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Sports

Soccer Transcends Language, Cultures

Providence Christian soccer players kick it weekly with refugees in Clarkston.

Todd Henry speaks not a word of foreign language, but hand gestures and a smile help Providence Christian's soccer coach communicate with young refugees his players drill with each Monday throughout summer in Clarkston.

"It's not like we can't communicate," Henry said. "You throw a soccer ball out there, and you don't need an explanation. It's a game everybody knows how to play."

Henry and a varying handful of his players meet dozens of refugees at the Clarkston Community Center to share an international sport that transcends language. Invariably, eight or 10 Providence boys players come β€” even some girls β€” and 60-80 refugees ages 8-14 are driven from ethnically diverse neighborhoods in DeKalb County.

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Off hand, Henry recalls refugees there from Bhutan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, and other politically and war-torn places in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Some speak English. Many don't. Still others might have arrived in the United States just days earlier.

"This group really understands English a lot better than in the past," Henry said of this third summer together. "Some of the kids have literally gotten off the boat [days] before."

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It all began when former Providence player Jon Demonbreun began tutoring refugees at an apartment complex in Clarkston, one of the United States' most ethnically diverse cities. More Providence players came to groom the complex's grounds, where they came to know DeKalb church volunteer Bobby King. Before long, the Providence kids were on the field mentoring, the refugees learning.

"It's been invaluable having [Providence players] there, more from a human relations standpoint than anything," King said. "Soccer is just the vehicle. It's what [the refugees] love most. What better way of connecting?"

Providence's Tylor Marshall, a rising junior who helped the Stars reach last spring's Class A championship game against Walker, is continually impressed by how happy the refugees are to see him each week.

"They say, 'Tylor, good to see you again,' in English that's pretty good, actually," he said. "You can usually always understand them, whether it's with English, hand gestures, or whatever."

And the refugees' soccer skills?

"A lot of them have a lot of good moves," Marshall added. "I didn't know what to expect that first time I went, but some of them are pretty good."

This summer's soccer has been played from 6-8 p.m. at Tucker's Northlake Church of Christ because the community center is re-sodding its field. It's about the same distance for the Providence kids who drive individually or take a van with Henry, but it's considerably more challenging for the refugees, some of whom could walk to the community center but now must carpool.

Once together, Henry said they all have a great time. When words don't suffice, arm gestures show to dribble wider, run faster, defend tighter. Refugees demonstrate where they don't know how to explain. Drilling and scrimmaging, everyone has what Henry called "a really fun, laid-back time."

Demonbreun's mom, B.J., who helped organize it all, is amazed how fruitful it's been.

"The only thing I did was introduce this great person to that great person," she explained. "When these kids meet, real relationships happen."

Providence player Isaac Chasteen said he's made friends he never dreamed he would.

"I've gottten to know them and their siblings, too," the rising senior said. "It's been very cool. "At first, they're pretty shy. But once you get them talking, they really open up."

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