It’s with great pleasure that I announce the final “new” recruits into the Ubuntu aren’t Football Academy. This announcement has particular warm feelings because these guys exactly new. Lutho Tom and Sinethemba Mgwetana have been training as Fish Hoek A team players (and adopted Academy members) all season. As we looked at players from all over the city we just decided that those players weren’t better than these 2 guys that we already had. In addition we already knew their character. So, we decided to take our investment in them a step further.
Lutho did a trial with us way back when we started last February, but he just wasn’t ready at the time. But he was selected for the A team at the club and then took advantage of the opportunity to also attend the Academy practices. As the season went along he progressed so much! Even to the point of winning our Most Improved Award at the Club’s prize giving. It was also impressive because we had him playing right back, which he’s never played before. At this point we’re not even sure what his best position may be because he’s continuing to show us flashes of his potential. So, we’ve loved watching Lutho improve, and expect so much more of it, but we’ve also loved watching his character develop. The resolve he showed in being so committed to training this year was impressive. But he’s showing it at school, too. Recently he was the only boy in his grade selected by his school to apply for a prestigious scholarship to a new high school. I was so proud when I heard that he was the ONLY boy selected. He’s a bright kid, with great character, and loads of potential on the field; I can’t wait to see what happens.
Sinethemba showed up even later. He is one of those players that doesn’t look super impressive in training sessions, especially if those sessions don’t involve playing. But once we saw him play in match scenarios we moved him onto the A team and haven’t looked back. He had a great season playing center back and led us to so many of those shutouts we had. Just like Lutho, he took advantage of the opportunity to better himself and attended all the training sessions offered to him. Even though his English is somewhat weak, he gets along with the other boys quite well. When we spoke to his school recently about the possibility of him moving to and English school they thought he would do fine because he “works hard.” I love to hear stuff like that.
So, it’s pretty exciting to invite kids into our full family that basically already were. I guess it’s almost like when a foster child gets fully adopted. I know the other boys will be really happy that they are in fully. This actually stretches our numbers past our model of 8 boys per year because this will give us 9 boys that were born in 1998, but if God is leading He will provide. So, we continue to walk in faith and ask you join us in that.
When I walked out of the house on Tuesday night to go visit Lutho’s family and invite him into the Academy I said, “Well, I gotta go, gonna go change another boy’s life.” Obviously I was joking a little, but there was so much truth to it. I knew that the invitation that we were about to extend was going to change the trajectory of Lutho’s life. But it doesn’t just change his life, but the life of his family now, the family he will have in the future, his community, and eventually his nation. We’re about exponential transformation. Everything we do in these boys’ lives is so that they can change the face of a nation. I’m confident it will happen. But, WOW, what a pleasure to be part of it on this end?! Holding the vision out there for them, trusting God to make it happen, and sitting amazed at what’s happening. I have the best life and job ever! I’m so humbled to be part of this great privilege and yet thankful that it’s not all up to me.
Casey
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