Über uns
Picture a small rural village, bordering the populated district of Nobabgonj in the country of Bangladesh. In a village full of underprivileged kids, as a visitor, I felt like an outlier. My father grew up in this village, with little to nothing to his name. For a couple of months I stayed there it was difficult for a privileged outlier like myself to connect with the rest of the kids, but there was one aspect that united this disparity. A barren football field with little to no grass, one torn soccer ball, and numerous children with smiles on their faces. At just the age of six, I realized that football not only has the power to bring individuals together but to give them a sense of hope and opportunity. These kids who had scraps for equipment would dream of becoming the next big star on television, hoping to make their community proud. I am Nafees Hossain, a 17-year-old student currently studying in Cape Town, South Africa. In the last decade of my life, I’ve explored and witnessed the same exact situation in both the countries of Angola & South Africa itself. Football has the power to bring people from all races, nationalities, and unique characteristics together, and not only that, but gives individuals hope, and the possible opportunity to succeed.
I am Arthur Thielke, a 17-year-old student currently living in Cape Town. I have lived in Africa for most of my life. In my passport, it says ‘place of birth’ Nairobi, but I am German with both my parents being German. In the 17 years, I have spent on this planet, we lived in five countries including Thailand, Tanzania, Kenya, Germany, and Cape Town. All this traveling has allowed me to experience a diverse range of cultures across the globe. Wherever we moved soccer allowed me to engage with new communities and build up connections with the local children. In October 2020 my dad, Thilo Thielke passed away. He was a journalist with a passion for Africa., reporting from the African continent. His book ‘Traumfußball’ was a big part of my inspiration to set up this project with my friend Nafees.
Wherever my dad traveled, he collected photos and stories about the magic ball. My dad's goal was to prove that no matter the circumstances, soccer builds a community. We are used to putting on a pair of soccer cleats, and playing proper football. While these teens play barefoot on dirt roads with balls made out of plastic bags. My point is that no matter the circumstances, soccer is a sport that strengthens communities and grants the less privileged opportunities to grow mentally and physically.