Life’s unpredictability can from time to time be its biggest gift.
In 2020 Chandler Hovik’s life changed, for the far better, in a way no one particular, himself integrated, could have ever imagined.
Very little did the Central Superior School head varsity coach know what begun as a rather regimen stroll outside in the course of university several hours, would transform into a life-altering introduction to a young guy, named Ismail “Izzy” Foz.
“Izzy was in 1 of my co-personnel PE lessons,” Hovik recalled to the “Zone Go through.” “He was on the industry kicking a soccer ball and I have hardly ever found a kid kick a ball so hard. I known as him above, released myself, and asked him if he ever played soccer, and if he required to consider to occur kick for us.”
By way of his then damaged English, Foz agreed to give it a test.
“The following week he came to an off-period apply and we knew he was heading to be unique,” Hovik recalled. “His angle and strength is some thing that all people feeds off of.”
Izzy’s positivity has always been a beacon of hope for a teenager with the odds stacked towards him. A tale much additional complicated than simply just a prep athlete striving to hone his capabilities at a new activity.
He is a 16-year-aged refugee from Burundi, Africa. His dad continue to resides in Africa, his mom in London. He was lifted by his grandmother and came to the United States searching for a better everyday living, and future, for himself, and his five siblings (a single older sister, one more youthful sister, 3 youthful brothers).
“In Africa, it was so terrible,” Foz claimed to the “Zone Browse.” “Life was so difficult. My grandma was accomplishing her very best to make me delighted and be happy. She taught me respect and not to lie…be respectful. My grandmother is my anything. Now, my daily life is greater. I’m smiling and satisfied. I want to make her happy.”
Foz, a 4. university student-athlete, speaks 6 languages: English, Spanish, French, Swahili, Kirundi, and Kinyawanda.
Exclusive on the industry and off, the 5-foot-11, 165-pounder, who sports a white patch that goes by the entrance of his hairline, led the Bobcats in goals, playing varsity soccer as a sophomore soon following arriving on campus.
If adapting to a new country, faculty, way of living, good friends, and just overall culture modify was not impressive sufficient, Foz, now a junior, picked up soccer as immediately as he’s picked up admirers in, and about, the CHS local community.
“He went from not even figuring out what soccer was to getting our commencing varsity cornerback and very first-staff, all-district kicker as a sophomore,” Hovik reported.
Foz transformed 21 of 28 PAT’s and created one of two field targets for the 5-4 Bobcats last fall. He also registered 13 tackles and two go deflections on protection.
“All my coaches built me perform difficult,” he explained reflecting back again to his initial season in the sport. “I attempted my very best to be superior. I was not fantastic at catching the ball but I tried using my ideal mainly because, on protection, you have to catch the ball if you want a decide (interception). My position is to perform defensive again and kicker. The head mentor, Coach Hovik, will make me work so tough for the reason that I are living with him.”
Wait…what?
Yep.
Hovik, and his spouse Crishana, eventually decided their steady dwelling atmosphere would be the most valuable to Izzy.
“His team residence was not the greatest circumstance,” Hovik defined. “My spouse and I are really his lawful guardians now. Izzy is a enormous blessing in our life. He’s encouraged us to be far better folks, happier men and women. He tends to make us chortle more than we have ever laughed. We have grown closer by spending far more time as a spouse and children, and he generally would like to shell out time with us. He’s so grateful for everything he has and that signifies the absolute world to us. We do not know what we would do without him in our life.”
Izzy, who now also operates keep track of at Central, has taken a liking to American lifestyle. When he’s not eating traditional teenage boy fare – like hen wings, and pizza – he’s actively playing FIFA Soccer on Xbox with Hovik, ramping up his shoe sport, or very likely exhibiting off his dance abilities with Crishana on Tik Tok.
In the United States he has uncovered, and absolutely professional, the fantastic mix of humility, contentment, and, most importantly, a household – thanks to the Hovik’s selflessness.
“I really do not know how to thank them,” Foz reflected, putting his hand more than his coronary heart. “God blessed them for almost everything they did for me. They took a probability and it altered my lifetime. My mom, my dad, my grandma…everybody is so proud that they served me out.”
