The report says Ujima blends the game with the kind of off-field structure many young players need most.
That matters. Plenty of youth football schemes can sharpen technique; fewer appear set up to support the whole student. Ujima’s value seems to be in treating football as the hook, not the entire mission.
Haskell’s message to participants is simple and memorable. “Quando trabalhamos?” he asked. “Trabalhamos juntos,” the students replied. He followed with, “Quando subimos?” and the answer came back: “Subimos para sempre.”
That call-and-response says plenty about the programme’s identity. Ujima, a word linked to collective work and responsibility, appears designed around belonging rather than selection. In a sport that can often become exclusive early, that is a powerful counterweight.
The report also says some Ujima participants were later part of Austin-East’s 2021 state-title-winning football team. That does not mean the programme should be judged only by trophies, but it is a reminder that community-first projects can still feed competitive success.
If Ujima continues to grow, its next story may not just be about producing players. It may be about showing how football can anchor a wider support system for students across Knoxville - and whether that model can expand even further in the seasons ahead.