When Mujahed Aqlan was just 18 years old he had to leave his home country of Yemen as it just wasn\u2019t safe for him to live there anymore.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people in Yemen can be crazy, they don\u2019t care about life,\u201d Mujahed, now aged 22 said, \u201cit was hard to leave but I knew I couldn\u2019t stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mujahed has been living in the UK for four years and has been granted refugee status. Currently living in Oak House in Cardiff which is a supported housing scheme run by United Welsh to help people live independently, football has always been a constant for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cFootball is my life. Back in Yemen, I played professionally, it\u2019s always been something that I\u2019ve loved ever since I was a young boy so when I finally was more settled in Cardiff, I signed up to play for as many different football teams as I could,\u201d Mujahed said.<\/p>\n
It was through one of these four football team that he was spotted and asked to try out for the Wales team for the Homeless Football World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt first, I didn\u2019t know what it was but when I went to the trial and they told me all about it and then said I was a revelation and that I had got a place in the team I was so, so happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day since I wake up and I am just so excited. We\u2019ve been together now for six weeks training hard and I am just enjoying everything. I\u2019m a bit like the joker as I have played everywhere left wing, right wing, left back, right back \u2013 people say that I\u2019m fast. I had a bit of a scare the other week when I got injured and thought I might not be able to play I was so worried but thankfully it is all ok now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mujahed says it\u2019s been the best experience of his life. \u201cAll the teams are going to be living in the same place for 10 days, it\u2019s a great, great experience. I just want to cry I\u2019m so happy I\u2019m a part of it. I\u2019ve made a lot of friends and it\u2019s the best thing I can do.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I told my parents, I was going to be playing for Wales they were so happy for me, so proud. It\u2019s a big responsibility and I want to do everything I can to win that tournament for Wales, it\u2019s home now.\u201d<\/p>\n