Soccer in Soweto
It was probably as close to competing in the World Cup as these young boys would ever get. Yet one Saturday in November in a host city of the 2010 games, they played as if the soccer world championship was within their grasp.
Four teams, each from a different elementary school in the township of Soweto on the edge of Johannesburg, donned the jerseys of four countries who will play in the World Cup: Brazil, Spain, Germany and, of course, South Africa.
Soweto (an abbreviation for South Western Townships) is a predominantly black area of Johannesburg, South Africa, that borders the city’s gold mining areas. Many historically significant events in the struggle against apartheid occurred in Soweto.
“Brazil” won the tournament, taking the first place trophy, but each of the other three teams was jubilant at receiving their own trophy as well.
The tournament was organized by IMB two-year missionary Zach Townsend in an effort to teach neighborhood boys “life skills.”
“My ministry here in South Africa and Soweto is to use soccer as a tool to share the Gospel with kids and parents alike,” Townsend said. “Also, with the World Cup coming up, soccer is an excellent tool to use to build relationships and share the Gospel.”
Townsend works with four elementary schools in the Snake Park area of Soweto: Mayibuye Primary School, Bonamelo Primary School, Obed Mosianne Primary School and Hector Peterson Primary School. He visits each school once a week, coaching boys under the age of 11 in soccer skills and sharing with them how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
“During the middle of each practice I share the Gospel with the kids,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to coach kids at such a young age and hopefully influence them for the better.”
In an effort to develop community, build relationships and provide an outlet for the boys to hone their soccer skills, Townsend decided to host an interschool soccer tournament.
“We invited the parents and grandparents of these kids to the tournament for support,” Townsend said, “and with the goal of being able to share the Gospel, not only with the kids, but with the parents also. Our main objective out of this ministry and the tournament is to share the Gospel. We hope to bring more people to know the Lord and also to grow the existing church in this part of Soweto.”
Mayibuye Primary School, donning Brazil jerseys, took first place; Bonamelo Primary School, playing Spain, was second; Obed Mosianne Primary School, as South Africa, was third; and Hector Peterson Primary School, playing under the name of Germany, took fourth place.
The grandfather of one of the boys playing in the tournament said, “Besides keeping these boys off the street, it’s teaching them to work together like brothers.”
Another boy’s mother said, ”I never thought my son would ever get to be a part of something like this, playing on a team.”
Both were delighted with the intentional efforts by Townsend and other missionaries to reach out to the young boys, and they hope the efforts will continue.
During the games Christian newspapers were handed out in the community and contacts for follow-up were made. “Pray for the follow-up,” Townsend said.
Also, the Gospel was shared with family members at the tournament. “Follow-up will be made,” he said. “Again, pray for the follow-up.”
Townsend and the rest of the Soweto evangelism team plan to start a new church in a nearby part of Soweto in the near future.
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