Our work
02-3FC REALE TIMOR-LESTE
Overview
FC REALE TIMOR-LESTE was established in the spring of 2026, inspired by the vision of Antonio da Silva, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment of Timor-Leste, who hoped to create a place where children could dream and take on new challenges. That vision found a natural partner through the long-standing relationship between Marco Morais Gusmão, a former Timor-Leste national team player, and Santos Shafkala, a board member of REALE WORLD. From this connection, following the establishment of FC REALE Nepal, FC REALE TIMOR-LESTE was born.
A Brief History of Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste occupies the eastern half of the island of Timor, located at the eastern end of the Lesser Sunda Islands in Southeast Asia, with a small enclave in the island’s western half.
Formerly a Portuguese colony for more than 400 years, Timor-Leste also experienced Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Although it declared independence from Portugal in 1975, Indonesia subsequently invaded and annexed the territory.
After years of military occupation and a period of United Nations transitional administration, Timor-Leste gained full independence in 2002, becoming the first sovereign nation to be established in the 21st century.
Creating a Place Where Children Can Dream and Take on New Challenges Through the Global Sport of Football
Many civilians in Timor-Leste lost their lives on the country’s long journey to independence. Antonio himself spent time hiding in the mountains to escape armed conflict and also lost friends in the fighting. More than twenty years after independence, many people—especially those in vulnerable circumstances—continue to live with the physical and emotional scars of that history.
“We want to create a place where children can dream and take on new challenges.”
Moved by Antonio’s vision, REALE WORLD—where we see the world as one home and all who live in it as Familia—believed there was something we could do.
Through the global sport of football, we hope to create a place where children can find hope and connect with the world. As children grow up with hope and learn to live fully as themselves, their presence can bring healing to the hearts of adults and become a source of strength for their communities. Guided by this vision, our activities in Timor-Leste began.
FC REALE TIMOR-LESTE: A Grassroots Football Initiative That Gives Every Child the Opportunity to Play
Timor-Leste already has an established football environment for children, including football academies, professional clubs, and women’s leagues. However, significant economic disparities mean that many children are still unable to take part, even when these opportunities exist.
FC REALE TIMOR-LESTE is a grassroots football initiative that provides children who cannot access existing football programmes because of financial hardship with the opportunity to play football free of charge.
Together, Antonio, Marco, and Edgar serve as the three pillars of the initiative, working alongside the local community to help create a brighter future for the children of Timor-Leste.