00:01Amid Sudan's brutal war, a group of young footballers is chasing a very different goal,
00:07representing their country at the second World Cup for people of short stature,
00:12set to take place in Morocco in November.
00:16The team trains in Sudan's battered capital, making the most of limited facilities,
00:22while players travel from different parts of the country to join sessions.
00:31Despite the war and displacement, a large number of players are coming from different regions of Sudan.
00:39Now they are facing significant challenges in assembling and preparing themselves.
00:44We thank them for their perseverance and great sacrifices.
00:48Furthermore, they represent Sudan with the same dedication as any other national team.
00:57For some, the journey to football has also meant overcoming prejudice.
01:02Ibrahim Abdallah-Griwa, passionate about the sport,
01:05but says his short stature once kept him from taking part in school tournaments.
01:13Soccer is both a European culture and a physical sport for the body.
01:17And I love it very much.
01:22What encouraged me was that when there were football tournaments at school,
01:27they refused to let me participate, saying I was short.
01:32And they underestimated me in the game.
01:39Abdallah and his teammates hope to overcome financial and security hurdles and skewer a place at the 2026 World Cup,
01:46featuring 24 teams including defending champions Argentina.
01:53Despite the challenges the country has endured, as you well know, with this war,
01:58the determination and resolve of these young men has motivated them to participate.
02:04And God willing, we promise the Sudanese people that despite all the difficulties we have faced,
02:09we will bring smiles and joy to their hearts.
02:15Sudan's war has killed at least 59,000 people and displaced 13 million.
02:20For these players, football offers hope and a way to unite their country.
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