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New Canadians Get Active with Soccer
New Canadians face their share of challenges and obstacles.
Sometimes these challenges can be pretty overwhelming, for example, when they involve adapting to a new culture or learning a new language. But even activities that are routine for many Canadians—like getting a library card, registering kids for summer camp, or joining a sports team—can be mysterious and complex to a newcomer.
Since 2001, however, new Edmontonians from Zimbabwe have had an easier time figuring out how things work in their new country—thanks to the Bossolona Football Club.
More Than Just a Sport
How does a soccer team support new Canadians? Amandla Ngwenya, manager of the Bossolona soccer team, explains “We’re not just a soccer team; we’re dealing with other issues.”
The “other issues” that Ngwenya refers to run the gambit from employment information, to cultural awareness, to socializing. For example, each year the team hosts a summer barbeque complete with traditional Zimbabwe cooking and three generations of players on the soccer pitch. Ngwenya says, “The food is prepared by women in our community and about 85% of it is traditional African dishes. This is open to anyone who feels like taking part. We all relax in the park and get to teach our kids those games we grew up playing in Africa.”
While a love of soccer draws players together, it’s their commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive community that makes the team unique. At the games and practices, players and their families ask one another questions about their new life in Canada. The game provides an opportunity to learn from the experiences of fellow-Africans in Edmonton.
The team has been so successful that, according to Ngwenya, some Zimbabweans emigrating to Canada choose Edmonton as their home because they’ve heard about the Bossolona Football Club!
Involving Children and Youth
When the team was founded in 2001, the tight-knit Zimbabwean community in Edmonton provided all the publicity the team needed to get off the ground. “The word just went out there when they found out we were forming a team,” says Ngwenya. In no time at all, a full team was in place.
Today, the Bossolona Football Club has expanded significantly. Along with one soccer team for men aged 16 to 35 years and another for men aged 35 years and older, there is now a Bossolona basketball team, too. As well, women in the community are putting together a Bossolona volleyball team.
Ngwenya believes involving youth in the club is particularly important. When children and youth attend practices and games, adults have the opportunity to observe and guide the younger players. Their observations do not focus solely on soccer skill, but on the younger players’ interactions and behavior. They learn which kids need help and then set out, as a community, to help them. The game provides the opportunity to “address concerns or needs in the community that might otherwise remain hidden,” says Ngwenya.
Addressing the Cost Barrier
“In Zimbabwe, we are born playing soccer,” says Ngwenya. His words attest to the popularity of the game in his home country, where it is also exceedingly accessible and inclusive. No expensive equipment is required—players play barefoot, often with nothing more than humble plastic bags to mark the goal posts.
In Canada, as in Zimbabwe, soccer can be played at any public park for no more than the cost of a soccer ball. But in order to play in an organized league—as the Bossolona do—funding can pose a real problem. The $1900/year per team registration fee charged by the Edmonton Soccer Association is divided among the players, but even this amount, about $100/each, can seem insurmountable. As well, practice venues—both indoor and outdoor—can be costly.
Still, the board of directors that manages the club remains committed to supporting anyone who wants to play. If an individual cannot afford the annual fee, the club finds a way to cover the costs. “Financial difficulties or situations will never be a reason not to play,” says Ngwenya. “The board tries hard to find subsidies, especially for full-time students, those with limited incomes, and those who have just arrived in Canada.” Everyone is welcome.
In Canada, sport is traditionally seen as a way to stay fit, have fun, and be active. For the Bossolona Football Club, it’s much more. Soccer isn’t just about playing a game, it’s about creating a supportive and inclusive community for new Canadians in Edmonton.
It’s about physical activity for all.
To learn more about the Bossolona Football Club, please contact the team manager, Amandla Ngwenya, at (780) 420-0988 or (780) 707-5760.