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The Hamilton Spectator: ‘Dream’ trip derailed
Posted in: In the News by Kate Weersink on July 31, 2010
By Jenni Dunning (The Hamilton Spectator, July 31,2010)
Hamilton, ON - Eight members of a Hamilton soccer team of refugees were denied the trip of a lifetime yesterday after Air India officials said they lacked all necessary documents.
Now, United FC is scrambling to get travel visas and raise $10,000 for new flights by Tuesday.
The last minute snag came after months of fundraising and taking out a loan for more than $40,000 to send 18 players and two coaches to London, England, to compete in a youth soccer tournament.
“I was 100 per cent sure I was going. My mind was on England,” said Korha Kpehe, 19, of Liberia and Ghana. “This is our dream. Our dream has already come true. We just have to get there. We just need people to help us.”
Coach Leo Johnson, who stayed behind with the eight players, said those who got to London are refusing to play without their mates.
“These guys, all their life has been disappointment. We don’t want this (to be) the only play in the book,” he said. “It’s $10,000. The value we get out of that, we can’t even measure it.”
Johnson said he will get the team to England “no matter what.”
“We’re hoping the community will be strong again because that’s all we’ve got.”
Coach Mark Sinke travelled to England with the other 10 players and got organizers to delay their games, although they will have to play the opening match tomorrow.
But the players left in Canada will miss an Arsenal FC game today, a trip highlight. Here, they will knock on doors and appeal to airport authorities to raise the money.
The coaches consulted the British Consulate-General in Toronto and other organizations about the documents they needed months before the trip.
Johnson said officials told them the players who only have Canadian permanent residence cards after fleeing their native countries did not need travel visas.
It turns out, they do need them.
A spokesperson, who declined to give her name, from the British Consulate-General said yesterday the team never consulted them.
Johnson said the team is not trying to blame anyone.
“There was just a confusion … and we’re just focused on finding a solution,” Johnson said. “The guys still believe we can go.”
“This is a once in a lifetime trip for them. This is their dream,” said Michael Pett, of Empowerment Squared, which is handling the team’s communications.
“They didn’t just want to go, but they wanted to go together.”
There are three ways to help: Call Johnson at 905 541-2509, email unitedfchamilton@gmail.com or click on to donate at www.empowermentsquared.org.
905-526-3368
Read The Hamilton Spectator story here
