Football club in Darwin helps migrants find a community
In Darwin, Australia, the Darwin Olympic Sporting Club helps migrants adapt, communicate and feel part of the local community. For 15-year-old Kaung Zayar-Thaw, whose family left Myanmar, football became a way to cope with stress and find his place on the team, ABC News Australia reports.
Fleeing Myanmar and moving to Darwin
The boy's father, Zaw Zaw Htoo, was a member of Myanmar's parliament representing the National League for Democracy. After the 2021 military coup, the junta seized the family's home, forcing them to travel to Thailand. The family hid in the forest for several days, fearing detention and deportation.
Kaung first began playing football at the age of 13, while already in Thailand. He arrived in Darwin in 2024 and joined Darwin Olympic. His teammates helped him not only train but also practise English. He now plays as a defender and says the team helps him communicate with others and feel a sense of belonging.
A club with a migration history
Darwin Olympic Sporting Club was founded in 1967 by Greek migrants who wanted to create a space for their community through football. Over nearly 60 years, the club has become a multicultural community represented by more than 30 nationalities.
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Club president Yanni Prouzos, who also moved to Australia as a child, noted that football gives people an opportunity to interact even if they do not speak the same language. According to him, migrants also contribute to the club's work off the field and bring their own experience and knowledge.
Sport and community involvement
Kaung's mother, Kyi Kyi Nwe, said that after moving to Darwin, the family feels safe, although adapting to a different language, culture and food was difficult. Taking part in football life gave the family an opportunity to meet other city residents and feel part of the community.
Devaki Monani, a senior lecturer at Charles Darwin University, noted that Darwin's small and diverse population makes it easier for people to build connections. Football Northern Territory chief executive Jaime Montheit added that football can open a path for newcomers not only to playing but also to volunteering, coaching and refereeing.
