IT'S HERE - thank you, Madiba!

Today, everything begins for the 32 teams battling for the title of the best soccer team in the World . I felt like a kid waking up on Christmas morning; brackets filled out (Go Ivory Coast!!), DVR cued up and lunch breaks planned around afternoon games. Even on my walk to work this morning I could feel the excitement - the streets were filled with team paraphernalia and World Cup gear in anticipation of today's matches.

While watching tournament coverage, I was hit by this quote from Mr. Nelson Mandela and I wanted to share it:

"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does."

I couldn't help but be drawn to this; not only because of my great admiration and respect for Mr. Mandela, but I find it quite fitting in preparing for Uganda. It's the reason I chose to take on this opportunity. I believe in the power of this sport and what it can do. I'm not sure what lies ahead, but, to me, that is the exciting part. I don't know how to describe the feeling I get using soccer as my language, but it's incredible. Watching people communicate through this sport is inspiring.

Soccer has brought so much to my life - both on and off the field - and I am truly looking forward to sharing that with the people in Ndejje. More and more I realize, this opportunity is about so much more than soccer, but right on the field is the perfect place to start.

And with that said, it's 10:00 AM, June 11....THE GAMES HAVE STARTED!!!

Thoughts and prayers are with the Mandela family on the loss of Zenani, Mr. Mandela's 13yr old great-granddaughter. She was killed in a car crash just last night.