The Bellevue University Men's Soccer Team has been very active globally, nationally and locally with regard to its Champions of Character Initiative in 2015
Authored by: Matt Briggs, Bellevue University Men's Soccer Head Coach
Kenya
In April 2015, Head Coach Matt Briggs returned to Naiavasha, Kenya where he volunteer coached for two weeks, traveling alongside International Medical Exchange, a team of doctors, nurses and ultra sound technicians who work in the local hospital.
Matt coached local players of all ages and abilities throughout the region of Naiavasha, working in schools, orphanages and the slums of Nairobi. He also teamed up with former NAIA and Park University Soccer Player Simon Mulama and his brother Titus in their own Football Academy.
"It was great to catch up with Seppe (Simon Mulama) again, I hadn't seen him since my previous visit to Kenya last year, and before that it must have been ten years prior that I had seen him playing for Park against us in conference play in the MCAC."
Coach Briggs went out armed with football kit donated from both the UK and U.S. including a full kit donated by Notts County FC of the English Football League and the Bellevue University Bruins Home Kit from the 2014 Season which he donated to the ladies team of Shalamay.
"We were able to provide much needed kits as well as feed lunch to the players at each of our sessions. It is such a humbling experience and makes me realize how much we take for granted, how gluttonous we can be, and how much we waste without a second thought. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Kenya each year and sincerely appreciate the support of President Dr. (Mary) Hawkins and Bellevue University with helping enable me to take this trip."
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Elijah Prall
Throughout the 2014-15 Season and carrying over into our 2015 season we have had our newest member of our team join us, Elijah Prall. We first met Elijah during pre-season in 2014 where we teamed up with Ann Brown (wife of Rob Brown, BU Head Men's Golf Coach) at Capernaum which is a youth group through Young Life Church for children with disabilities. As a team we worked with the group for over an hour on soccer skills and games before joining in bible readings and prayer.
After our evening we invited members of the group to join us at our next home match and be with us on our bench. Elijah was the first to accept the invitation and became a member of our team for the entirety of the season. He came to almost every home match, joining us on the bench; he even joined us for our Opening Round Match of the NAIA National Tournament at Hastings College and sat with us during the banquet. Elijah became a massive part of our team and I believe he had a huge impact on us last fall, and was a reason for our success. We recognized Elijah as part of our team at our end of year student-athlete banquet where he received a standing ovation.
Below: Elijah Prall (left) being escorted by Matt Briggs to receive his certificate
Once again Elijah is on our team this fall and he played in our opening exhibition match of 2015 against Iowa Western Community College Scoring 2 goals. Iowa Western's players were fantastic and it created a great opportunity for two local teams to come together and provide a platform for Elijah to play.
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Red Card Cancer
The Men's Soccer Team raised $2400 for "Red Card Cancer" during their opening match vs Grand View University. The Men's Soccer Team decided to raise funds for Red Card Cancer after Coach Briggs met Paul Payne during a coaching course this summer.
Coach Payne is the Head Coach at Division II Bloomsburg University and was a course instructor on the NSCAA Premier. He set up Red Card Cancer Charity after losing a friend to cancer and decided to use football as a vehicle to raise money for Cancer Research with the funds being raised going to Johns Hopkins Medicine, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.
We were able to sell T-Shirts and wrist bands to employees and those who attended the match as well as take donations from attendees. "I think we all have a family member or close friend who has been affected by cancer, so it was a fantastic opportunity for us to be able to help make a small donation to a fantastic cause," said Coach Briggs.
