FOOTBALL4GOOD MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

“Football has the uncanny ability to unite people like no other sport can,” Vinsky declares as he reminisces on his first memory of football, the French World Cup victory of 1998. “I was 7 when we won the World Cup, it was a really surreal experience, people on the streets dancing together, and celebrating probably for the first time since the end of the war.” Vinsky experienced the uniting power of football for him- self from an early age and his slogan ‘Peace and Game’ is reflected in everything he does. He talks eloquently about the responsibility of footballers to promote social change through the game and hopes this decade brings greater social responsibility in the professional game. “Professional players have their own priorities, and we have to respect that, but when you have a platform like they have, it seems like a missed opportunity not to use it for good.” Of course, Vinsky recognises that giving back to social causes is not strictly the responsibility of professional footballers. “We are quick to look at the high earners in society in cases like this but giving back starts on a grass- roots level.” Vinsky initially made his online breakthrough through YouTube videos dedicated to the video game FIFA. This success led to producing videos with football superstars like Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, and Cristiano Ronaldo (the latter achieving close to 9 million views on the platform). Though he might not have the income of interviewees like Ronaldo, it hasn’t stopped him from taking the pledge himself. The 29-year-old recently visited Jambo Bukoba in Tanzania, an organisation he teamed up with through his pledge to Common Goal, as it combines football and education to raise living standards for vulnerable children in the region. It stresses the importance of equality between boys and girls, through quality education, health work- shops, and sports coaching. This was not the first time Vinsky had visited Africa but probably one of the most moving experiences of his life or, as he said in a subsequent social me- dia post, “the most beautiful trip of my life”. ”One of the main reasons I chose Jambo Bukoba to work with was their insistence on equality through foot- ball. I worked with an equal number of girls and boys. That is also the vision I have for Vinsky F.C. in the future so, for me, the partnership was ideal.” Growing up on the outskirts of Paris in the mid-nine- ties, Vinsky experienced the wave of diversity enveloping France at the time, and social inclusion is key to every project he undertakes. “The ethos of Common Goal and Jambo Bukoba really resonated with me from the beginning. It doesn’t discriminate against anyone and gives a real platform, especially needed for girls, to showcase their abilities in and out of the classroom.” United by a shared message of inclusivity through football, Vinsky presented Jambo Bukoba with his club’s shirts to the delight of the local kids, the two teams brought together by a shared understanding of grassroots football. “I want to set up a long-lasting connection with the organ- isation. I feel that their value system aligns with mine and they embraced me as one of their own, playing football with the kids, and even eating dinner with some of their families. I could really be myself around the people I’ve met, I felt so comfortable around them. The trip really opened my eyes and I hope to return there very soon, especially for another Jambo Bukoba Bonanza.” A ‘Bonanza’, Vinsky explains, is a sports tournament at which various school classes compete against one anoth- er. The winning school receives a prize which is used for renovation work or to buy school materials. Bonanzas are “PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS HAVE THEIR OWN PRIORITIES, AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A PLATFORM LIKE THEY HAVE, IT SEEMS LIKE A MISSED OPPORTUNITY NOT TO USE IT FOR GOOD.” 70 71 FOOTBALL4GOODMAGAZINE | MARCH2020 INFLUENCER FORGOOD