Refugees speak the language of teamwork

They came from the far corners of the Earth, from poverty and gunfire and constant fear, from squalid camps and makeshift huts to a very different place where today the sun is shining and there is the smell of fallen leaves and freshly cut grass.

They play tag, scrambling around the soccer field to let the nervous energy out, shouting and laughing. There is the rhythm of foreign languages and hesitant, awkward shouts in English.

"No bounce. No bounce."

Myat Aye gets a pass from Abdi Mohamud near the goal and takes a shot. It is blocked by the goalkeeper, Tin Tun Naing, who booms the ball back down the field.

Less than eight months ago, Aye was living in a camp in Thailand with thousands of Karen refugees who also fled the chaos and violence of Myanmar.

About two years ago, Naing was living in a bamboo hut his family built after they also fled the country. The military government of Myanmar, long known as Burma, had taken his family's rice farm, and they were desperate.

Mohamud came to this country in 2006 from Somalia's civil strife.

"I just know the Karen people came here to get away from war," said Mohamud. "Like me."

Soccer is now their common denominator, a couple hours of something familiar in a place where the food, language and culture is often confounding. Somehow, they all ended up on this field at Humboldt High School in St. Paul.

While most schools have immigrants on their soccer teams, 16 of Humboldt's 17 varsity team members are from other countries, most of them are political refugees who fled turmoil and ended up in St. Paul.

There are as many as 3,000 Karen refugees in Minnesota, many sponsored by a St. Paul Baptist church. Thirteen of them have ended up on Humboldt's soccer field, due mostly to the efforts of Naing, who recruits them through the Karen community, where he is active.

The arrival of the refugees has turned the Humboldt program around. It was infamous several years ago for once going four years, and 60 matches, without a win. This year the Hawks went 10-3, and are the second seed in the district going into playoffs this week.

"I didn't know what I had when the season started," said Osborne, who also teaches many of them American government. "They've been through a lot and have some amazing stories. Adjusting to a new country is tough, from the language to simple things like transportation. (They say), 'How do I take the bus, coach?' "

He taught them a few key commands such as "square," which means to pass the ball across the field. But he says some of the kids are too shy to use their new language aloud. They are also exceedingly polite and tend to pass the ball rather than take an open shot.

Osborne said many of their families have been broken up, or maybe they've lost a parent.

Yaeng Tun came from a camp on Thailand's border about two years ago and struggled with the language and culture. But he quickly realized how lucky he was to land in St. Paul.

"Here, you are not afraid of the police," he said. "Here, everything is free, you can do anything."

Julian Garcia-Delaney is the only natural citizen on the team, and he said other teams often underestimate Humboldt. "They think they can beat us because our team is pretty short," he said. "But (my teammates) are really light on their feet."

Naing spent his first nine years in Myanmar. "It was so different," he said. "We didn't have human rights. The government had all the power."

Naing spread his arms wide and looked at the school and impressive field. "Here is better," he said. "Here is good."