Naming an african football after an european one?

I am setting up a small soccer/football team in Africa just to create an avenue for the local kids in a small town in Ghana in West Africa to play the game they love. I decided to name the team after an European Premier League Team. Can I do this without violating any trademark or international laws? I emailed the siad club in europe and after a month got a reply saying they cannot permit me to name the small african team after theirs. Can I go ahead and name it after them anyway? What are the ramifications I may face in the future? After all they cannot sue me. I'm just a poor african with no dime to my name.