Zambia's Youth Are More Than Football: Coach's Heartbreaking Lesson After Star's Suicide

By Mwansa Chisanga

A famous California high school football coach has delivered a powerful message that resonates far beyond American shores, reminding young athletes everywhere that their lives matter more than any game. The message comes after a star player jumped to his death from a cliff at a notorious suicide spot in Los Angeles.

Alexander Hamilton High School coach Elijah Asante took to social media on Saturday to address the July 21 suicide of Khadyn Perkins, a 19-year-old wide receiver and cornerback who wore the number 16 jersey for the Yankees. Perkins, a 2025 graduate of the school, died from traumatic injuries after leaping from the Sunken City cliffs in San Pedro, a place known for taking young lives.

Asante, who came out of retirement in 2024 to revive Hamilton's football program, told his players they are 'more than football' and urged them to seek help when life gets heavy.

'When life gets heavy, don't carry it alone. Talk to your parents, talk to your coaches, talk to your teachers, talk to your teammates. There is strength and courage in asking for help,' Asante said.

The coach continued with words that should echo in every Zambian home and school.

'Your future is greater than your current pain. You won't even remember some of the things you struggle with now in the future. There are people who love you, believe in you, and will fight for you, even on the days when you don't feel like fighting for yourself.'

What happened to Khadyn Perkins?

Perkins, a standout athlete at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, died on July 21 after jumping from a cliff at Sunken City in San Pedro. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call at 6:24 p.m. and found Perkins lifeless at the bottom of the cliff. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner ruled his death a suicide, with traumatic injuries as the primary cause and probable drowning as a contributing factor.

Why is Sunken City a dangerous place?

Sunken City is a historic landslide area on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, popular with local teens as a graffiti spot and hangout. But it has also become a notorious suicide location, with so many deaths that former Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino pushed for anti-suicide signage in 2015. The site features cracked foundations of fallen buildings and broken streetcar tracks, a grim reminder of how quickly life can crumble.

What can Zambian parents and coaches learn from this tragedy?

This tragedy is a wake-up call for Zambia. Our young people face immense pressure from school, sports, and society. Coach Asante's message is clear: no game, no grade, no uniform is worth a life. Zambian parents, teachers, and coaches must create spaces where young people feel safe to speak about their struggles. Asante reminded his team that Hamilton's football team is a family, and players need to watch out for one another. That same spirit must guide our communities.

How can we protect our youth from suicide?

Suicide is a silent killer that does not discriminate. In Zambia, we must break the stigma around mental health. Talk to your children, your teammates, your students. Let them know that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. As Asante said, 'There is strength and courage in asking for help.' We must build a nation where every young Zambian knows they are valued, loved, and more than any achievement.

Hamilton High School, founded in 1931, boasts alumni like rapper Nipsey Hussle, actor Shia LaBeouf, and NFL star Stephen Baker. But no trophy or fame compares to a single life. Coach Asante, known for wearing a suit and tie on the sidelines and coining the phrase 'I absolutely don't recruit. I attract,' said his team was hurting deeply.

'No words can fully explain the pain we feel or answer every question in our hearts,' he said.

Zambia, take note. Our youth are our future. They are more than football, more than school, more than any dream. Let us build a nation where no young person feels they have to jump off a cliff to escape their pain.