Norwich Christians form friendship by football
 2011: As the result of a recent Network Norfolk article which encouraged the befriending of Congolese refugees, teenage Christian Sam Plummer, asked if he could befriend an African lad of similar age. By Carrie Sant.
Lavie, who is 14 years old, came to this country with his younger brother, from the war torn Republic of Congo last September after a long wait in a Ugandan refugee camp and having lost both parents.
He is a keen Christian. He is cared for at the home of his elderly grandparents and attends the Hewett school. His ambition is to be selected for the Norwich City Football Academy.
He has been enthusiastically coached by his young uncles and plays for two youth teams.
After discussion about how these boys could meet it was decided to see if there was any possibility of tickets for them to meet by going to a football match together.
Amazingly they were offered tickets for the Milwall v Norwich Championship match earlier this month. The boys were ecstatic!
They were accompanied by keen Norwich supporter Andy, a friend of Sam's family and Lavie’s Uncle Daniel, 21 years old, a very talented Christian footballer who had never yet had the opportunity to attended a Championship match. Daniel plays for Wroxham and has recently trialled for a professional team.
The boys' families first met and then the boys had tea together. After this they enjoyed watching Norwich secure a wonderful 2-1 victory at Carrow Road.
When Sam’s mum arrived to pick him up at Daniel and Lavie’s house after the match, Daniel was busy teaching Sam to make African food.
It is hoped that there will be an ongoing supportive relationship between these two families.
Pictured left to right: Daniel, Sam and Lavie
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