Help Taofik achieve his dream!
Donation protected
My name is Taōfik Lucas-Walker and I need your help to
enable me to reach an important goal in my life. You see, I not only love soccer [football] but
I eat and breathe it. That is how much it
has become part of me. I have played the
game all of my life starting at age 5 when my dad coached my indoor team in
Springfield, VA. I remember I loved
scoring goals but at age 7, I had a coach who did not think I was good enough, and
told me that I would never be a good soccer player since scoring goals was not the
only important thing as a good player.
Something my parents always told me is that the sky is the limit so
instead of allowing this to kill my dream, I made it feed my passion.
Two of the best coaches in the area discovered me later that year, Coach Emile Mbouh, [former Cameroonian captain with over 100 international caps, and Coach Philip Gyau [former US International and Howard University All-American]. They told my parents that they loved my spirit and passion and set out to groom and nurture my love for the game and the qualities to help me become a top player. I was picked to be on the Bethesda Lions from U8 and then to now, we have become the #1 U14 team in Maryland and #3 in the nation [for now ;-). I scored the most goals last year when we won the Region 1 Championship in 2011! This year we are looking to repeat, and as well challenge for the National title. Along the way during my training, they realized I had a lot of speed and endurance as well, and they encouraged me to enter some track & field competitions. I became a National All-American 800m runner in 2010 with the Maryland Titans, and I am planning to challenge it again this year.
But my goal is much bigger. My coaches not only believe in me but they see my heart and know my dream and believe that I have what it takes to make it to Europe which is my ultimate goal. A stepping stone before my ultimate tryout in Europe is the need for me to gain exposure abroad. My team has been invited to spend a week to train and play in the Netherlands, with a highlight being games against Roda JC, VVV Velno, and the U16 Luxembourg National Team. My parents are so proud of me and my endeavor and I am so grateful to them for all the time and finances they have invested in me.
You see in the US it is very expensive to play the game of soccer unlike in other countries. In Europe the kids play for free. Most of the time only the privileged kids in the US are able to get the opportunity to have access to the best coaches and clubs because their parents could afford it. My parents work very hard to give both my sister and I the opportunities that they were not able to get when they were kids. They have really sacrificed their needs to help me up to this point. The turn in the economy has caused things to become very hard financially, so I am stepping out in faith to ask you if you can find it in your heart to help me to be able to take this opportunity.
Any amount you can give would be appreciated. I promise I will continue to work and train very hard and that I will keep good grades in school as well. I need to raise $6,000 total by May, $1000 by the end of February. It will cover my club fees, airfare, lodging and the program. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Your #11 [like Drogba ;-),
Taōfik
Two of the best coaches in the area discovered me later that year, Coach Emile Mbouh, [former Cameroonian captain with over 100 international caps, and Coach Philip Gyau [former US International and Howard University All-American]. They told my parents that they loved my spirit and passion and set out to groom and nurture my love for the game and the qualities to help me become a top player. I was picked to be on the Bethesda Lions from U8 and then to now, we have become the #1 U14 team in Maryland and #3 in the nation [for now ;-). I scored the most goals last year when we won the Region 1 Championship in 2011! This year we are looking to repeat, and as well challenge for the National title. Along the way during my training, they realized I had a lot of speed and endurance as well, and they encouraged me to enter some track & field competitions. I became a National All-American 800m runner in 2010 with the Maryland Titans, and I am planning to challenge it again this year.
But my goal is much bigger. My coaches not only believe in me but they see my heart and know my dream and believe that I have what it takes to make it to Europe which is my ultimate goal. A stepping stone before my ultimate tryout in Europe is the need for me to gain exposure abroad. My team has been invited to spend a week to train and play in the Netherlands, with a highlight being games against Roda JC, VVV Velno, and the U16 Luxembourg National Team. My parents are so proud of me and my endeavor and I am so grateful to them for all the time and finances they have invested in me.
You see in the US it is very expensive to play the game of soccer unlike in other countries. In Europe the kids play for free. Most of the time only the privileged kids in the US are able to get the opportunity to have access to the best coaches and clubs because their parents could afford it. My parents work very hard to give both my sister and I the opportunities that they were not able to get when they were kids. They have really sacrificed their needs to help me up to this point. The turn in the economy has caused things to become very hard financially, so I am stepping out in faith to ask you if you can find it in your heart to help me to be able to take this opportunity.
Any amount you can give would be appreciated. I promise I will continue to work and train very hard and that I will keep good grades in school as well. I need to raise $6,000 total by May, $1000 by the end of February. It will cover my club fees, airfare, lodging and the program. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Your #11 [like Drogba ;-),
Taōfik
Organizer
Taofik Lucas-Walker
Organizer
