Ryan Serfontein

Name: Ryan Serfontein

Age: 12

School: Marine

Position: Left Wing

Grade: 7

Favorite Player: Nani Luis

What do you think about the academy?

I love being part of the Academy, because I think its going to bring me far in life.

What is your favorite memory or story about the academy?

My favorite memory is when we went to camp for a tournament.

Dream?

I really want to become a professional soccer player.

Jesse

Name:  Jesse Donn

Age:  12

School:  Sun Valley Primary School

Position:  Center back

Grade:  6

Favorite Player:

Lionel Messi

What do you think about the academy?

I love the academy.  They teach us about having a good attitude to grow us into better men.  I’m also improving a lot as a player.

What is your favorite memory or story about the academy?

Going to Hillsong with the team was my favorite memory because it gave us a chance to all hang out together.

Dream?

I want to be a graphic designer or a professional soccer player.

Introducing...the Ubuntu Boys

Over the next couple of weeks we're going to be doing something special on the blog. Each day we'll have a short profile on each of the Ubuntu players so everyone can start getting to know the diverse group of young men that make up this team. Enjoy!

What I want

This is what I want for our Ubuntu players, for them to feel that they are Indivisible!  It would totally make sense, because ubuntu means "interconnected" so we should NEVER be divided.

Friday Fun!

Giving Alex instructions

Amazing sunset & Mountains behind

Last week, the Ubuntu boys played a friendly game against one of the more talented academy teams in Cape Town called Vasco da Gama. The boys played well, but lost. It was a good gauge of where we want to be as a team, but also reminded us that these boys have the talent and ability to compete with anybody. As most things are in life...it's a process for them as players and us as coaches.

Afterwards we set off to the local McDonalds and KFC to enjoy a meal before the big event. That big event was youth night at Hillsong church.

Killing some Big Mac Meals with milkshakes.

As the worship rang out from the front, it was amazing to watch the different reactions by the boys. Some looked around to see what the others thought. Some looked at all the girls. Some lifted their hands in worship. You could see that many already had a true love for worship and were not afraid to show it in public or in front of their friends and teammates. The message that night was "God has a plan for you". I was touched that before Ubuntu, some of these boys had never been told God loves them and has a plan for them to better their lives. Some of them listened intently as the message was shared. At the end, their was an invitation to come forward if you wanted to publicly declare your wish to follow Jesus as your savior. We had at least 7 boys come forward...maybe more (I was standing in the back, and couldn't see them all). WOW! How amazing is that!

Right up front for worship & teaching

Ubuntu's mission statement says..."To introduce the young men of Africa to Jesus and His transforming love through soccer and to inspire and equip them to be the most excellent men (of God) they can be". I saw this played out in a real way Friday night.

What a Great Night!!

Thanks,
Karl Ostrand

Karl is one of our coaches and is here working with All Nations.  Previously, he coached at Omaha FC in Nebraska.  You can find out more about his family and their ministry at karlandjulie.com