Whether the message was getting through was open to debate; only a handful of the players arrayed before the coach, Jonathan Vaughan, spoke English as their first language. Ahmed Mohamed, a 17-year old from Alexandria, Egypt, had joined the team only days earlier. In doing so, he became part of a group that included players from Benin and Egypt, Nigeria and Guinea, Bangladesh, Jamaica and Uzbekistan. Mohamed’s team, Rooklyn International, has created its cosmopolitan mix by using soccer as a way to help young immigrants in New York City — newcomers, asylum seekers and refugees — integrate with other teenagers who find themselves in a similar situation. Last year, 53 players attended one or more Rooklyn practices or games; those players, ages 14 to 20, had roots in 15 countries and spoke 10 languages.

Source: International New York Times August 23, 2016 20:40 UTC