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UK: Kurdish businessman 'Nzar Saeed' gives
other refugees their kicks
26.6.2007
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June
26, 2007
Peterborough, UK, -- A Kurdish
businessman who fled the terror of Saddam Hussein is
giving something back to Peterborough by sponsoring
a city football club.
When Nzar Saeed arrived in Britain seven years ago,
he began working shifts in factories across
Peterborough – like so many migrants coming to the
city.
But after two years on the production line, the
34-year-old decided to set up his own business – a
car valeting firm – setting up branches in
Peterborough, Boston and Skegness.
Now the entrepreneur is helping other Kurdish asylum
seekers to adapt to city life by organising and
funding the Chwar Chra Football Team for young
Kurdish men.
Nzar, who lives in Allexton Gardens, in Welland,
Peterborough, said: "It's a great way for these guys
to meet other people in Peterborough when we play
against other teams.
"Football is an excellent way to break down barriers
– we've played against loads of teams from different
communities in the city and players are very
friendly after the matches. |
Nzar Saeed, who is a Kurdish refugee from Iraqi
Kurdistan, has found success in Peterborough after
setting up a car valeting businesses. He now runs
the Chwar Chra Kurdish football team and helped set
up the Halgard Kurdush Community Association. |
"We also play against other Kurdish teams from other
cities – we've made trips to Sheffield, Birmingham
and London.
It's a good way for people from a exiled community
to meet up with each other, making them feel more
comfortable living in Britain.
"People sometimes complain about youths hanging
around – that's because they have nothing to do.
This team is a good way for them to enjoy themselves
and also learn a bit about British culture.
"I've been running it for three year, but it's quite
expensive. Last season, I paid more than £500 in
match fees to referees alone, and I've also covered
the cost of travel, shirts, training pitches, goal
nets and footballs.
"I'd like other people or organisations to step
forward to help because it's a great club and we
should keep it going."
Nzar has also been involved in setting up the
Halgurd Kurdish Community Association, to help some
of the 2,000 Iraqi Kurd refugees in the Peterborough
area.
Organiser Tariq Zandi (30), who runs the association
from the New Link Centre, in Lincoln Road, New
England, said: "It's a massive change for Kurdish
people coming to Britain and it's hard to know where
to get help.
"People are very suspicious of the authorities after
their experience in Iraq, where officials and the
law are very corrupt.
The Government was always hassling you for money and
when they came to your house, it was normally to
drag someone off into military service, or worse.
"It's totally different here and we want people to
understand these differences. We're also running
Saturday classes for children to help them integrate
better into life in Peterborough and we also have
education and reading classes for women here."
Any clubs who would like to play against the Chwar
Chra football team, or anyone who can offer support
to the club can contact Nzar on chawarchra@hotmail.co.uk
peterboroughtoday co.uk
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