Nicholas Moskaluk is a 27 years old soccer enthusiast from Calgary, Canada. In this interview he talks about his charity The Ball is Round and his passion for travel and soccer.
Voicu Mihnea Simandan: You have been involved with soccer for many years. How did it all start?
Nicholas Moskaluk: I have been involved in soccer since I was six years old. It started like many Canadian kids, running around playing swarm soccer and slowly worked my way in the soccer world in Alberta. Like anyone who has ever played the game, I always wanted to be better and any chance I had to play I took it. Whether if it was with friends on the block, teammates in practice, or through school, it was all I could ever think about growing up. I didn’t realize it until I wasn’t playing on a team anymore how much I missed not only the game but also the camaraderie you build with the people you train and play with for hours on end day after day, in preparation for a game.
I always felt as though sport had given me so much, I learned how to be a team player, push myself to be the best, and it allowed me to travel the world and meet so many different people. I was very fortunate to reach one of the goals I set out orf myself at an early age which was to play college/university soccer and earn a scholarship doing something I love while getting an outstanding post secondary education. I played three years at Red Deer College and hold those years very close to my heart.
VMS: What inspired you to go on?
NM: I had a coach once tell me: “You’ve never played your perfect game, but today you get another chance to get there.” I believe that quote speaks to the never ending pursuit to be the best and to chase something that might be just within your grasp but one miss step, one stumble or if you squeeze too tight it will slip out of your hand, and you are right back to where you started. To any soccer player the ball is like an old friend who you know well and always will, even if you take time away from the game. You will always have that comfort of knowing you have the ability to hold that ball close to your feet and make it do what you want.
Marrakesh, Morocco
VMS: Where did you get the idea to start The Ball is Round charity?
NM: My girlfriend, who is also the co-founder of the charity, and I are avid travelers. We have made seeing as much of the world as we can a priority in our lives. While traveling through Marrakesh, Morocco, we came across two brothers one night in the medina and they were playing with a soccer ball made out of plastic bags, tape and string. It was something that struck a cord with me. As a Physical Education teacher and soccer player it bothered me that these two boys didn’t have a proper ball to play with. After watching these two boys play, while we ate dinner in the square, we walked around searching the suks (shops) for a ball to buy. Once we returned with a ball in hand for the brothers, I explained that I wanted to see them playing with a real ball so they could chase their dream. There was a connection that was made instantly. Even though I was twenty years older than them and lived half way around the world from them, there was an unspoken understanding of what the ball means to a soccer player. Sport seems to simplify things to the point where language isn’t even important and soccer players of any age, gender, and culture know how to speak to each other.
VMS: Do you intend to bring the ball to other children too?
NM: After that trip we continued to bring soccer balls with us where ever we traveled to and after returning from a trip to Thailand and Myanmar we decided that this is something we want to make bigger than just the two of us giving soccer balls out when we traveled. We hope to start a movement of giving through sport with whoever wants to. To see the look on a child’s face that has never had their own ball is something I hope more people can feel, there is something very special about it. It may not seem like you are changing the world but you helping be a little better for someone and that is good place to start.
I truly believe that there is too much world to see to not to make time to see as much as possible. As we continue our journeys throughout the world we will continue to bring soccer balls with us, spreading the word of the beautiful game where ever we can. I encourage anyone to do the same and share your story with us.
VMS: Why is soccer a good sport for children?
As a teacher, I truly believe that sport of any kind is crucial to the development of all children regardless of skill and ability. Children do not have to be outstanding athletes to benefit form sport. Soccer is only one of many sports that allow children to gain and strengthen, social, cognitive, and emotional skills, which aid in the development of strengthening reading, writing and mathematical abilities.
Soccer also allows children to have a break from the stresses of life. When you play soccer the only thing that matters is your next touch on the ball. The demands of children are growing at an alarming rate, whether it is in the classroom or at home and it is vital that they have the chance to have a healthy release from that. Fostering healthy lifestyles is another area for concern and children are becoming less and less active and soccer is a sport that allows for children to gather as a larger group and reconnect in a positive way.
VMS: What are your immediate plans for The Ball is Round?
NM: As of right now we are highly focused on developing a strong web-based presence where donors can come to donate and/or buy merchandise in order to support our cause. We have made custom soccer balls in which supporters can purchase and the proceeds go to the purchase of soccer balls for children who do not have their own. We are also eager for teams to get involved by ordering team sets of shirts with the intention of wearing them before games in warm up, in practice, and in tournaments for others to see and help build support for the cause. We are also very eager for travelers to take soccer balls from us to places they know there is a need for balls, such as schools, orphanages, or youth groups that need soccer balls. We hope individuals will get in contact with us so we can arrange to have balls distributed in places that we know soccer balls are needed.
VMS: How about in the long term? What are your objectives and what you plan to achieve?
NM: One of our first goals is to raise enough funds to deliver 1000 soccer balls worldwide. This can only be made possible if we gain attention for our cause and gather support from individuals who understand the importance of what a real soccer ball means to a child who has never had their own. In the upcoming years, we would like to hold soccer tournaments for schools and soccer clubs and gather and engage a strong youth movement.
Children are the next generations of leaders, and they are more capable than we as adults give them credit. Children helping children is a powerful message that builds character and teaches respect for others. I want my students and all children to know they can make a difference if they have the desire. Building and developing partnerships around the world is important and I hope in the long term we can do so in a wide variety of countries, helping boys and girls alike.
VMS: Who else is part of this charity? Do you accept new members? Are you looking into opening more “branches”?
NM: As of right now, the charity is being operated by myself and my girlfriend, Colleen Drybrough, who helped co-found the society. We will be expanding and growing as needed and we’re doing our best to meet demand. We are always looking for individuals who are willing to join our team and help get soccer distributed to those in need! We encourage every reader to sign up for our newsletter and spread the word about who we are.
VMS: How can people help?
I would encourage people to visit our website; there they can find all the information needed to educated themselves about our cause and how they can help. Readers can show their support by donating money, buying shirts, patches, stickers and soccer balls; they can also bring a soccer ball on behalf of the “The Ball is Round Society” to somewhere they are traveling to. The last way a person can help our charity is by providing information about a school, youth group, soccer club that is in need of new soccer balls. You can also follow us on Twitter at @TBR_Society and “Like” us on Facebook at and stay up to date on what we are doing.
