GSM Guatemala Coaching Staff Academy Directors
We would like to share with many of our readers about two great young men who love the Lord and are serving Christ through teach youth about Soccer and Jesus. They are part of our success story for the growth that has taken place in Guatemala City.

Coach Osmar Jimenez

Osmar Jimenez has been coaching with GSM Guatemala since 2007. He is a bright young man with a huge heart to reach the kids of zone 18 with the message of Jesus’ love. He is one of 4 children growing up in this church going family. At the time he was born, the family lived in one room that they rented in someone else’s home. About a year later, they moved to a settlement camp where they stayed for 4 or 5 years. At that time they were forced off the property with nowhere to go. The family later was allowed to live in an area that the government designated for those living in such camps to move to. This area today is called Santa Faz. He and his family still live there today.
From a young age Osmar enjoyed going to church. He says he was always one of the kids who answered all the questions...he loved the prizes they gave out!

As a boy, Osmar loved playing soccer and remembers going to watch his dad’s games. Osmar accepted Jesus in heart at twelve years old, but didn’t feel much of a change. He continued in his rebellion and desire for the things of the world. As he was graduating from high school, he had a friend invite him to be a part of a soccer tournament at the church. It was at the tournament that his skills for the game were noticed by some of the GSM staff. He was asked if he would be interested in helping out at some of the soccer camps that were done during vacation. Osmar agreed. As he helped the kids, he began to sense a change in his heart - it was the love of God. He continued volunteering with GSM programs.

He made a promise to God that if he could get a job that still allowed him to do soccer with the kids, he would keep helping. Well, GSM offered him a job as a soccer coach soon after. God has brought Osmar into a more mature walk with Him through this work. He continues to grow in his abilities to share God’s word and be creative with the children. He is a wonderful member to have as part of the family here in GSM Guatemala.

Coach Danilo Noriega

Danilo Noriega has been a coach with Global Soccer Ministries since 2007. While he is a young man, he has shown tremendous maturity and ability as a coach and a mentor to the children in the zone 6 and 7 programs. Danilo’s mom started taking him to church when he was just 4 years old. He accepted Jesus into his heart during Sunday school when he was 8 years old.

The changes from child to teen and teen to young adult have allowed Danilo to depend on God to show clear direction. While the changes were difficult, both in church and on the soccer field, he continued to seek after God. People in the church began to notice his keen interest in the things of God and asked him to help as a leader among his own age group. He has served as a children’s church teacher and youth leader.

Today, he uses these gifts with children and love for Jesus to teach the Bible to boys and girls on the soccer field. While Danilo did not start out liking soccer as a boy, he now loves the sport and has had much success on the soccer field in his teens. We are very thankful to God for having Danilo be such an important part of the GSM family.

"About GSM Guatemala Soccer Academies and Who Our Coaching Staff Serve"

GSM Guatemala is establishing GSM soccer academies (11 at present) in and around the capital of Guatemala City. We are excited about their growth and the likelihood of additional academies in the near future. Our academies are directed by GSM trained staff where the aim is to provide an environment where youth can develop socially, physically, and spiritually.

Socially, GSM Guatemala is developing soccer teams at each of the academy sites. The positive characteristics of being part of a team are many. The coaches work on encouraging and building the self esteem of the players. The players are also motivated seeing the benefits of working together and making those around them better. Virtues and character traits, along with the many Christian leadership principles that are taught, all contribute toward acquiring the attributes needed for creating possible job opportunities for themselves in the future. We are training the future leaders of these communities believing that the input they receive will have a positive impact on not only their own families but on the communities as a whole.

Physically, the aim of each coach is to teach how a player might reach their highest potential in the game of soccer technically, tactically, and physical conditioning. Basic foundational technical skills are taught in all of our academies as well as advanced techniques that bring players to higher competitive levels. Tactically, we teach and encourage the players to think and to implement strategies in constantly changing situations, both on the attack and defensively.
Spiritually, at the ‘heart’ of our academies is the desire to build relationships that afford us the opportunity to share God’s Good News and witness the Holy Spirit’s work in changing the hearts of the player as they lean and grow through our planned Biblical curriculum that is delivered in the form of devotionals during the training sessions. We desire to teach and disciple Biblical truths and principles with the hope of looking beyond the ball to the hearts of the players. Knowing that the spiritual growth that can comes from being part of a GSM academy has advantages beyond the field and into their eternal lives.