Strangers from Ghana playing for the same goal

By eas11, January 28, 2015

By Steven Wetherill, Staff Writer //

He’s standing in the room trying to take it all in, but he can’t. He’s crying. He’s never seen anything like this before.

New carpet. New shoes. New jerseys. He even has a nametag.

It reads Saad Acheampong, Kumasi, Ghana. And it’s in the locker room of the High Point University men’s soccer team.

Before the 19-year-old embarked on the 5,300-mile journey across the Atlantic in hopes of playing collegiate soccer and receiving an education, he used cleats that were dropped off via a donation bag from other countries, most of them worn by at least five different players before they got to Saad’s feet.

Lining the streets of Sokoban, the suburb where he lived with his mother and three brothers, are multiple rows of 8-by-8 huts. The walls and roofs made from tin sheets planted on a red, soft clay foundation.

No insulation. No carpet.

In order for his family to have clean drinking water, he would wake up at 4 a.m., even midnight sometimes, and walk half a mile to the watering station to beat the rush of people who would come later in the day.

He never traveled outside of Ghana prior to leaving for High Point, North Carolina. So as the plane ascended farther away from the tin roofs, clay floor and old cleats, a heavy, but obtainable mission descended on Saad.

For the sake of his family, country and future Ghanaian players, he must succeed at soccer. He has the opportunity to be an ambassador for HPU to other aspiring Ghanaians not only on the field, but also in the classroom.

***

In the five years that E.J. O’Keeffe has been the assistant head coach at HPU, the program has never recruited directly from Africa. If Saad excels athletically and academically, O’Keeffe and the rest of the staff will continue to focus on developing a pipeline of students. But if their plan doesn’t work out, they could concentrate their recruiting elsewhere.

Just as rewarding as his time could be at HPU, he equally understands that failure could not only ruin the futures of those he’s playing for, but the future he desires for his family.

A future consisting of a home for his mother and brothers absent of tin walls and clay floors. A home where his mom no longer has to work as a street vendor selling fish and meat, instead she can be the one buying food. A home where his brothers can have their own room.

“You’re not just winning or losing games on the soccer field; you’re also hopefully setting someone up to win at life,” said O’Keeffe.

Two days before the Big South Conference quarterfinal game against UNC Asheville, it was 57 degrees during practice, but the thermometer didn’t account for the setting sun as it hid behind the newly constructed Witcher Athletic Center, casting a deceptive cooler temperature and a three-story shadow over the field.

With the shadow came an unfamiliar feeling for Saad.

Feeling cold.

In November, Ghana averages a humid 72 degrees. In North Carolina? A brisk 41.

He endures the new, unfamiliar, autumn cold the best he can, but standing just a few feet away is one teammate who understands exactly how he feels.

***

Ebe Kudolo grew up 3½ hours south of Kumasi in the coastal city of Accra, the country’s capital and largest city. He too lived in similar conditions like that of Saad, but not with his mother, who didn’t make enough money selling fish to support Ebe playing soccer. Instead, for the past few years, he lived with the manager of his club soccer team.

Despite not living with his mother, he carries the same weight as his teammate: For the sake of his family, he must succeed at soccer.

Two of his older brothers have seen their professional soccer dreams crumble at the mercy of knee injuries. So when Ebe was sent home because of an injury while playing in Spain, it’s understandable why his mother worried for the future of her family.

That is why when Ebe calls home, she doesn’t cry. There is sadness, but it doesn’t outweigh the excitement she has of the possibilities her son has been given. It is why she tells her son not to come back to Ghana until he succeeds, whether that is at soccer or in the classroom.

It is why Saad tells his teammates he can’t go out on a Friday night. Because his mom told him he isn’t there to have fun.

And it is now why two strangers from the same country have become brothers in a foreign country.

They laugh, fight and support each other just like family. Each of them has an immeasurable task in front of them, but in addition to their duties to their families, they want nothing more than to see the other succeed on the field and in the classroom.

***

Ebe’s determination and early success was recognized near the end of his rookie season this fall after he tied for the conference lead with seven assists and was named to the Big South All-Freshman Team as well as first-team All-Big South.

When O’Keeffe traveled to Ghana with hopes of finding quality players, he arrived to the field where the showcase was taking place and he couldn’t stop smiling.

“To be frank, he’s just really damn good,” said O’Keeffe. “His touch on the ball is phenomenal and we can build our attack through him.”

With his skill set it was no surprise when Ebe shared his favorite player: FC Barcelona central midfielder Andrés Iniesta. Arguably the best central midfielder in the past 20 years, known for his light feet and precision passing.

O’Keeffe went on to mention he hadn’t seen a player with Ebe’s skill set since he started coaching at HPU as a volunteer in 2010.

Saad’s success on the field wasn’t met with the same accolades as his fellow countryman, but it’s partially due to his position. He plays as a center defender so he doesn’t get the same offensive chances as Ebe, who plays as an attacking midfielder.

“He’s a very mature, composed player,” said O’Keeffe about Saad. “He never gets too high or low.” He is someone O’Keeffe and the rest of the team look to for a calming vibe during tightly contested games.

But it’s in the classroom where Saad truly excels. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has above a 3.0 GPA.

All while speaking broken English and having only been in the country since the beginning of August.

***

Moving to the United States has provided its challenges for both players. Luckily for them, Marjorie Church, Director of International Student Services and English as a Second Language at HPU, helped them apply for social security numbers, has taken them grocery shopping and in the process introduced them to Chick-Fil-A.

Which they instantly loved with the exception of one minor detail.

“They didn’t want any of the ‘green stuff’ on there,” said Church, referring to the lettuce and pickles.

In return, Saad shared his recipe for fufu, a starched-based dish made from cassava, similar to a potato that is dipped in soups or sauces.

While living in an off-campus apartment, both are leaning on each other as they adapt to the American lifestyle while trying to maintain the deep roots of home. Such as praying and reading Bible scripture. They both pray and read at least twice a day for 20-30 minutes. It taught them to be grateful for the little they had back home and what they’ve received since coming to school.

“He created us and without him we are nobody,” said Ebe.

***

Soccer has brought both of them to HPU and they’ve promised their families to bring back a new way of life. One that isn’t filled with 4 a.m. wake-up times, fish markets, or old shoes.

Ebe wants to fulfill that promise by playing as long as he can and hopefully at the professional level, but knows it’s not his choice how far his playing days will take him.

“I want to become a good footballer, but it depends on God. Only God knows,” says Ebe.

Both players understand the importance of their education, but it is Saad who shows the immediate desire to put his degree to use. He recognizes soccer isn’t the end game.

“I want to also be a businessman and own my own company,” says Saad.

With his maturity and levelheaded demeanor, Saad might have made a good head coach, but he shakes his head and laughs.

“It’s very difficult to coach,” says Saad.

***

The sun has now set, taking with it the remnants of tolerable weather. They’ve been practicing for over an hour. The condensation from their sweat climbs from their shoulders like steam rising from a warm lake.

Standing in the middle of the field is Ebe, carefully listening to his coaches, looking for hand signals to better understand the drills. Saad, a few yards to the right stands equally attentive. With each touch of the ball they learn something new, they become smarter, better players.

Each touch brings them closer to being successful. To being reunited with their families.