But last year I fell in-love with a beautiful physician lady Gabrielle -O'Sullivan who is currently completing her residency here in Santa Rosa. This Lady made a commitment to devote a month of her life and go into a remote village in Africa to help the villagers who might not have the opportunity to ever see a doctor in their life time. She have the opportunity to go to anywhere in the world to give her service but she chose the less fortunate ones in Africa. She was more particular about the kids of Africa. She collected many samples of medications that she took with her to help these kids.

With her inspiration and drive I decide to fall back on my passion of soccer, a sport which has shaped my life and gave me opportunity to attend college in US as a vehicle which I can use to try and make a difference myself. So I collected and bought new and used Jerseys. A friend Patricia Carrillo was able to get her friend who was a goalkeeper for the Cyber-Rays to donate her used shoes and Jerseys. My friend Tom Gray who owns Soccer Sports Store in Rohnert Park was able to donate and sell on discount some youth jerseys and shoes. I will say I have products worth over $10,000.00 in face value with me as I leave for Africa.

My first port of entry into Africa was Ghana. Now I face a very terrible shake down. The airport custom men who I know are soccer fans and also soccer players (I know this from the look on their faces when they opened up my luggage and eyeballs bulging out and little snickering to each other after seeing the soccer equipment in my belongings. There in, I made the vow that whatever it takes I am not letting them take this away from me. They used all types of tactics despite telling them they were donated equipment to help the African kids. They made me count every single item one by one socks, cleats, t-shirts, etc. The one they use mostly is the delay tactics. I was kept in the airport for over 6hrs as I witness several arrivals clearing and leaving the airport while I am still stranded with the customs.

After seeing that I am willing to go for the long haul they finally decide to lay a heavy fee on me. This I did pay from the little left with me that I was planning to use to help my ailing mother. I rather see the kids on the street benefit from what I brought than the custom men enriching themselves with it.

I did arrive in Nigeria with no problem. Here is where I thought I will face the most toughest opposition from the custom men. Because of what I went through in Ghana. As a matter of fact I was a wreck for a week in Ghana just thinking of how I am going to get these soccer equipment in to Nigeria after what I went through in a supposedly less corrupt group of Ghana officials in-comparison to the Nigerian officials. Besides if they ever plan to levy another fee on me I will not be able to pay, for I am almost depleted in fund at this moment and they will confiscate all my luggage. I was almost in tears as I was about to land in Nigeria just knowing that I will loose all that I have worked so hard for on this trip. So I prayed and prayed hard.

To my amazement when I mentioned that these are all donation towards youth development in soccer, It was only one of the custom men who demanded a pair of soccer shoes. He said he will like one shoe that he plays for a local team and he needs a pair of cleats. I gave him a pair even though its not his size but he took it.

While in Nigeria I visited my old High School. It was in a very deplorable condition. The school team haven't had a jersey to play with in 10 years, not to talk of shoes. You should see the looks on the school principal and students when I gave the school sets of jerseys and used soccer shoes. I have pictures to show. Here is when I know that yes one person can really make a difference.

I also had several youth soccer coaching clinics. In one of my clinics where I had the liberty of talking to 54 youth soccer coaches who came to see this youth soccer coach from California. I also had the liberty of using your book as a premise "Practice of Champions" of Fundamental soccer. I strongly believe in the principal of one on one (friendly)and the one versus one(competitive) in the beginning of any coaching philosophy.

In my course of lecturing and giving several demonstrations of drills to use in developing youth abilities in soccer. I felt like a pro- using terminology of technical and tactical this and that in offensive and defensive thirds etc. which are fundamental approaches to coaching which sounds so foreign to most of these local coaches. Besides I learned most of this coaches don't even know there are size 3&4 balls for youth. Trust me I was on a roll in my full element talking as if I invented the philosophy of youth soccer coaching.

Then all of a sudden I see a hand raised from the rear of the audience. And this gentleman asked a question stating that they really do enjoy my approach to coaching youth soccer. But his question to me is "how do you expect me and my colleagues to coach 30 kids with one soccer ball. All of a sudden there was a big roar of laughter from almost everybody including the guy who invited me to give the seminar. For a minute, being a very sensitive person I thought I was being set up.

I stood there for a minute and there was silence again with everybody in the room anticipating my answer. One, I was shocked to learn that it was a privilege for a team of almost 30 kids to have just one ball. Secondly I was modified because all my sweet talk of different drills just went down the tube. I was modified to say the least. I answered that its quite difficult to coach meaningfully with one soccer ball. Before I could even finish saying this another of the youth coaches stood up to complain to me and the head of their local league how his team have lost 5 games this season with the fact that he has the strongest team in the youth league and opposing coaches encourage their kids to go and hide their soccer ball in the bushes. He ends up loosing on forfeit if he can not provide a good ball or any ball at all. The coaches who did this to him were chuckling thinking it was funny. Yes it is funny looking at the environment they are in. But the reality is that this was quite a sad tale.

You know the next question was "do you have balls for us.' I did not have balls to donate to the coaches.

I stood there shaking my head in disbelieve of the situation with these folks who are not getting paid but are just trying to give back to the kids. But I promised them that before this year runs out I will get them some soccer balls. So Coach Karl I need help. I now believe one person can make a difference. If CYSA can help in any way possible to get balls, or any soccer equipment new or used. Donations will be highly welcomed too ........

FUNdamental Readers here are the details in case you would like to help…

Julius Ujeh
Spitfire Soccer Academy
P.O.Box 1113
Healdsburg, Ca. 95448
Ph. # 707 280 8534