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Louisville soccer team assisting water purification effort

By J.J. Hysell
For NCAA.org

 What started as a spring break voyage to Brazil for soccer competition is now a quest to change lives.

The University of Louisville men’s soccer team, last season’s Division I national runner-up, will embark on a unique journey beginning March 10. Coach Ken Lolla, his family and his players will join members of the EDGE Outreach water purification team in northern Brazil to teach about and install systems that will provide clean water to rural communities.

The idea to add the community service component to the trip came to Lolla after he did a public service announcement for EDGE, a non-profit group that brings portable water purification systems to developing countries and in disaster-relief situations.

“As time went on we looked at where we were going to be in Brazil and the areas we could affect, and it’s been amazing how many other opportunities have become because of that,” Lolla said.

Lolla said team members were initially a little apprehensive − until they learned more about the project and the significance it would have for the Brazilian people.

“We didn’t really know much at first, other than we knew that we were going to do some kind of community-service related project with water and helping the people there,” junior goalkeeper Andre Boudreaux said. “We came in and they expanded on what coach told us. We’re getting to actually see what we’re going to be doing down there. Once we actually saw it, it became a little more clear for us, and we’re grasping the significance of what we’re doing.”

The team learned about the systems and the skills necessary to install them during two training sessions last week. The systems use a battery, salt and water and can generate up to 38,000 gallons of drinkable water daily.

Louisville junior center back Austin Berry said it was a smooth and simple learning process.

“It’s taken about an hour to put all this together,” he said. “The fact that it’s so easy to put something like this together and we still have people all over the world dying from water-related diseases, it’s kind of hard to grasp. It’s nice that we’re going to be able to help out with this situation.”

Many of the athletes donated their own money designated for spring break to the cause. Those funds, combined with those of other donors and alumni, were enough to purchase two systems for Brazil.

“We have no idea just how many communities that this system the U of L men have provided, with their own money, is going to impact,” said Sherry Parker, who serves as an EDGE team leader along with her husband, Bill. “We’re really excited for the future and what it’s going to mean in their lives.

“It’s amazing to me that a group of young men could be so service-minded and give up their time, their resources. They’re going to make a difference in this country.”

One destination for the team will be Sao Paulo, where the players will teach local missionaries how to use the system. Those missionaries will then pass along what they’ve learned to leaders in other communities.

One of the systems will be used by the John Wesley Medical Boat, which assists communities in the Amazon River Basin.

Many of the players said the combination of playing soccer in a country where the sport is revered and being able to give a helping hand to its citizens is a big opportunity.

“Being a soccer player, Brazil has always been high up on soccer level,” Berry said. “There’s a lot of soccer tied into their culture. It’s kind of a dream to go. Everyone’s excited for a trip like this, but also, the impact we’re going to have on people down there, it’s amazing.”

Lolla said the adventure will be memorable for all involved.

“This trip will be a great growth experience, as well as a wonderful experience I know that will stay with them the rest of their lives.”

J.J. Hysell is a Louisville-based writer.