REFUGEES who spent years in camps in Africa and the mountains of Asia will come together on the soccer field in Albury tomorrow.
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Bahati Masudi will represent Wodonga while Damber Rai will be part of the Albury team as the cities clash in a Harmony Day celebration in Hovell Tree Park.
Burundi-born Mr Masudi spent nine years in a camp in Kenya, while Mr Rai, from Bhutan, was in a refugee centre in Nepal for 18 years.
They are both husbands and fathers of sons but soccer is the passion which unites them.
“It’s a worldwide game, you can meet friends and share things about soccer — it’s a good thing,” Mr Masudi said.
Mr Masudi, a defender, is confident of winning while Mr Rai, a striker, is more cautious.
“Nobody wants to lose the game but I know Bahati is a good soccer player and all his men are good soccer players,” Mr Rai said.
The Harmony Day gathering will be held from 2pm to 5pm and also include entertainment from a Middle East music trio and a citizenship ceremony.
Naan bread, African food and French crepes will be cooked in the community oven.
