Stratford community rallies around kid with big football dream

At 6’2” and 275 pounds, 13-year-old Illijah Magassouba is a big kid, with a big dream.

At 6’2” and 275 pounds, 13-year-old Illijah Magassouba is a big kid, with a big dream. His size and athleticism stood out to scouts for Football North, one of the country’s top high school football programs. Now, he’ll have the chance to play for Football North out of Clarkson Secondary School in Mississauga.

“It means the world to me that I have the opportunity to do that,” Magassouba said. Football North play in the highly competitive National Interscholastic Athletics League where they go head-to-head with American high schools. Magassouba checked all the boxes for size, skill and work ethic, but there was one other problem; the financial cost of $10,000 a semester.

Tracy James, Magassouba’s homeroom teacher at Stratford Intermediate School, stepped up to help navigate the process. “Just realizing that this kid has a talent, the challenge becomes how do you get them there?” James said.

James said Magassouba is a gentle giant off the field and shows great potential in the classroom. She turned to the Stratford Intermediate School Falcons family and the wider community for help - including her former teacher, and now Stratford mayor, Martin Ritsma. A former collegiate level student athlete himself, Ritsma said Magassouba’s story is near to his heart.

“The old mantra, ‘[It] takes a village,’ and this young man is about to leave the Falcons’ nest. Whatever we can do to help him soar to his highest heights is important to me,” Ritsma said. Jubilee Stratford Church and local restaurant, Joe’s Diner, have contributed.

Magassouba is touched by the support he has been shown. “It means everything just to know that I have a really big support system and Stratford’s helping me out,” he said. His tuition for the first semester has almost been covered and James said they are working on paying for his accommodations, which is expected to cost $1,500 per month.

Another fundraiser is being held this fall at Boston Pizza in Stratford. Anyone interested in supporting Magassouba at Football North can contact gm@footballnorth.ca