SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There are five overloaded duffel bags filled with brand new soccer equipment sitting in the basement of Overlander Sports.
Bill Stirling, owner of Overlander Sports, left, and Edward Torindo of City Cab show off some of the soccer gear being shipped to Zimbabwe later this month. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo |
Weighing approximately 150 kilograms in total, the bags are filled with cleats, soccer balls, pylons and jerseys all destined to go to the Highfield Soccer Academy in Zimbabwe.
Now, the only issue is getting them to Africa from Yellowknife.
Edward Torindo, a driver with City Cab and an internationally recognized soccer coach, started the initiative, dubbed Project Africa, in April 2011 with the donation of 45 soccer jerseys. Torindo is the father of Edmonton FC professional soccer prospect Dillor Torindo. Assisted by Bill Stirling, owner of Overlander Sports, City Cab and donations from the public, more equipment was purchased and Torindo wants to bring it with him when he flies to Zimbabwe on March 30 for a six-month visit to the academy.
"It's about $4,000 in freight," said Torindo.
"It's a short amount of time to raise money but with the grace of God, we'll make it," he said.
On a previous visit in 2012, Torindo brought the jerseys.
"I promised those kids I would come back with more. Most of them are in orphanages and this gives them discipline," said Torindo.
Instead of an inflated soccer ball, they often play with a taped up plastic bag. Torindo is taking about 60 balls with him, something that will let every player experience soccer drills and practise their skills.
"I'm going for six months to try and start a program. It's my line of duty. I'm a soccer coach by profession and I want to help them and improve what's already there. It's really the beginning of a crusade," said Torindo.
Teaching the young players soccer skills translates into other areas of their lives, keeping them disciplined and showing them that they can do something, said Torindo, adding that's how he grew up and it's helped him become who he is today.
"Some of those kids are so skillful and they could go so far," he said.
Stirling tried to get the best prices possible on new equipment, at one point charging $5 for cleats that would regularly sell for between $65 and $100.
"In the pictures (Torindo) came back with, some of the kids aren't wearing shoes," said Stirling.
"We're aiming to fix that."
The gear was purchased through donations collected at Overlander Sports and from drivers with City Cab. Now, Torindo is just trying to complete that last step so he can afford to bring the equipment with him.
"It's already gathered so much momentum," said Torindo.
"After the last visit we generated so much interest and now we're trying to keep that going. It's not just kicking the ball, it's the beginning of the future."
