Posted on Jun 21, 2023
Eritreans in Kansas City see 'the great game' as an antidote to American street culture
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After escaping civil war in their homeland, members of the Kunama ethnic group have found a home in Kansas City, Kansas. After seeing some youths get into trouble, Abraham Atu started a soccer team to steer them the right way.
When a 13-year-old Ugandan immigrant died in a Kansas City, Kansas, pool two years ago, Abraham Atu knew it was time for someone to step up to help save kids in his community.
“They convinced him to jump a fence to go swimming,” said Atu about Emmanuel Solomon, who drowned in 2021 after sneaking into Parkwood Pool with some friends after hours.
“They went into the deep end and I guess they left him,” said Atu, who’s from a small ethnic group in Eritrea called Kunama.
When a 13-year-old Ugandan immigrant died in a Kansas City, Kansas, pool two years ago, Abraham Atu knew it was time for someone to step up to help save kids in his community.
“They convinced him to jump a fence to go swimming,” said Atu about Emmanuel Solomon, who drowned in 2021 after sneaking into Parkwood Pool with some friends after hours.
“They went into the deep end and I guess they left him,” said Atu, who’s from a small ethnic group in Eritrea called Kunama.
Eritreans in Kansas City see 'the great game' as an antidote to American street culture
Posted from kcur.org
Immigration
Refugees
Soccer
Kansas City
Eritrea
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel organized sports have long been a way to engage youth and keep them busy enough that most don’t have time for trouble, what a great gift the Eritreans have brought to Kansas City.
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