The Fugees, short for refugees, is a soccer team that revolutionized immigrants' lives in Clarkston, Georgia. Boys from Iraq, Afghanistan, African countries and other nations played soccer barefoot on a field near some apartment complexes. Although they played in the same space, the kids self-segregated according to national origins and languages spoken. They would pass the ball only to boys who were similar to themselves.

Enter Luma Mufleh, originally from Jordan. At first, the boys were surprised that an adult woman would show any interest in their game. However, they allowed her to join in, and they soon became accustomed to her. Luma created teams according to the boys' ages: the Under Thirteens, the Under Fifteens, and the Under Seventeens. She searched for good practice fields and equipment for them.

Luma set new ground rules for the game which did not please all parents or players. First, they would play as a team and not favor their own kind. They would show up to all of the practices on time, including the early morning weekend meet-ups. They would attend mandatory tutoring and wear their hair short. Luma ran them to exhaustion when she detected any hint of disagreement with her. Luma was strict, and not all of the boys wanted to abide by her conditions. However, she treated those who stayed with her like family, eating meals with them and the like.

Outcasts United: the Story of a Refugee Soccer Team That Changed a Town by Warren St. John, 2012

• Outcasts United web site
• Books about refugees
• Books about soccer