A game that binds
Every Saturday afternoon, a modest grass field behind a community center in Harrisburg fills with the sound of cleats on turf and the chants of Nepali‑speaking Bhutanese refugees. For many, the game is more than recreation; it is a thread that stitches together memories of life in Bhutan, years spent in Nepalese camps, and the uncertain future that now looms over them.
Kalu Singh Tamang, once a celebrated striker for Bhutan’s national side, coached the youngsters in the Beldangi camp before his death in 2022. In his memory, a yearly tournament draws teams from across the country, raising funds for Soccer for Success, a youth program that now serves over fifty children each week.
The tournament’s proceeds are funneled through Asian Refugees United, the nonprofit that partners with local schools and the Soccer for Success initiative, providing not only equipment but also mentorship.
Yet the community’s joy is shadowed by a wave of deportation orders that have left dozens stateless, their legal status hanging by a thread. Robin Gurung, co‑founder of Asian Refugees United, spends his days meeting immigration attorneys, lobbying lawmakers, and translating for detainees like Bhagawat Dulal, a coach who volunteers at the detention center.
Manju Gurung, another organizer, describes the weekly gatherings as a lifeline, a place where children can be children again, where elders can share stories of resilience, and where the community can assert its presence in a country that often forgets them.
Despite the uncertainty, the refugees continue to meet, to play, to celebrate their culture, and to hope that the next generation will inherit not only a love for soccer but also the security of a home.