Step closer to World Cup dream

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has visited UNSW to support a team of refugee and migrant youths who are seeking to be part of this year's FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The team members, aged 15 to 18, are part of Football United, a UNSW initiative set up three years ago. It was founded by Anne Bunde-Birouste, from the School of Public Health and Community Medicine.

The team is participating in the first Football for Hope Festival, being held in the final week of the World Cup competition.

Attending a team training session at UNSW on Sunday, Ms Keneally announced a one-off grant of $20,000 to help the team get to the World Cup in June. This matches a Football Federation Australia donation made to the team last week and takes them closer to the $150,000 needed to get to South Africa.

Football United operates five programs in Sydney's west involving more than 600 humanitarian refugees, immigrants and disadvantaged youth. It also supports programs in Cameroon and southern Sudan.

For more information about the team and how to donate go to the Football United website.

Media contact: Steve Offner | 9385 8107 | s.offner@unsw.edu.au