Alumni are a rich aspect to The King's University, and provide history as to where we have been, and what we can become. Student athletes of our program eventually move on to become their own people, living lives beyond our walls. Too often we lose sight of these lives, and we want to shine a light on our alumni soccer players, as they are proving to live amazing, transformative lives! This edition, we caught up with soccer Alumnus Ignacio Morales (2008-2010):
Ignacio! How have things been since your time at King's?
"Let’s see... after taking my last exam at Kings in December 2014 I missed my Graduation ceremony because I took the longest road trip of my life. I drove in a beaten down Chevrolet Cavalier to Victoria, BC, to visit my god son. Then with my girlfriend at the time. I drove down the gold cost of California and through Mexico all the way to Cancun. We flew to Bahía Brazil where I worked for a school named 'Discovery Idiomas' teaching English and yoga!"
During that time, Ignacio and his girlfriend were blessed with his first son Tupac Morales. Unfortunately, his relationship with his girlfriend did not last.
"He is 5 years old, he now lives in Argentina with his mother, I talk to him three time a week via WhatsApp and visit him twice a year."
That's definite a big life change for you, what sort of direction did you take after?
"2016 I moved to Costa Rica for a year where I taught English in two different communities, Malpais and Manzanillo. Here I had the best single life of my life, until I met the love of my life Valentina. We met in the ocean surfing, it was love at first sight. Under the Costa Rican stars we pledged our love to one another. We got married by lighting a fire on the beach and walking around it eight times, clock wise each time saying 'I marry you!'".
"With Valentina we are living our best life!!! We have surfed the great beaches of Peru and Chicama, visited Machupichu. Surfed in Cabo’s San Lucas Mexico, and each summer we surf the beaches of Brazil and Uruguay. We live in Montevideo Uruguay where I have worked for a couple of English schools such as Berlitz, Alianza and Inc. Currently I work part time as an English teacher and I work full time as a customs broker assistant!"
Ignacio and Valentina were blessed with a lovely daughter, they named her Sol Morales after Ignacio's sister whos name was Marisol. "Last month we celebrated my daughter's first birthday and we got approved for bank loan to purchase a piece of land and started building a home here in Uruguay. I started training Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and won second place in my second competition. My last Brazilian Jiu-jitsu tournament, I won gold!
How have things been since COVID became a reality in Uruguay?
"At first the government only issued health recommendations but by April 2020 Uruguay had ordered all its senior citizens to stay at home, malls and schools were shut down but everything else remained open. Also, boarders were closed as a precaution due to Argentinians and Brazilians using Uruguay as a skipping stone to go back to their homes.
We are just Over 3 million people here, kind of like Edmonton so we don’t have as much risk as other bigger cities for spreading the virus.
Luckily customs broker paper work can be done from home so out of precaution we have been exercising social distancing. Sadly I have not been able to visit my son in over a year, as borders have remained closed. Despite all the pandemic complications/adjustments in September my wife and I welcomed to this world our second daughter Olivia Morales!
Is there anything else coming up in your life that you are excited for?
"In February we move into our new home. In March my daughter Sol will start school for toddlers. I continue my Brazilian jiu-jitsu journey but now as a blue belt. I recently bought a pen tattoo machine and I am learning how to tattoo. We are super excited!"
What do you remember most fondly about the soccer program at King's?
The EAGLE BOMB!! (referring to a pregame cheer done by the men's team), the friendships and memories I made. I still keep in touch with some brothers and sisters on both teams. While with the program, I faced lessons of hard work, dedication to faith, giving it your all and perserverance. I absolutely recommend the King's Soccer Program. I believe athletes that are carrying, savvy, smart, are strong minded and accepting of others make for a great fit in our soccer squad.
If you are an alumni of the Men's Soccer program and want to touch base with us on what God is doing in your life, please contact todd.vandriel@kingsu.ca to begin the conversation, we would love to hear from you!
