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From Sudan to Italy: Crossing the Mediterranean to be a professional footballer

Rome, Jun 17 (EFE / EPA) .- (Camera: Toni Conde) Saeed Mohammed, 19, and Islam Adam, 20, played soccer in Sudan's first division, but insecurity, hunger and violence pushed them to cross the Mediterranean Sea by boat to reach Europe, where, after a difficult journey that "no one" should be forced to do, they now hope to fulfill their dream of competing in the top Italian category.FOOTAGE OF SAEED AND ISLAM PLAYING SOCCER IN ROMESOUNDBITES OF BOTHTRANSLATION1.- "We have always been friends and we have traveled together. The ball for us is life, my life is made up of football. I left my country to find safety and an opportunity to continue with my dream."2.- "The insecurity in Sudan does not give you peace of mind, sometimes you don't sleep all night out of fear, because armed groups come. We come from poor families, in a place where the law is far away."3.- "We are talking to a Serie D club but we haven't signed yet. My dream doesn't stop in Serie D, I want to play in Serie A, in clubs like Rome or Naples, especially the Roma of my heart."4.- "People who come to Europe always have a reason. Where I come from there is no security, and some of us have dreams that we cannot fulfill in the place of origin. That is why people emigrate."