Not Afraid: Coach Benson’s Story

Grassroot Soccer Coach Benson Mumba delivered the below speech at the 2025 Grassroot Soccer Annual Gala in London on December 3, 2025. You can watch video of the speech here.

My name is Benson Mumba, I am a Grassroot Soccer SKILLZ Coach and a young person living with HIV.

I have travelled here all the way from Zambia to share my story with you. It is my story. I have lived it, it made me who I am today, and I am not afraid to tell it.

I was born in a small town in Zambia. I was born with HIV but I didn’t know it then. At the age of four I lost my mother, and a year later I lost my father. It was at this point that my sister and I moved to Lusaka, the capital city, to live with my uncle.

Life was so hard for me then because I was searching for motherly and fatherly love, but I couldn’t find it. Instead I was grieving the loss of my parents while enduring physical abuse.

The pain became heavier after I lost my elder sister when I was just 14. And, after discovering that I was HIV-positive, I struggled to accept my HIV status and stay on my medication.

It was at this moment – when I was facing grief, abuse, and the realities of living with HIV – that I found Grassroot Soccer and it really changed my life.

At my local clinic, I heard that there was an organization called Grassroot Soccer that was running a program for young people living with HIV. I loved soccer, so I joined.

There, I met my Grassroot Soccer Coaches and other young people living with HIV. For the first time, I felt safe and welcome.

During the sessions, we talked about adherence, challenges of living with HIV, and how it affected our mental health. I was comfortable opening up because my Coach created a safe space and showed me that it was possible for me to live a healthy, positive life.

Seeing how caring and dedicated the Coaches were, I was inspired to become a Coach. Fortunately in 2021 I was given an opportunity to become a SKILLZ Coach myself – and today I am proud to be a mentor and a role model for other young people just like my Coaches were for me.

Young people living with HIV continue to face many challenges like stress, depression, stigma, and discrimination. Some struggle with suicidal ideation.

By creating supportive and safe spaces, we encourage young people to openly share challenges and utilize services, and this is why our work matters. Of course we play soccer, but it is more than just a game.

In my community, Grassroot Soccer is regarded as a life line support for young people and I am considered a game changer.

I am grateful to Grassroot Soccer and my Coaches for helping me realize my potential and for giving me a chance to build connections with participants beyond the field.

Today, I am honored to be a Grassroot Soccer Master Coach, Monitoring and Evaluation intern, and a Youth Advisory Committee member, where I help shape Grassroot Soccer’s strategy and curriculum.

When I look back at my journey, from my hardest moments growing up to standing on this stage here in London tonight, I am convinced that the work we do as Grassroot Soccer Coaches is truly changing and saving lives.

This is my story. I have lived it and I am not afraid to tell it.