Refugees need gear to play their beloved soccer

Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Monday, July 06, 2009

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Students from other countries appreciate donated sports equipment, including shoes, shin guards, socks and soccer balls.

Students from other countries appreciate donated sports equipment, including shoes, shin guards, socks and soccer balls.

Students from other countries appreciate donated sports equipment, including shoes, shin guards, socks and soccer balls."The relationship grows between coaches and players. (Henry Clay head coach Tim Bernardi) is like a member of my family," said Frank Mbaya, a rising senior."You can just see in people's eyes and people's feelings that they want to be around you," said Philip Manga (far left in blue), who is from the Democratic Republic of Congo."If you're around people and get involved in a club, you're going to be known," said Phillip Mabika, a 2009 graduate of Henry Clay, who will play Division III soccer at Drew University in New Jersey.

In recent years, the Henry Clay High School boys’ soccer team has taken on an international flair, with players originally from such countries as Russia, South America and Africa.

“At least we’ve got something in common that we all share,” said Philip Manga, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and immigrated to Lexington in 2005 by way of Kenya.

Now a rising senior, Manga says soccer has helped him make friends here. “All you need is shoes, shin guards, socks, and you’re good to go.”

For Paula Hollis, whose younger daughter played soccer at Henry Clay, making sure children from refugee families like Manga’s have the gear they need to play has become a mission.

“When they go out on the soccer field, they don’t have to speak English. The kids feel they can be part of the high school and the neighborhood because they can go out and participate. It’s a big ice-breaker,” said Hollis, who lives near the Heritage Apartments, which is home to many refugee families.

“We need donations of soccer equipment for incoming refugee kids.  I think we will have about a total of 12 boys trying out for JV and varsity at Henry Clay starting July 15,” she said. “If they have the basics they need, they can blend with everybody else.”

Phillip Mabika and other teens from the Democratic Republic of the Congo credit soccer coach Tim Bernardi with helping them feel at home in Lexington.

“If you’re around people and get involved in a club, you’re going to be known. It helps us get into the culture of the United States,” said Mabika, a 2009 graduate. “It’s not all about soccer but about the relationships among people.”

How you can help

Equipment: Contact Paula Hollis at (859) 321-8860 to contribute new or used soccer gear, including shoes, shin guards, socks and soccer balls.

Donations: There are two routes for tax-deductible monetary contributions.

  • Make checks payable to “Henry Clay Boys Soccer” and send to the school, 2100 Fontaine Road, Lexington KY 40502, c/o Tim Bernardi. Call Paula Hollis at (859) 321-8860 for more details.
  • Make checks payable to Macedonia Christian Church, write “refugee fund” in the memo line, and mail to the church at 4551 Winchester Road, Lexington KY 40509. Call (859) 299-1709 for more information.

“Most of the time they have very little,” Coach Tim Bernardi said of the refugee students. “They’re very appreciative of anything they do get.”

Related article | Pierre Manga: from fleeing rebel forces to celebrating with fellow graduates at Rupp