Soccer & Saviors

by Jeff Baxter

On Thursday in Orlando Florida, the legend soccer striker of all time from Haiti - with 47 international goals in 106 matches - died at the age of 56 as a result of pancreatic cancer.

On June 15, 1974, Emmanuel Sanon (Manno) was entered in the history of world soccer in ending the invincibility of the Italian goalkeeper, Dino Zoff, at the World Cup 1974 that the Hatian national soccer team lost on the score (3-1). Zoff had not been scored on in two years! A beautiful pass of more than 40 yards from the Captain Philippe Vorbe. At the announcement of the death, Philippe Vorbe said that the departure of his teammate was expected but not as soon.

"Manno Sanon was an exceptional player, reserved and simple. He was humble, he listened to the people before making decisions, and it was also a practical joker. Sanon was a player of sacrifice because he was still single point of the attack. The icon of Haitian Soccer had an exceptional mind and is the precursor of the current football which requires the attacker to move quickly. He played very fast, he had a vision. I can compare it with Messi and Henry. Manno was a player like the famous Brazilian soccer player Kaka."

Good for Manno! He brought something beautiful to a poverty stricken Haiti when I was still 3 years old! He was a savior to them. As huge as soccer is in the world, especially in a place like Haiti that has very little, it is still to small. I love soccer with more than 25 jerseys of teams from around the world. It is the world sport, but there is something, no someone who is a bigger, better savior than a soccer savior from Haiti.

His name is Jesus and he is my savior. He did not rescue a country from the soccer slums, but from a life of sin and death. He is worth giving your life for. He is worth following after.

Read these great verses declaring Jesus to be the one True savior!

Isaiah 43:11 - "I even, I am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior."

Hosea 13:4 - "But I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Eygpt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me."

Luke 1:47 - Mary, the mother of Jesus sung the song, "My soul glorifies the LORD and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."

1 Timothy 4:10 - "That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe [in Jesus]."

1 John 4:14 - "And we have seen and testify taht the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world."

Jude 25 - "...to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen."

Consider following the one who did not give his life for soccer, but for people.

I love this rough video showing off the great goal and great celebration of Haiti Soccer! Not only am I celebrating with them again, I am celebrating the one who created them to celebrate, the One True Savior and God!