Soccer players win title, spread gospel message
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LDS soccer players from four small branches in the Pisco Peru District recently formed a novice "Cinderella" team that went on to win the hotly contested Pisco city league championship.
And publicity generated by the team winning the championship has enabled the players, and their spirited branch member fans, to share their convictions of the gospel, said Sister Emma Lou Slagowski, serving in the Peru Lima South Mission with her husband, Joseph.The team, comprised of several returned missionaries, called themselves the "Moroni's," and selected Sister Slagowski as their queen to take part in pre-game ceremonies.
"I felt like these young men were Helaman's army," she said.
The Moroni's won their first, second and third tournament games. For the championship game, crowds grew and people came early to get a seat.
"Members filled half of one side of the stands," she said. "They brought milk cans filled with rocks for rattlers, and a sign with a picture of Moroni painted on it."
At the championship game, "The air was filled with enthusiasm," she continued. Pres. Glen L. Slight of the Peru Lima South Mission, who came to Pisco from Lima some 150 miles away, kicked "the ceremonial first ball" as television cameras focused on the Mormons.
At half-time, despite intense play of both teams, the game remained scoreless. During the second half, "the Moroni's became more determined. After one grand kick," Sister Slagowski described, "the ball was driven into the goal. The crowd rose to their feet, cheering and hollering for their team. Some young men ran out on the field and lifted their players up as the crowd cheered again." When the game resumed, the "whole team defended their goal. Then, with only a few minutes left, the Moroni's scored again. The crowd went wild, cheering and rattling, clapping and beating drums."
After the crowd quieted, trophies were presented, and the team captain spoke. He thanked all those who had supported the team, and then bore his testimony and told about the restoration of the gospel.
"It was beautiful," said Sister Slagowski.
