The Team
Who’s who in The Ball 2014 team
Christian Wach
Christian travelled to more than 50 countries following his passion for street theatre, programme–making and storytelling. He has worked in Asia, Australasia, Polynesia and America. His travels included an audience with the Dalai Lama, experiencing the reunification of Germany, escaping unharmed from the Thai mafia and living with tribal people in the rainforests of Sumatra.
Phil Wake
Convinced of the unique power that football has to connect people throughout the world, Phil co–founded Spirit of Football. When he’s not restoring furniture, Phil can be found developing musicianship on drums, playing acoustic guitar and singing. Phil is also skilled in circus arts, including juggling, acrobatics and sleight–of–hand magic.
Andrew Aris
Andrew has football running through his veins. He played for New Zealand, the University of Notre Dame in the US and Rot–Weiss Erfurt in Germany. In 2002, he attended the the first FIFA World Cup in Asia. In 2005, he interned with the German World Cup Organising Committee, graduated with a Master of Public Policy from the Erfurt School of Public Policy and founded Spirit of Football e.V.
Fernando Godoy
Fernando has always been involved with football - he played in youth teams in Brazil and then professionally in the U.S for San Fernando Valley Eagles. He coached in Southern California, working with adolescents and Afshin Ghotbi (formerly U.S. and South Korea assistant coach and Iran head coach). He graduated in Engineering (Brazil) and Administration (UCLA) and currently works with technology and founded Spirit of Football Brazil.
Richard Hamilton
Richard was a key figure in the history of The Ball. In 2002, he suggested that Phil and Christian meet him in Afghanistan and that they all travel to Korea & Japan from there. He has worked in Programme Management for Concern Worldwide in North Korea, Burundi, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, CARE International in Darfur and Sri Lanka and is currently back in Afghanistan with the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Sven Soederberg
Born and raised in the green heart of Germany, Sven's journeys have taken him throughout Europe. "Football is more than a 1:0, it is a common layer of global society, because it is so favoured and way more joyful to discuss about." Sven is a so-called "groundhopper" -- everywhere he goes, he has to visit the local stadium. After he degreed in Media, Business and Journalism, he is now completing his Masters in European Studies. For the last year, he has been working for the non–profit association Spirit of Football e.V.
