Communities kick out the trauma in war-torn Sudan

KHARTOUM — As the sun dips over the rooftops of Sudan's capital Khartoum, it bathes the open spaces in a pale golden hue.

As the ground cools after a heavy day, a different kind of life begins to stir in the city.

On makeshift soccer pitches carved into dirt fields, children place stones to mark goalposts.

The ball is old and worn, the ground uneven and strewn with rocks and withered tree roots — but the game begins.

Dust rises with each kick, laughter echoes through narrow alleys, and for a moment, the weight of war lifts.

There are no nets, no referees and no uniforms. Spectators sit on broken crates or stones — children, women and the elderly, all drawn to the rhythm of the game.

In District 95, western Omdurman, the soccer field bursts with life as families gather to watch. Here, no one speaks of war, displacement or hunger. The only talk is of passes, goals and "beautiful play".

On these dirt fields, soccer is more than a pastime — it's become a form of collective therapy, a way to reclaim normalcy and reconnect with a shared sense of community.

"These fields have become a space of relief for families," says Moaz Khalil, a player at Al-Muallem Football Academy for Juniors in District 95.