U.S. Team Holds Soccer Clinic at a Muslim School

A 1988 AIE/SOI team from the U.S. made history by being invited to put on a soccer clinic at a Muslim high school in Kampala. It came about because in 1987 this same school had invited the Liberty Univ. Sports Outreach Basketball Team to hold a basketball clinic for their players, a clinic that almost didn't happen.  Earlier that year, the school administration had refused to let the Liberty University Light Singers come and put on a program for their students. They only wanted the sports team, but the Liberty team leader strenuously objected and said that the sports team would not come unless the music team was allowed to perform before their student body. The Muslim school eventually acquiesced.

That afternoon, after the music team performed, seven players put on a clinic for the Muslim basketball players and then played the varsity squad before a large throng of spectators. The U.S. team won the game rather handily and afterwards shared their faith with them, and many of the spectators.  A dozen Muslims accepted the Lord. Later in the week the U.S. team was invited back to do more clinics and play another game.  Interestingly, the next year, the Muslim high school basketball team finished in second place nationally after being at the bottom of the league the year before. Consequently, they invited a U.S. team back the next year (1988) to do a soccer clinic with the high hopes of improving their soccer team as well.

During the soccer clinic of 1988, nearly 40 players participated and at the end the Gospel was shared and 15 Muslims invited Christ into their lives—including the coach!  Later, the same coach wrote Russ and said, "Shhh... please don't tell anyone but I am holding secret Bible studies with my players in the dormitory and we are all growing in our faith. Thank you for the Bibles and Bible study materials."