Building bodies, spirits and minds

KO Bros. Sports Academy is a faith-based program for student-athletes to divide their days between athletic training, academic support and spiritual growth — sometimes all at once.

Prayer and conditioning on the field begin the mornings, followed by tutoring in subjects like math and English inside a dedicated learning center on the church grounds. Students then share a nutritious, protein-rich home-cooked brunch designed to teach healthy eating habits before moving into workshops that build life skills such as public speaking, professional etiquette and teamwork through play. Prayer and reflection are woven throughout the day, from arrival to mealtimes.

Mixing athletics with faith may seem unusual, but the holistic approach is intentional. At KO Bros. Sports Academy, brothers Leo and Meffy Koloamatangi have built more than a sports program. Leo Koloamatangi played with the Detroit Lions and New York Jets, and Meffy Koloamatangi played with the Raiders and the British Columbia Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.

Both brothers credit their upbringing and personal journeys, where sports and faith were intertwined, as the foundation for their vision.

They launched their concept in Los Angeles but found the competition for young athletes’ time was fierce. After relocating to the Bay Area, they partnered with Maryann and Lopeti Taufoou, who founded Activated Sports Performance in San Carlos, a training center known for its small-group, high-intensity sessions and emphasis on injury prevention, speed development and mental preparation.

On Jan. 6, the program opened its doors behind St. Francis of Assisi Church in East Palo Alto with 40 students, a mix of girls and boys ranging from kindergarteners through eighth graders. The summer program began in June.

East Palo Alto was chosen intentionally. Once a hub for community sports, the city has faced challenges in providing consistent, safe athletic spaces and academic support for its youth.

“There’s an academic part of what we’re doing, there’s a life skills part of what we’re doing, and there’s a faith enrichment part of what we’re doing,” Koloamatangi said. “I think it really challenges the kids that have to dive into parts of their life that they traditionally wouldn’t have to in other programs.”

That faith component often comes alive in simple but powerful moments. Maryann Taufoou recalled a student-athlete sitting in the weight room, weighed down by fatigue and homework. “God, why does it all feel like too much?” he whispered. A mentor overheard and told him, ‘Diamonds are made under pressure. God isn’t trying to break you, He’s building you. Every class, every rep, every setback — it’s part of the process. God trains warriors in the weight room of life.’ The boy paused, prayed, and stood up, still tired, but renewed with a sense of purpose.

The Ko Bros Sports Academy goes beyond traditional athletic training. It seeks to prepare students for the complicated college recruitment process by teaching them social and emotional tools such as developing character, discipline and resilience, Koloamatangi said.

Student volunteer Garner McManigal, a senior at St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco, said he loves this new non-traditional option for children.

“They make it a really open atmosphere here, and they really want what is best for the kids,” McManigal said. “My favorite part is making personal connections with the kids outside of training and school work.”

The broader goal, Maryann Taufoou said, is “making an impact on the kids so they can make an impact on their community.” That shared vision, she said, is what drives the academy forward.

“Through faith, education, and athletic training, our academy isn’t just changing the game,” Koloamatangi said. “It’s changing lives.”