Many student-athletes at Champe compete in tournaments or club matches during their sport’s off-season. Being selected by a coach to compete is a big honor for these players.
The next John Champe soccer season starts in the Spring of 2025. Senior Mikhail Ibrahim has been playing pick-up games with his church team to try out for a tournament they compete in annually. He was selected to play by the head Head Coach, Kouly Tawfik. The team consists of 22 players and the trip will last 4 days, from November 22-25.
“I’m excited. I’m looking forward to the tournament,” Ibrahim said. “Every time I train, I’m thinking about the matches. It was an honor for me to be selected.”
The team booked a nine-room Airbnb during their stay. It has a personal pool in the backyard for the players to enjoy pass-time and recovery before and after matches. Downstairs, there is a full-size arcade for the team to have bonding time and some fun during the day.
“I’m excited to stay with all my friends at the house,” Ibrahim said. “After the games, we can all chill at the pool, the arcade. I’m excited”
The church consists of nearly 1,000 people; roughly 50 people tried out for the team. They held weekly practices for Coach Kouly to scout the best talent for the squad. 20 field players and two goalkeepers ended up making the cut. Picking the right players wasn’t an easy decision for Coach Kouly Tawfik.
“[I don’t just select] the best players,” Tawfik said. “It’s also about who is spiritually involved in the church. Also, the people who are showing up to the practices influence [my decisions] heavily.”
The team is still preparing for the November tournament and is keeping the weekly practices. They do rondos, possession and small-sided scrimmages. It’s a good way for Coach Kouly to evaluate the players as individuals and for the team to build some on-field chemistry.
“I started off doing pretty bad in practice,” Ibrahim said. “I made a joke saying I’m not fit to play, but the coach reassured me that I’m a great player for the team. It gave me confidence and I did well for the rest of practice.”
Many of the players on the team are college soccer players. A couple of them are even Division 1. Ibrahim had to give it his all each practice to stand out to the coaches. Coach Kouly is confident in his decision to roster Ibrahim.
“I think Mikhail is a very talented player,” Tawfik said. “I like how he participates in church and I think he’s going to do very well in the tournament. He has qualities that will help the team out.”
The team and coaches are all ready for the tournament. The fees have been paid, the flights have been purchased, and the Airbnb has been accommodated. Now all that is left is to sharpen their skills and give it their all in Florida.
“The team looks good and we are getting better every day,” Ibrahim said. “Every practice, we want to act as if we are playing in a real game by motivating each other and being competitive.”
