Trinity soccer team scores big on enthusiasm, stamina

Showing strength and a high degree of congregational support, Trinity Lutheran Church Frankfurt fielded a soccer team this year for the first time in the annual Mini-World Championships conducted by the Internationale Konvent Christlicher Gemeinde Rhein-Main (IKC), of which Trinity is a member. The organization, supported by the state protestant church in Hesse (EKHN), is made up of expat congregations from around the world.
One of Trinity’s tallest team members from South Africa, who was also playing with his son, was on hand to draw lots to see against which teams Trinity would play. Following the draw and photos of all players together out in the field, teams were reminded of the rules of fair play which was followed by an opening prayer.

Trinity’s 14 players made up of boys, youth, adults, and a single young woman (a recent confirmant), fought valiantly in the blistering hot sun at the end of June on the playing field in nearby Mühlheim-Dietesheim against soccer players from Atteberry-Multi-Cultural Christian Church, the Korean Evangelical Church Rhein-Main, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Frankfurt. This lineup exposed the Trinity team to some very tough competitors who often towered in height over their Trinity counterparts but that didn’t stop our players who gave their all. Other teams in the competition represented expat congregations from Indonesia, Korea, Eritrea, and Hungary. Trinity’s boys, youth, one female, and adult players proved to be extremely nimble and deft with the ball.
Decked out in T-shirts with an eye-catching design by the church’s director of Live Streaming, the home church team scored 9 goals in the total of three games which was unfortunately not enough to put it in the final playoffs. Fans and team players received consolation with ice cream provided by the wife of one of the players and a big fan supporter. Trinity, unfortunately, racked up one player injury who needed to be taken off for medical care by members of the Red Cross who were in attendance. All our prayers went with him for a speedy recovery.

Although not the winner, Trinity players and fans showed great enthusiasm and players were seen following the games making plans how to improve their competitiveness for the competition in 2026.