An atmosphere of anticipation hung over the field as Osman, a kicker from Colombia, launched the ball, sending it sailing across the pitch. With seconds remaining, the final goal crashed into the net. Celebrations erupted as Osman’s team took home the victory in a well-balanced final match.­

Osman lives in the small town of Kutno, right in the heart of Poland, about 100km (60 miles) west of Warsaw. Kutno is home to a small but increasingly vibrant community of Jesus followers — the result of a church fostered by long-term OM workers for more than 20 years. Kutno’s central location means it has become a hub for logistics, drawing people from many different nations to work in processing and distribution. Within the church is a smaller community of around 35 Latin Americans who gather in fellowship as they strive to overcome the hurdles of building a life in a new country.

The flat, endless plains of central Poland are a world away from the beautiful, wind-swept cliffs and beaches of his home on Colombia’s Atlantic coast. Osman moved to Poland out of pressure from gangs and for protection from racketeering in his home country. He once owned an upholstery business in his home city but said the pressures of economic uncertainty and the threat of violence made it gradually impossible to earn a living wage from the profession. “Poland was not a part of my plans,” he admits. Yet, God has a way of crafting positive aspects from the most unfortunate circumstances.

The first few years were difficult: long, demanding hours in the poultry industry, a language barrier, and uncertainty about whether it was all worth it. Yet, after some time, Osman was reunited with his wife and son in Kutno, which brought new joy and stability to his life.

And then there is the church in Kutno — a place where Osman feels accepted, despite the language and cultural barriers that might otherwise leave him feeling marginalised; here, it was different. Osman was a follower of Jesus before he came to Poland, but the church made it easier to build community and weather the challenges of the first years in an unfamiliar environment.

“Although the songs were in a different language, something connected me with them… and when I heard the pastor trying to speak Spanish, I felt more at home,” he recalls.

Today Osman is a leader in the Latino community in Kutno — helping others find their way in their new environment just as he did. He leads the local Latino group, delivering and writing sermons in Spanish.

To offer support, the church connected Osman with OM in Poland team member Roberto from Costa Rica, which helped with communication and connection. Indeed, their friendship led to Osman’s participation in a bit of friendly competition.

The great game

On 4 July 2026, Osman made his debut on the football pitch, bearing the standard of a team from Kutno, yet representing a nation he had never been to, nor had relations with: Pakistan.

Why? For an event organised by OM in Poland — the second edition of the Mission Football Tournament, a highly anticipated event bringing together diverse church communities through sport. Eight teams from churches and communities across Poland accepted the invitation to compete in a gospel-oriented, missions-focused football tournament held at a local sports centre in the heart of Warsaw.

The principle was simple: Pray and Play!

“We believe that every passion can serve something greater. This tournament is proof that football can unite communities, build relationships and open our hearts to others,” adds Weronika Czajko, Director of OM in Poland, when asked about the idea behind the initiative.

Each team drew a country to pray for during the preparations and then represented that country on the pitch. In this way, participants remembered the people of Montenegro, North Macedonia, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan.

“Our church invited us to form a team and told us that we would represent Pakistan. We watched materials about what life is like there and how few people have access to the gospel. It really challenged us to look at our own lives in a new way,” Osman says.

The event brought together more than 150 people — players and their supporters — from different churches, cities and countries. Alongside the excitement of the matches, there was also a barbecue picnic, creating an opportunity for meaningful conversations and for the teams to get to know one another better.

The Kutno team won the tournament in a close match, marking a beautiful moment in the church’s history, as a diverse, multi-cultural group took home the gold… which in this case consisted of a ceremonial trophy and, more importantly, some tasty barbecue and good memories.

The tournament is part of the international SportsLink initiative, which is based on a simple idea: sports fields are places where people meet, compete and share life, making them a natural space for building relationships, trust and community across boundaries.

Masego Sibase, SportsLink Director for Europe, is excited about the possibilities for similar events: “Sports fields are at the heart of communities around the world. Tournaments like this show that sport builds bridges between people and nations. What is happening in Warsaw is an inspiration for the whole of Europe.” SportsLink provided the mission-oriented content for this event, designed to foster prayer and relationships between often disparate churches.

Osman’s story reveals that even in difficult circumstances — moving to a new country, starting over, working long hours with little reward — we can lift our eyes beyond our own needs and notice others, sympathising with them as our brothers and sisters. Osman was introduced to the people of Pakistan only briefly, but their memory will always be with him when he reflects upon the tournament and the multicultural Kutno team’s big win.

One day Osman would like to return to Colombia, but in the short term, one of his dreams is to establish an upholstery business, just as he had back home.

“Once, the fear of moving to a new place paralysed us. Today, we are ready to trust. Only God knows where He will prepare a home for us,” he says with a smile.