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Perhaps they have something positive in their minds, says a Rohingya who watches the game.
They may lack pomp and glamor, but football clubs for stateless Rohingya refugees. In Malaysia, more than 70,000 people belonging to the Muslim minority have fled discrimination and persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, often endured.
And while many struggle to make a living and are deeply affected by the trauma of their past, football offers a welcome respite from the harsh reality.
On the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, surrounded by dilapidated buildings, these painful memories seem a world away as players pbad the ball and take shots in front of a small crowd of onlookers.
"Football removes all my str" It's been 90 minutes, "said AFP Mohamad Ishak, a 17-year-old team member." This helps you forget about some of your problems. "
Nine teams took part in a recent tournament to mark the great Islamic festival of Eid-al-Fitr
There was a particular buzz as the tournament coincided with the World Cup The game was punctuated by excited gossip about the last matches in Russia and many wore jerseys from their favorite teams, from Argentina to Germany.
Some expressed hope that a Rohingya team could someday participate in the most prestigious football tournament in the world … unlikely dream for an ethnic group that does not even have a country to call home.
Malaysia Majority relatively wealthy Muslim man has long turned a blind eye to the influx of Rohingyas.
Bi in that she is not officially licensed to work, they have become a cheap labor force in junior jobs, from cleaning to work on construction sites.
And while life is better than in Myanmar, getting out of it in Malaysia can be difficult for Rohingyas who do not have access to the basics. Services such as education and health.
A terrible past
In 2015, the Rohingya Football Club (RFC) was created to give members something constructive to do in their spare time, and provide an outlet for dissatisfaction, [19659004] Other Rohingya clubs have sprung up across the country, playing against each other or against local Malaysian teams.
The three-day Eid tournament gives young men a positive attitude they can focus on. According to the organizers, RFC secretary Mohammed Faruk said it was common for the Rohingyas to have backtracking on traumatic experiences, such as the military repressions that drove a million members of the community. "There are many Rohingyas who lost their parents, who lost their brothers and sisters, who lost their homes," the 23-year-old (19659017) told AFP.
Rakhine in western Myanmar, the state of origin of the Rohingyas, has been repeatedly shaken by inter-communal violence over the years and the minority has often been the target of Army and Buddhists.
Myanmar does not recognize Rohingyas as citizens and officials often call them "Bengalis", reflecting a widespread belief that they are Bangladeshi immigrants.
In the most recent violent convulsion, some 700,000 Rohingyas fled Myanmar. The military launched a brutal operation against the insurgents in August that the United States and the United Nations labeled ethnic cleansing.
The UN said that there were possible "genocides" with refugees bringing with them consistent testimonies of murder, rape. It is believed that few Rohingyas in Malaysia are from this latest wave.
It eliminates discrimination & # 39;
Faruk wants to bring a Rohingya team to the CONIFA World Football Cup, a biennial competition for teams put aside by the official competition, which includes the sides representing minorities, isolated dependencies and cultural regions.
Beyond easing day-to-day frustration, playing football has helped fight prejudice "
" It eliminates discrimination, "RFC's Ishak said, adding that he had met many Malays through football.
The Rohingya in Malaysia have had more reasons to be optimistic recently – an unexpected change of government in the May elections led to an administration more favorable to their fate.
The new government is committed in its manifesto to guarantee the "legal right to work" of refugees in the country, which – – it is honored – could help the Rohingya to find better opportunities the few low-paid sectors that are currently willing to hire them.
Mohamad Younus, a 44-year-old Rohingya watching the tournament, was philosophical about the lack of current opportunities in Malaysia.
"Our country is already finished, here in Malaysia, young people do not have work either," he said, welcoming the power of football to help young refugees. [19659004Whentheyplay"atleasttheyhavesomethingpositiveintheirhead"
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