware of the stature and achievements of the player who is putting them through their paces. |
But if they can't list Nkwocha's titles and trophies, they certainly recognise her qualities, even if at the start some were apparently surprised to be coached by a woman. | |
Now there are no such doubts. | |
"She's a good coach, we're all happy," Habibullah told the BBC - before excitedly outlining plans for a team being put together once the group has settled in. | "She's a good coach, we're all happy," Habibullah told the BBC - before excitedly outlining plans for a team being put together once the group has settled in. |
'Keeping the countryside alive' | 'Keeping the countryside alive' |
Migration is as controversial an issue in Sweden as it is elsewhere across Europe - but the local authorities in Skelleftea, who support the Clemensnas project, are adamant that they need people to come to the town, and make their life there. | Migration is as controversial an issue in Sweden as it is elsewhere across Europe - but the local authorities in Skelleftea, who support the Clemensnas project, are adamant that they need people to come to the town, and make their life there. |
"We have a problem with people moving away - down into the big towns in the south," local councillor Daniel Adin told us. | "We have a problem with people moving away - down into the big towns in the south," local councillor Daniel Adin told us. |
"[For] many of our smaller towns and villages, they see this as a way to keep the countryside alive." | "[For] many of our smaller towns and villages, they see this as a way to keep the countryside alive." |
And he is a keen supporter of using the football scheme to try to bring the new arrivals into society. | And he is a keen supporter of using the football scheme to try to bring the new arrivals into society. |
"We have seen that sport is a really simple way of creating these meetings between people, because you don't have to know the language - you can meet and have a natural way of communicating and meeting." | "We have seen that sport is a really simple way of creating these meetings between people, because you don't have to know the language - you can meet and have a natural way of communicating and meeting." |
Nwocha says she enjoys her life in Skelleftea, people are friendly - it is just the cold that is difficult. | Nwocha says she enjoys her life in Skelleftea, people are friendly - it is just the cold that is difficult. |
"You cannot get used to this weather. There is no fashion in winter," she says, adding that layers are imperative. | "You cannot get used to this weather. There is no fashion in winter," she says, adding that layers are imperative. |
She has a busy life, attending classes to improve her Swedish - as well as the teenage-coaching project. | She has a busy life, attending classes to improve her Swedish - as well as the teenage-coaching project. |
Her main role will be to lead Clemensnas to success once the season gets going again in May. | Her main role will be to lead Clemensnas to success once the season gets going again in May. |
But the so-called "Football for All" scheme is close to her heart - and she is putting just as much effort into that at the moment. | But the so-called "Football for All" scheme is close to her heart - and she is putting just as much effort into that at the moment. |
"I feel so great being with these lovely children here," she said. | "I feel so great being with these lovely children here," she said. |
"I feel like I'm home, you know - just like when I train my boys back home in Nigeria - I feel the same way here." | "I feel like I'm home, you know - just like when I train my boys back home in Nigeria - I feel the same way here." |
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