Football in Ireland has been mired in negative news for the best part of 2019.

The problems at the Football Association of Ireland have been laid bare in recent weeks and the scale of the crisis threatens the future of the game in Ireland.

Despite all these difficulties, however, there is a lot of great work being done by clubs up and down the country. Just one example of this is the connection built between Bohemians Football Club and the Movement Of Asylum Seekers Ireland (MASI).

MASI is a group that was formed in 2014 and is made up of asylum seekers and demands an end to direct provision as well as seeking justice, freedom and dignity for all asylum seekers in Ireland.

The connection between Bohemians and MASI has allowed many asylum seekers living in direct provision centres to attend live games at Dalymount Park over the last couple of years.

Those living in these centres are largely segregated from everyday life and denied the opportunity to integrate into the community; a huge problem that leads to isolation and loneliness, according to Lucky Khambule of Movement of Asylum Seekers Ireland.

The partnership began when Bohs fan Kevin Brannigan wanted to try to make a difference in the area of direct provision.

A few years ago, Brannigan and a group of people began showing the African Cup of Nations final in the bar at Dalymount Park. It has become an annual event ever since.

Initially, they talked to NGOs but struggled. "We were finding it hard to make a connection with them because you always had to meet a layer of bureaucracy," he explained.

That is when Brannigan reached out to MASI: "I just saw them on the internet and I got in contact with Lucky."

After the connection, the screenings of the African Cup of Nations final’s became much more popular. It was the success of these nights that gave Brannigan the idea to bring people who are living in Direct Provision to the games at Dalymount Park.

"We didn’t have the money at the time but we were able to fundraise and it started off two, three, four buses a season, and we are filling the buses and people are coming and people are having fun," he explained.

Last year, Bohs made international news when they attempted to place the image of Bob Marley on their away jersey.

Due to problems in gaining the image rights they were forced to abandon this idea.

The club decided that they would replace the image of Marley on the shirt with a clenched fist and use 10% of the profits to run buses to bring people from direct provision to run busses to Dalymount Park for every home game last season.

This came to fruition as there were asylum seekers from direct provision centres at every Bohs home game this season.

Lucky Khambule described the partnership as “great and historic” and something that people who have attended the games still talk about long after they have gone.

Attending matches is very beneficial to those living in direct provision. "When we create these opportunities for people to get out of that zone of conformity, the benefit when you engage, is to create that network and get yourself known," Khambule said.

One person who has benefitted from the collaboration between Bohs and MASI is Brian who came to Ireland from Zimbabwe 2 years ago.

Initially, when Brian arrived in Ireland two years ago seeking asylum he found it very difficult, but since getting to attend a game through the scheme set up by Bohs he now feels he is part of a family.

"When you come, you don’t really have anyone to talk to so when you have time to go out and watch a match at least it gives you time to go out and get some fresh air," he explained.

Since his first match last year Brian has now gone on to go along to away games with Bohs including his first Dublin Derby. Brian has also become involved with trying to get others to go to games by helping to organise the trips from within the centres and has now become a part of Dublin, according to Brannigan.

Unfortunately, many of the people who have enjoyed going to the matches like those from the Finglas direct provision centre have been transferred so can no longer attend.

2019 marked the 20th anniversary of the direct provision system in Ireland and although he knows that Bohemians cannot end direct provision themselves Brannigan does believe that football clubs can play a leadership role in pushing forward into the society we want to be.

"I don’t think Bohs doing this is going to help bring about the end of direct provision and I don’t think you should set yourself up to have these big lofty aims. We’re just doing something that can help alleviate the pain of direct provision," said Brannigan

This article was written by Calum Atkinson, Ruairi Carberry, and Jonathon Lynam.

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