I am a proud Catholic African young lady, I belong to a united humanity that strives for equality, peace and social justice. Growing up in an African household I was taught to respect other’s identity, views, religion and the importance of solidarity through faith, hospitality and soccer. The tropical sky, and beach as clear as the gems of the Mediterranean, the palm trees and silken sand in between my toes. The gaiety and loud famous Ivorian dancehall music de “coupe decalé” burst on every corner of the road for the anticipated soccer match. The banana fritters and fried fish smell enchanted every child playing soccer on the dirt road field that is now the center of it all, a battlefield. Politics and man’s greed over power divided my country, the “jewel of west Africa”, The Ivory Coast. In …show more content…
Soccer gave my country hope, and a revelation of the gruesome killings of my people. The vast get together of unknown faces, friends and family members from various backgrounds coming to watch and support The Elephants, brought me joy and warmth, it was almost like an escape from all the negativity and warfare around me; I was finally back to my normal childhood. Political animosity, poverty, and religion were all left outside of the arena, and the gates of the communities when The Elephants, my saviors played and qualified for the 2006 World Cup. Captain Didier Drogba whom I admire, plead to the combatants and President Gbagbo to lay down arms and end the civil war, which later took place. Many don’t see the wonders sports can do to a nation, but I do. My country is a perfect example of how soccer united all tribes and religions, rich and poor to become one and coexist without borders, it gave me hope and the strength to forgive and forget the tragedies that took place in the past. The Elephants are a flawless illustration of a diverse group of civilians that come from various ethnic backgrounds and religions, an embodiment of what the country needed to aspire to be,
This chapter describes the beginning of Luma’s life in Decatur Georgia. Luma finds a job waiting on tables, and eventually start looking for a job as a soccer coach. She found a job coaching an all girls soccer team at Decatur-Dekalb YMCA. Luma’s practice routines were strict and many of her players ' ' and their mothers complained and or left. However the players who were insistent on staying had seen an elevation in the team’s performance.
Facing America's Team is a ch book written through John McFarland that delves deep into the complex global of American football. This engrossing literary piece takes readers on an incredible journey, exploring the wealthy history, cultural importance, and enduring legacy of America's preferred sport. With meticulous research, insightful evaluation, and compelling storytelling, McFarland provides a complete account of soccer's effect on American society and its location as a countrywide obsession. In "Facing America's Team," McFarland skillfully lines the historic roots of football, transporting readers to the sport's inception and early evolution.
Moreover, it can serve as an inspiration to others to strive for success, despite their difficult circumstances. This emphasizes the transformative power of football and how it can provide an avenue for personal growth and
I used to run down the sideline shaking the goal jar, now I run around with a cash box at every school event asking for donations for the senior class. I’ve realized that some things never actually change, they just evolve to become something bigger. Soccer challenged me, brought me a great amount of happiness, and truly inspired me to be the leader I am
I have been playing soccer since before I could even walk. In fact, I joined my first soccer team at the age of five. Soccer is something I have always loved and been passionate about. When I was on the co-ed recreation league teams I was one of the only girls on my team, so I had to compete with boys who doubted me and thought I was weak. I worked hard during practice and out of practice to become better and, eventually, I became more aggressive than them.
Today, the world struggles with racism and hardships. These hardships can be influenced by many situations. For example, sports. Sports play a huge role in the hardships we face day to day. Football specifically portrays these adversities.
I began playing soccer when I was eight, which isn’t a very long time, but throughout the six years I’ve been playing, soccer has changed my life. My weekends, as well as some of my weekdays, have been devoted to soccer. Soccer has taught me how to be humble, kind and how to make sure my emotions don’t overpower my
In the novel Soccer Empire by Laurent Dubois it outlines the diversity of the French National Soccer team and its connections to colonial and post-colonial history in France and other countries. Almost all the French players had roots in the Caribbean and Africa. As early as the 1930s the French professional teams were recruiting from the colonies of the French Empire. Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thurman were both incredible French football players. They were both born in 1972 and grew up in the outskirts of France.
The most memorable and important lesson that I have learned from reading Outcasts United was the gradual, but mutual respect and commonality among a group of refugees playing soccer, whom more or less, shared very little in common when first arriving in the United States. This very common, yet profound theme of cohesion, teamwork, and overall unity of a group highlighted a key similarity between the book and my new experience at Georgia College and State University. Similar to how the newly arrived refugees in Outcasts United befriended other players of the same nationality and culture, students at Georgia College often associate and later befriend others based on a similar background whether that be through prior friendships or through
Being shoved to the ground and coming up with a mouthful of turf and a bloody nose isn’t the ideal way to spend a friday night, but for me, it's something I put blood, sweat, and tears into. Soccer has been a passion of mine since my father dropped me off at the local YMCA when I was at the tender age of four. Spending all of my free days for thirteen years running after a soccer ball is arguably what made me into the person I am today. Unity, tenacity, passion and pride have all been morals that are valued within the sport and in my own philosophy. I have explored places I’d never give a second thought to because my sport took me there.
Have you ever wondered why soccer is a popular sport worldwide? Many people have played soccer for a long time, but there are people that just like watching it and enjoy a soccer game that brings excitement. Soccer is a sport that brings all different types of ethnicities together. It creates nationalism in people all over the world during its events and games. Soccer also brings the countries together during the World Cup.
The competitive nature of football in Latin America helped it flourish and plant deep roots in the cultures of these countries. The sport can impact many aspects of their everyday lives and lead to nationalism and strong pride. Soccer in Latin America has been analyzed by historians, journalists, and filmmakers as an important feature of understanding the country’s popular culture and national identity through the history of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. Once all three countries could defeat the English National and club teams, soccer was a main source of nationalism and helped confirm the social development of these Latin American countries (Nadel 45). Brazilian soccer plays an important role in the globalization of the sport while directly
One of my best days was when my soccer team won the championship. I won several other championships ,but with other teams. This was my first season playing with this team. The major characters in this event were me, my teammates, my coaches and the parents. This event took place in a park at sanger during the summer.
“Out of Control” Africa has come a long way from when it was assumed to be a continent that housed dangerous diseases and even more dangerous hooligans that wreak havoc. Africa’s media image has gradually progressed from being the ‘dark continent’ to that of a ‘rising’ Africa. The reporting of death, rape and war was replaced with stories of hope, investments and reaching economies. The rising of Africa was seen as a victory over Afro-pessimism, which is where rather than celebrating blackness as a cultural identity, it shames it. The new positive narrative also came with criticism.
For me football is a way of life not just a sport. It’s a gateway to peace and unity. Growing up as a kid in St. Catherine Jamaica I was considered privileged to some. Why? Most would say it’s