Negus Kloehn passed away on April 28, 2020 in Edwards Colorado due to complications with Epilepsy. He was a gifted athlete and loved soccer tremendously. Negus and his sister Elilta were adopted at a young age from Gambella, Ethiopia. They came from a very humble background, and one of the things they found pure joy in was soccer. It was in Gambella that Negus started learning the mechanics of the body - how to pass, score, trap, etc. all the while developing his exceptional footwork. People would watch Negus on the field and say he was the next Pele! 

The children in Ethiopia made balls out of plastic bags and string since they lacked real soccer balls. They also did not have soccer nets and they marked boundaries with stones. They didn’t allow the lack of resources to stop them.

Negus’ dream early on was to become a professional soccer player and provide nets to children of Africa.  He thought that by providing nets, children would have more time to play rather than chase balls.  Even two weeks before he died, he was having a conversation with his mom.  She had said “ Negus, you are so great at so many sports and so funny and kind, I really wonder what you will do with your life!”  Negus responded, “I told you my plan, the nets for children of Africa!”

This excerpt is from a paper Negus wrote for school.

“I want to become famous and play soccer to send some soccer nets to Africa so they can put the nets on the goals and play more soccer- so if they shoot on the goal the ball won’t go through the goal, and they don’t have to chase after the ball."

- Negus Kloehn