They came, they saw, the bonded

What started out for the Everton Football College (EFC) as a short soccer tour to compete against the Spirit International Football Academy (SIFA), turned into a life-changing experience for all the boys.

The blue boys of EFC came to our shores with excitement, anticipation and possibly a touch of hubris. After all, they were representing the young footballing talent of Premiership giants, Everton, one of the most successful and historic clubs in English football. But if it existed, the hubris quickly switched to feelings of mutual respect, shared learning and enduring bonds of sporting friendship.

Many of the EFC players come from modest backgrounds, with some hailing from some of the most deprived areas of the UK. So, for these boys in particular who had never flown or traveled abroad before, their South African adventure was far more than just a game of “footy”. It was about visiting one of the most beautiful countries on earth, experiencing our diverse culture and appreciating the abundance of talent South Africa has to offer.

Hosted by the Spirit Foundation, the EFC blue boys were taken to visit some of the most impactful programmes we support. For example, in visiting the League of Friends of the Blind, the boys were able to experience what it’s like to play soccer and cricket as a blind or visually impaired person. It was a great leveler and a lesson in how to remain grounded even if you are on the path to becoming a footballing superstar.

Cape Town’s penguin colony is world famous, but less known is the fabulous work done by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Seabirds (SANCCOB) which is supported by the Spirit Foundation. More than just talks on the rehabilitation of seabirds, the boys were given demonstrations on conservation more broadly, lessons they will carry with them back to Merseyside.

While Everton and Merseyside are both famous, there are elements to life for some in Liverpool that can be challenging, including poverty, unemployment and deprivation. So, perhaps the most impactful element of the EFC tour was the daylong visit to the historic Langa township. With some trepidation the boys entered an entirely new and quite possibly alien environment to that which they were used to. But quickly, they were overwhelmed by the friendliness and hospitality shown by their hosts. Playing some football and coaching with young Langa players was a memorable highlight, as was tasting the delights of the local cuisine.

And what of the football? It was, in a word, competitive. It may be unfair to suggest that the EFC boys underestimated their SIFA counterparts, but even the Everton coach and FA Cup winner, Joe Parkinson, commented on the technical skill, physicality and sheer energy of the SIFA boys. It was only after a half-time pep talk that the EFC boys really kicked into gear. The result was a 1-1 draw, which was an appropriate outcome from what was a memorable and high energy match.

At the end of the tour, Joe Parkinson captured the moment by saying, “The boys came to your breathtaking country to play football, but we all leave being better, more experienced and enriched from this remarkable time we spent with SIFA.”

But the final word goes to Spirit Foundation Director, Liam Kilbride, “I think we pleasantly surprised the EFC boys in every respect, but the most important thing was that we all learnt and grew from the experience of playing and interacting with each other. The wonderful memories will be with us forever.”