I have been told many times, “You should totally coach!” And the same resounding response used to be, “Nah, I don’t really want to do all of that, I just want to ‘train’ players (so to speak).” When I was younger, I thought that a coach was someone who helps one improve in a certain skill, but little did I know…A coach is not one who just stands on the sideline directing a team, but someone that has the ability to leave a lasting impact that goes beyond a sport. I have been fortunate to have great coaches that not only wanted to improve my game but helped instill good principles to help me succeed in life. As I plan my training curriculum, my goal is not only to help develop a player’s skill; I want to build one’s confidence, character, and growth to help them reach their full potential in life. With that being said, I want to give a big thanks to one coach that is an example of what it means to be a coach. He goes by the name of….drum roll….Bruno Kalonji!
Bruno is passionate, driven, selfless, exceptional…just amazing! I could speak on and on about the impact he had on my soccer career, but more importantly, he helped me gain a better perspective on something much bigger than soccer: qualities such as dedication, family, trust, love, and what it means to make sacrifices. I just have to mention the days he would wake up extremely early to help me get stronger in the gym. I won’t go into much detail but that is just a glimpse of the sacrifices he makes for his players. The discipline to wake up early became a habit that has helped me find success in various aspects of my life. I’m certainly not Oprah Winfrey, but I hit the jackpot having him as a coach! He was a coach that was able to shed the dimmest amount of light in some of the darkest areas of my life, and for that, I say thank you! I got the opportunity to interview him this weekend, and this is what he had to say…
Question & Answer w/ Bruno Kalonji
Q: How many years have you been coaching?
A: 17
Q: What brought you into coaching?
A: I’ve always wanted to help someone get better. The point that changed in my career was when I tore my ACL. While I recovered from my injury, I went into coaching. As a coach, I started to see others kids that came in as refugees….who came like myself, so I wanted to help them.
Q: What do you enjoy the most about coaching?
A: Best part of coaching is not coaching but seeing the results later down the road. The outcome of what these players become. The principles such as discipline, structure, etc. that get instilled in them. I thought coaching was about soccer, but I realized it’s not just that. It’s the story that comes along, not just the soccer aspect, but life.
Q: Fast forward from the years you were a coach at Georgia Perimeter College, you now have your own academy! What inspired you to start it up?
A: When my wife passed away in 2012, I was even more driven. At the moment, I realized that God had a plan for me….to devote myself to the development of our children and service to my community. I felt the need to serve underprivileged kids. I wanted to build a club that gives kids the freedom to dream and become someone in life.
Q: In just 4 years, you have had a ton of success with your academy…let us in on the secret to your club’s success!
A: The secret is a family environment. It’s compassion, giving back and love for another. When you have those qualities you’re bound to be successful. Once players understand some of those qualities, that builds respect. It helps them not only be great soccer players but great people.
Q: How do you find that fine lining of pushing a player out of their comfort zone, while being constructive at the same time?
A: You have to break a child to lift them up, but both have to work in balance. When a kid is up all the time they don’t know how to operate when they’re down and vice-versa. Even when you were at your peak, I still found a way to make you work harder. Life is all about balance.
Q: Now I can’t leave this interview without mentioning the times we did early (like 5AM early!!) morning gym workouts at GPC! I mean you could be getting in your last sweet dreams, but you made that sacrifice. I’m still amazed. Why?
A: (As he laughs), Taiwo, I would always tell you, if you want to be successful you need to wake up early. I would tell you to juggle at the gym until I get there. You did just that. I saw you had the determination and wanted to instill some kind of discipline to help you reach your dream. My goal was for your dreams to come true. When you are successful, essentially my dream was accomplished as well.
Q: Give me your best advice for soccer players out there trying to develop in a specific skill.
A: It’s always commitment and discipline, you have to do something over and over. It’s the repetition and spending a lot of time on the ball. One thing I believe is that creativity comes from God, but a skill you can build from repetition and hours spent practicing.
Tell me how has a coach impacted you?
Alaba adeshigbin
10 Sep 2018very insightful, hope these write ups will help the kids growing up who want to be athletes. Keep up with your encouraging and thoughtful words, remain strong in the lord and He will guide your steps in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen