Players, coaches, managers, and other friends of the Brigham Young University women’s soccer team visited New Zealand in May 2025—not as competitors, but as ambassadors of goodwill.
Twenty-seven athletes ranging from 18 to 26 years of age arrived in Auckland on 28 April 2025 with an entourage of an additional 27 coaches, managers, guides, and spouses.
DOWNLOADNormally, when these athletes travel it is for competitive purposes, but this trip was different. This tour was to experience the cultures of the South Pacific, including the Māori culture; to run soccer clinics for children and youth; to serve and inspire young people; and to build friendships.
They started their week at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre working with the refugee youth on dribbling, passing, and other ball-handling skills while building confidence through activities.
Remy Bucumi, a resettlement case officer, told the athletes “you will be working with approximately 40 youth 10 years and up. They are anticipating your arrival and will enjoy this time together.”
Through these activities, the athletes and young people quickly bonded.
As the athletes prepared to leave, the refugee youth sang the traditional New Zealand song, Tutira mai nga iwi. With tears in their eyes, the athletes tenderly sang “God Be with You Til We Meet Again.”
The BYU team also met with Melissa Sweeney, US Consul General. Ms. Sweeney generously welcomed them to her home and provided an afternoon of encouragement and relationship-building advice. She also answered questions about the importance of building intercultural bridges through relationships.
During the first week of their tour, the players met with people in Auckland and Whangarei, enjoying the beauty of the country. Many days ended with youth and young adult devotionals, a favorite activity for everyone. Athletes shared their experiences, challenges, and testimonies with New Zealanders, many of whom were of similar ages.
The team captain, Ellie Walbruch, counseled the youth at one devotional to keep Jesus Christ at the centre of their lives when she referenced Matthew 6:33. “The Saviour teaches, ‘But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you’. This verse is a powerful, powerful message and a reminder that balance begins with priorities. When I've put Christ first, everything else falls into place.”
The BYU soccer team will continue their goodwill tour with visits to Hamilton and Wellington in the coming week.