Re: Sheffield Rallies Past CCS In Class A/AA Soccer Quarterfinals
I thought you might be interested in knowing a little background on what this soccer team (Sheffield High School) has been through. For starters, this is a team comprised of mostly immigrants from Africa and Central America. They are all from low income families and live in a poor area of Memphis. Due to this, their parents are not able to contribute any funds or donations to the team.
Coach Cole's wife (Meridith) started a gofundme page to help gather the necessary funds for uniforms, transportation, field dues, you name it. They barely raised enough to get into the season and had no funds left to travel for these finals. Many of us friends have contributed what we could to help them. I believe the expenses are probably all on a credit card at this point.
About two weeks ago, one of the players (not sure which one) came home from practice to see his apartment building burned to the ground. An adjacent apartment caught fire and spread to his family's home. They lost everything they owned.
Then last week, a group of girls, all sisters and friends of the players, were driving to a game to support the team. On their way, they were in a major car accident that killed one girl and put the rest in the hospital. The girl who died was Dia's sister (the young man who made the winning goal in the game last night).
The fact that these boys have come this far in the tournament is a testament to their character. I think there's at least a great story in this team, if not a movie that could be made.
I know Coach Cole's wife (Meridith), through my daughter. She and her husband (Jonathan Cole, their English teacher and soccer coach) have worked tirelessly for this team and the boys have rewarded them every step of the way with their continued wins.
Stephanie O'Guin
Chattanooga
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Correction:
All money spent is raised from donors or borrowed from the school to cover expenses for state. We will have to pay this back when we raise more funds.
Coach Cole