Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference

Qendrim Bushi, an ethnically Albanian refugee from Kosovo, is a star player on the Fugees’ under-13 team. In 1999, his family fled Kosovo at the height of the Kosovo War, a conflict between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Albanian rebel group the Kosovo Liberation Army. As a result of the conflict, the Bushis’ hometown of Kacanik was targeted by both Yugoslavian forces and NATO bombs, destroying their home and family business and scattering their family across Europe. Qendrim and his family settled in Georgia and enjoy their sense of freedom. Qendrim became close friends with Eldin, the Fugees’ goalie, and joined the team.

The under-13s grow close as a team, despite the players’ varying English skills. At one practice, they run together in a straight line, chanting about the Fugees being kings and Luma being the queen. Luma focuses her coaching strategy on offense.

The Fugees begin their game against the all-white Blue Springs Liberty Fire at a disadvantage: The field is smaller than they’re used too, and they need to wake up early to make the 9:00 a.m. start time. The first half of the game is difficult, as the Fugees struggle to wake up.