Kalani's Leo Klink stays ahead of Punahou's Royce Romero, right, and Kainoa McDonald during the first half of the 2013 HHSAA Boys Division I soccer championship game between the Punahou Buffanblu and the Kalani Falcons on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at Waipio Soccer Complex in Waipahu. (Jamm Aquino/The Honolulu Star-Advertiser).
Kalani's Leo Klink celebrates his goal during the first half of the 2013 HHSAA Boys Division I soccer championship game between the Punahou Buffanblu and the Kalani Falcons on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at Waipio Soccer Complex in Waipahu. (Jamm Aquino/The Honolulu Star-Advertiser).
Hello everyone,
This past Saturday, I photographed the 2013 HHSAA Boys championship soccer game between the Punahou Buffanblu and the Kalani Falcons. What turned out to be a nailbiter of a game also turned into tragedy later on, unbeknownst to myself and so many others.
As many of you have probably already read in today's Star-Advertiser, Kalani star player Leo Klink's mother suffered a stroke during the game, and was taken away by ambulance in the middle of the second half of the game. Read the complete story by Michael Tsai and Jerry Campany here
Here is the ambulance leaving Waipio Soccer Stadium. Leo Klink can be seen third from the right amidst the huddle of his team.
Nobody--not myself or our reporter--knew that this was Leo Klink's mother until the game was done and the celebration by Kalani was over with. When Kalani clinched the victory in penalty kick, the jubilation that occurred centered around Klink and how he helped carry his team to the title. It was a genuine moment of triumph. While I photographed the team celebrating and piling on top of each other, my attention focused on Klink because of his key role in the win. He was crying tears of joy, exclaiming "WE DID IT!" It was a surreal moment--seeing the triumph of an athlete's hard work and training culminate into the biggest victory for his team and himself. Here's the moments immediately after the game.
I had a really tough time dealing with my emotions after hearing about Mrs. Klink's selfless act because I love my parents with all my heart and soul, and I can only imagine the dilemma felt by the Klink family at that very moment that night. I feel I should share her son's moments of triumph with all of you.
Because that's what she did.
Mrs. Klink shared her son with all of those present that night in letting Leo and the Kalani Falcons fulfill the dream of winning. Please have the Klink family in all of your thoughts and prayers, and live like you mean it.
Aperture Cafe
