An Emerald in the Rough

Amid the rectangular, corrugated tin shacks and squares of sandy soil that make-up Khayelitsha Township, in Cape Town, South Africa, the perfectly rectangular patch of dirt just behind the Ikhusi P.P. School seemed in no way out of place in June of 2008. Fast-forward six months to the present, and that same patch of earth is a perfect shade of emerald amidst a swath of browns and tans. It is truly the field of Dan Wagner’s dream, and on January 23rd, 2009, his dream officially becomes reality when the Ikhusi Christopher T. Campbell Memorial Soccer Field is dedicated.
This wasn’t Wagner’s initial vision. The head coach of Franklin & Marshall’s soccer team had a humble community service project in mind when he first developed the Soccer Africa project in his mind in March of 2007. A year and over 7,300 miles later, he was leading 53 Diplomats onto the glass strewn, sandy soccer field behind the Ikhusi School for the groundbreaking of a turf pitch field that matches what Wagner’s squad plays upon in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.




So much had happened in a year.
Christopher T. Campbell was set to lead Franklin & Marshall’s soccer team in a new direction. The Diplomats had steadily improved on the pitch, and Campbell and his fellow seniors were set to lead their team back to the NCAA playoffs in 2007. Campbell, with his shock of red hair, was the squad’s easily recognizable central cog, charged with moving the ball from the stout defense onto the feet of a potent offense. Like many of his teammates, he was excited about the team’s prospects for the upcoming season, as well as the Soccer Africa trip planned for the following spring.
One day prior to the official start of his final season, shortly after a run, Chris Campbell collapsed and passed away.
There was grieving, healing and a cathartic celebration of Campbell’s life. A plaque was erected and his number ten was sown into the new turf field at Franklin & Marshall. The field upon which he never played holds his presence. A world away, the same is now true.

It’s Not About Soccer
The seed of Wagner’s vision was planted during a service at the Lancaster County Bible Church, six months before Campbell’s passing. A video message from Bono encouraged patrons to look within their own means for the arms to fight the global war on poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa. Wagner examined the impact of soccer on the African continent, and sought a means by which he could use his passion for the game to improve the world.
Understanding the global draw of soccer, Wagner knew the sport he loved would be the perfect draw for
He set his sights on adopting a town in South Africa – a geographic center upon which he could focus. It was clear to Wagner that donating soccer equipment and time to an NGO would have a short-term impact in a long-term battle. By “adopting” a town, and encouraging other teams to join him, Wagner felt he could mount a sustained assault on improving a small portion of the world.
In his exploration, he came across Grassroot Soccer, which employs an education plus soccer method in combating HIV/AIDS. Soccer is the merely the means to reach children to allow the education portion of the program to occur. Before long, Wagner was working with Fox Sports Soccer Analyst and Grassroot Soccer Co-Founder, Ethan Zohn, on honing the project’s vision. At Zohn’s recommendation, Wagner settled on Khayelitsha Township.

WHY Khayelitsha Township.
During the initial planning phases, Wagner saw his players and their parents’ enthusiasm for the project grow. Amongst that group was the Campbell family. Chris’ untimely passing changed the scope of the project.
Making the Difference
In the wake of Campbell’s passing, his family requested donations made to the Soccer Africa Project. Franklin & Marshall President, John Fry responded immediately with a sizeable donation.  The Campbell family and Wagner agreed that a soccer complex, built in Chris’ honor, would sharpen the focus of the project. The next six months saw a flurry of activity, including the founding of CTCten, a group of family and friends close to the Campbell’s that has overseen the site selection and construction of the field in Khayelitsha Township.
It was Chris’ parents, Chris and Mari Ann, who ultimately chose the Ikhusi P.P. School.

