Kean University senior communications major and men’s soccer player Cyril Yemofio faces a conundrum when asked where he’s from. Ordinarily this is a rudimentary question, but Yemofio’s life has been anything but ordinary in his 23 years of existence. When he has citizenship in two countries and has lived in four, what does he say?
One option would be to claim the place in which he was born. For Yemofio, that place is Accra, the capital of Ghana. Accra is a tropical city on the shore of Africa’s Atlantic coast. Spending the first 12 years of his life in a third world country is what makes him appreciate everything he has now. He loved Ghana, but hated seeing poverty and the huge gulf in class equality. What he experienced in Accra has stuck with him and has impacted his life and what he is all about. He does not know exactly what he wants to do after graduation yet, but he knows it is going to be something in global humanitarianism. Through what he learned in Ghana, he has an idea of what his ultimate goal is. “I just want to help people, man,” Yemofio said with undeniable sincerity in his voice. “Especially those who don’t have the opportunity to do what I’ve done because of what family they’re born into.”
With a few months to spare while on summer vacation, Yemofio went to stay with his brother, Adiel, in London. He did not have much to do while he was there, so he decided to enroll in school in London to experience an English education. There he found his first truly diversified school, with kids from all over the world. Unfortunately, the school was violent, with fights breaking out every day. Yemofio decided that was not for him, and returned to Ghana for three more years to finish high school.
Back in Ghana, and entering his teenage years, Yemofio’s love for soccer was booming. Soccer is not just a silly game, it was part of his life. In addition to what he had already witnessed in Ghana, what he would learn through soccer would impact his ultimate goal in life.
“Through my life of changes, soccer has been one constant thing I’ve always had,” said Yemofio sounding as if he was talking about a person. “It’s kept me away from bad company. All of my friends have come through soccer, that’s how big of an impact the game has had on my life. All I’d do every day after school was go home, get my cleats and go play. I have a passion for the game.”
Something Yemofio would hear in movies is “home is where the heart is.” If that’s the case, then his heart certainly resides in Geneva, Switzerland. “The first time I saw Geneva, I loved it,” Yemofio said. “It was like heaven on earth. Seeing the Alps, oh it’s magical. When I sat in class while it was clear and sunny, I can see them, it’s amazing. How often do you see that?” The only downer about Switzerland was that he would have to learn French and redo high school. He happily did just that and now French is one of three languages Yemofio can speak fluently. After gaining his second high school diploma, Yemofio decided to join his Uncle in America and begin another chapter in his life.
After spending two years taking classes and playing soccer at Raritan Valley Community College, Yemofio enrolled at Kean University. Being able to continue playing soccer at the collegiate level impacted his decision as he went on to play for the Cougars for two successful years.
“Unfortunately I’m done playing soccer competitively at a high level. I’ll always play for fun though because I love the game,” said Yemofio. “It’s just about being on the field with the ball. Every time I play, I play with a smile. It just makes me happy.”
Yemofio does not need material goods. He is not going to college with the idea of becoming embarrassingly rich one day. Instead, he would rather trade stories than trade stocks. He wants to see the world, experience new things, and meet new people.
Through soccer at Kean University, he was afforded the trip of a lifetime. Yemofio and the men’s soccer team were sent to China last summer. When traveling, most players had huge bags packed so tightly the zippers were one more unnecessary t-shirt away from exploding. When Yemofio arrived to the Kean Hall parking lot for departure, he was sporting one suitcase small enough to fit in the overhead compartment and one backpack not nearly filled to the brim.
“I’m definitely going back to China one day,” said Yemofio. “From Beijing to rural towns to Shenghai we got it all, the best of both worlds. For me, life is all about experiences, it makes you grow as a person. Just seeing the things I’ve seen improves my thinking, how I see life.”
There’s not much that can displace the customary smile off Yemofio’s face. Always happy, it is not uncommon for him to take a deep breath and confess to those around him that he is simply happy to get out of bed this morning and go to class. He has a different way of seeing life, and he wants to make others happy as well. So, taking in what he learned in Ghana, England, Switzerland, the United States, China, and through soccer, , Yemofio wants to start his own foundation to help give kids the opportunity to do some of the things he was lucky enough to do.
“Hopefully one day I’ll be able to work with the U.N. like my Auntie does, but my ultimate goal is to start my own foundation,” said Yemofio. “Through education and soccer we can change the world. I want to build a school where you can make kids who love soccer but don’t love school, give them the chance to play but make them get an education. It only takes one change to one kid’s education to change the world. It’s my philosophy on life.”
When his dream comes true one day, he will have to tell his pupils where he came from. Well, when Yemofio is announced for the starting lineup at soccer games, the announcer reads “and from Geneva, Switzerland, number three, Cyril Yemofio.” Maybe for today he is Swiss, but who knows about tomorrow. It does not matter where he says he is from, his smile and laughter is universal.
