Cosmos Forward Lucky Mkosana Has Come Full Circle Through Work With Grassroots Soccer

By Jack Bell

Full circle.

The words have been so overused that they have nearly become a cliché. Yet for every cliché and stereotype there is a kernel of truth. Cosmos striker Lucky Mkosana is that walking, talking, dribbling, passing, and shooting example of that truth because the native of Zimbabwe is the personification of the term “full circle.”

Growing up in Bulawayo, Mkosana was a young soccer player at a time the thousands of people in the central African nation were being ravaged by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. He was fortunate enough, even lucky, to become involved with an influential non-profit agency, Grassroots Soccer, that has – and is – playing a pivotal role in educating Africa’s young people about the perils of HIV/AIDS.

Founded in 2002, Grassroots Soccer’s motto is “Using the Power of Soccer in the Fight Against HIV and AIDS.” It was co-founded by Tommy Clarke, the doctor son of Bobby Clarke, the current men’s soccer coach at Notre Dame. Clarke was among a group that included co-founders Methembe Ndlovu, Ethan Zohn, and Kirk Friedrich who played soccer in Zimbabwe for the Highlanders club.

What was a soccer adventure for a handful of American players quickly turned into a life-altering experience, one they have used to help change the world through soccer. Ndlovu was the first player from that part of Africa to travel to the United States where he played for Bobby Clarke at Dartmouth, where Mkosana also eventually played collegiately. He is also one of Mkosana’s cousins.

“I was 18 and supposed to sign for a South African club, but that window closed,” the now 27-year-old Mkosana said. “My cousin called me and told me about a two-day soccer showcase, where coaches from America come to see players. He said, ‘Maybe someone will see you and like you and take you to America.’ After the trials, Methembe called me and asked me to volunteer with the kids before leaving for America. We are role models. It’s easier for kids to listen if someone they want to be like is doing the talking.

“The kids also took the message back to their parents, who were less informed. It’s a way to mobilize and inform kids at the same time.”

Since its founding, Grassroots Soccer has expanded to more than 40 countries and has used the power of soccer and soccer players to educate more than 700,000 youngsters about HIV/AIDS. The group now partners with the Peace Corps, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and others in a worldwide battle against the disease. A study by the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that “over 90% of the children provided positive attitude responses to the health-education programme” run by Grassroots Soccer.

Zohn, who also happens to be among the early winners in the CBS reality series “Survivor”, used part of his $1 million prize to help support Grassroots Soccer. He said that more than 50 percent of his former teammates on the Highlanders have died from AIDS.

“Lucky just fit right in,” Zohn said. “His cousin played for the national team (12 appearances), at Dartmouth, in USL and then went back home to run the Grassroots Soccer program. He got Lucky to participate and what’s important is that he’s a graduate of our program and an exceptional soccer player.”

In college at Dartmouth, Mkosana was the 2011 Ivy League Player of the Year and ended his college career as the school’s career leading goal scorer. He also brought along his fervor for Grassroots Soccer, helping to organize and participate (when possible) in 3v3 tournaments and games of soccer tennis to help raise money for the organization.

“Lucky is really a guy who has come full circle,” Zohn said. “Here’s an at-risk African youth who went through our program about how to live a healthy lifestyle. He was lucky enough to go to America to play ball and has given back to charity. It’s closing the loop. We love those stories.”

Mkosana is now in the mix up front on coach Giovanni Savarese’s team. Mkosana signed with the Cosmos last November after playing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies for two seasons. How much playing time he garners will be sorted out as the NASL’s Spring Season progresses. Mkosana and the Cosmos open the 2015 season at the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday.

“It’s tough right now,” he said. “As the season goes on, it’s going to be easier to integrate into the team.”

And perhaps another circle will be complete.