PAPEETE, Tahiti — Soccer in Tahiti has by far the largest following of any sport, and its fans virtually live for the game. Its champions become national superheroes. At age 27, Errol Bennett had already won that place of honor as captain of the premier team of the Tahitian Honours Division.
His ready smile and quiet manner seemed totally at odds with the banner headlines: "Bennett, Terror of the Stadium"; "Bennett without pity"; "Bennett: Top Scorer of Tournament."
Sport in Tahiti is not professional, thus Brother Bennett had been working during the day as a police officer in the capital of Papeete.
A friend in the financial department of the city government first introduced him to the Church. The friend was serving as bishop when he invited the footballer and his wife over for a family home evening. As Brother Bennett was to recall later: "The bishop explained the principles of the gospel with great clarity. My wife and I both felt deeply the need to be baptized."
But Brother Bennett's father was adamant; he told his son he wanted no more to do with him, and he would not want to see his son's third child, the baby his wife was then expecting. In addition, Brother Bennett believed his decision to become a Latter-day Saint would almost certainly spell the end of his soccer career.
Brother Bennett was already saying that if he were to be baptized he would no longer participate in Sunday games. The Church would come first, even before his beloved soccer.
For the first time, Brother Bennett received a priesthood blessing. He was promised that the difficult problem would be resolved, and that his father would receive him if he returned home. Not long after, his father asked for his forgiveness.
The following day Brother Bennett talked to Napoleon Spitz, Central Club and football league president, and withdrew from active soccer, leaving his position open to some other hopeful. Mr. Spitz's reaction was a surprising one.
"Hold off for a few days," he said. "Wait until after the meeting of the league later this week."
Napoleon Spitz advised league officials that the Central Club had decided not to play on Sundays. He explained that playing on Sundays was preventing team players from being with their families, and that it was an unacceptable practice.
A vote was then called for, and the decision was unanimous. From then on, all Honours Division games would be played on weekday evenings.
Since Brother Bennett's baptism in 1977, all 12 top clubs in the Tahitian Honours Division have played their games midweek. It has become such an established practice that it is unlikely to change, even now that Brother Bennett has retired from the game.
Brother Bennett, now Tahiti national director of public affairs for the Church, was more than just a soccer player. Many believe he is the greatest Tahitian soccer star of all time. In addition, he was never in his career cautioned for bad behavior.
Of his own life in the past years — of the pressures he has faced, the principles he has stood for, and the lives he has touched — Brother Bennett says simply: "I've been truly blessed."