Staying Power
The Soccer Africa Project’s boots on the ground is Ryan McGonigle ’08, Campbell’s best friend and teammate. The founder of Franklin & Marshall’s Kickin’ AIDS Soccer Tournament has been in Khayelitsha Township since September serving as Wagner’s eyes and ears on the project. Under his watch, the first bulldozer plowed into the sand behind the Ikhusi School. He was more than pleased to announce on his blog that the lights adorning the field are officially in place. McGonigle is the first in what will be a line of interns overseeing the project from Franklin & Marshall’s end. Amy Cawley, Campbell’s girlfriend will graduate this May, and take over for McGonigle. To that end, President Fry has made a stipend available to help defray travel costs to the project.
The official dedication of the field will mark the end of the first phase of the project. The second phase is just beginning to take shape. The plan all along has been to build a health education center and clinic at the field to assist Grassroot Soccer and other NGO’s in their mission to battle disease and poverty in the township.
Having fulfilled one dream beyond his imagination, Wagner has turned his eye to the long-term use of the facility for Franklin & Marshall’s student projects. He envisions linking the Christopher T. Campbell Memorial Soccer Complex to Franklin & Marshall’s curriculum and public service, providing an abundance of real-world opportunities for F&M students in disciplines as diverse as Public Health and Business, Organizations and Society.
Where the Rubber Meets the Dirt
The Christopher T. Campbell Memorial Soccer Complex is a rubber infill synthetic turf system. Field use will be determined by the Township’s Field Management Council, which McGonigle has been instrumental in forming.
“The idea has been to let the locals determine how to best use the facility to serve their population,” says Wagner.
The initial indications are that during the day, the field will serve as the playground for the Ikhusi School, which has suffered without recess since construction began in October. From the end of the school day until dark, the field will likely be used by NGO’s such as Grassroot Soccer to run “testing tournaments” and clinics.
After dark, the field will likely be open for public use in programs similar to midnight basketball in the United States. There is some thought that the lights flooding the field will be welcomed by the complex’s neighbors, who have the added security of lights and an alternative outlet of energy for the town’s young adults.


Project Timeline

2007

March
•    Dan Wagner, Men’s Soccer Coach at Franklin & Marshall College, attends Church service at LCBC. Service includes a broadcast of U2's Bono Address at the International Leadership Summit, sparks idea of Soccer Africa Project.
April
•    Dan Wagner decides to “adopt” one community in Africa. At a minimum, this vision includes his team traveling to this community in March of 2008.
May
•    Grassroots Soccer co-founder, Ethan Zohn, agrees to partner with Wagner in completing the vision.
June
•    A group of parents meet to discuss fundraising for our Africa trip. The Campbell family is part of this initial group.
July
•    Khayelitsha Township is chosen as the focus of the project after it is recommended by Ethan.
August
•    Chris Campbell passes. Campbell’s family requests donations made in Chris’ honor to the F&M Soccer Africa project.
•    F&M holds memorial service for Chris. F&M President John Fry donates to the Soccer Africa fund which begins the official connection between F&M and the project.
September
•    The Campbell family agrees to create a soccer facility in Khaleytisha similar to the one at F&M.
•    The Campbell’s decide to work with YES as the contractor for the facility, a specialist in creating youth sports facilities in South Africa.
October
•    F&M soccer team sets the school win record with a prefect 13-0 through their first 13 games. They also earn their first ever top NSCAA top 10 ranking in school history.
•    CTCten officially launches at The American Bar & Grill in St. David’s, Pa. CTCten is the organization of the Campbell family and close friends who will oversee fundraising and constructing the Chris Campbell Memorial Soccer Field.

November
•    The soccer team continues its ongoing effort to collect soccer gear to take on their trip. The majority of the teams in F&M’s conference join the effort by donating money or uniforms. Angelo’s soccer corner partners with the group and donates soccer equipment.
2008
January
•    The Campbell family travels to Khayelitsha to pick the host site. Candidates included Ikhusi Primary School and the Impendulo School. Ikhusi is chosen.
February
•    CTCten bowling event, the groups largest fundraiser, raises large amount of funds in one night for the project.
March
•    Ryan McGonigle launches F&M’s annual Kickin’ AIDS Soccer Tournament.
•    Survivor Africa winner and Grassroots Soccer Co-Founder Ethan Zohn comes to F&M to speak about Africa Project.
•    F&M soccer seniors speak to full board of Trustees at F&M.
•    53-person delegation from F&M travels to Cape Town to launch F&M Soccer Africa project.
•    CTC Field site enjoys official groundbreaking.
•    Approximately $30,000 worth of soccer equipment is donated to orphans in the Township through the Amandla Ku Lutsha organization, headed by Leo Reid.
September
•    Ryan McGonigle leaves to serve as project’s first intern in Cape Town.
•    F&M is chosen as the launch site for Pennsylvania ONE VOTE because of the Soccer Africa Project. Former U.S. Senators Harris Wofford and Rick Santorum come to campus as ambassadors for the One Campaign.
•    F&M becomes an official “One Campus” and dedicates itself to joining the global fight against poverty.
October
•    Construction begins on the CTC field
•    Funding for stage I of the project is complete.
November
•    Construction continues. Floodlights are up, turf has been laid.
•    Field Management Council is being formed.
•    Associate Dean of the College Dr. Susan Dicklitch works with Dan Wagner to launch the 2nd phase of the Project- getting F&M to utilize the facilities.
•    Wagner contacts other colleges to send their soccer teams to the field.
2009
January
•    Official launch of activities on the CTC field. The Campbell family will attend.