Foster’s boys soccer coach Nasir Tura has the world playing for him.
About 65 players turned out for spring practice, representing about 25 nationalities across the world but probably no one born in America.
They speak 11 languages and represent 11 cultures. Some have just arrived in America, knowing little or no English.
“That’s going to be a challenge for both of us,” Tura says, including Foster’s new assistant soccer coach, Aaron Howe.
The answer is to put them all on the field and have them learn one language, he said.
“That’s the language of soccer,” he said.
He’ll work on chemistry, molding players from Burma, Nepal, East and West Africa and Europe and beyond into one team.
Tura has an advantage.
“I was that kid,” he said. Tura learned to play soccer on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya. He graduated in 2006 from Foster, where was captain of the boys soccer team as a junior and senior.
Practice started in early March and since then he’s assessed the skills of the 65 players who turned out. He had to cut the roster to 36 players. Besides whether a player is skilled, Tura must look at their academic record, too.
The soccer season begins March 25 with a match against Seamount League rival Lindbergh High School at 7:30 p.m. at Foster’s stadium.