Kicking Off the New Year!
With the new year off to a great start our players from all our programs 14 and up got to enjoy a 3 hour tournament session with their teammates and newly formed friends at Chitown futbol. The Champions hailed from the southside community club and the westside adult program and named themselves “ BIG MAN”! Thank you everyone who came out!
Adult League Men – starting the new year, the boys played for 5th place ending in a 4-2 loss. The perseverance of each player throughout the 1st winter session showed, since they all come from different backgrounds, from African to middle eastern to Latino, one thing they had in common was that knowing the game meant something. Congrats to everyone!
Womens League Champs!
Our women won their league! With a dramatic final our Chicago Independence won their women’s league 3-2. With the opposition posting a favorable crowd, our girls came out to play and most importantly have fun! The final drew down to the final 2 mins, where Brianna Bahena scored a scorcher from 20 yards out. During season, The ladies drew last in the league, but came back in defiance to beat the top teams to reach the final. Congrats to all of our Chicago ladies!
Player updates!
Estrella Villa
Estrella has proven herself on the field, but has established herself off of it. She has been accepted to Agnes Scott College with a full academic scholarship! She will be attending ASC next fall and will be trying out for the team there. She will also be taking general education. Good Luck Estrella, were all rooting for you here!
LA Galaxy Star Squad x SSUSA!
On January 21, SSUSA LA kicked off its winter season with programming at Union Rescue Mission, a local partner and emergency services provider. The event served as the youth participants’ first opportunity to engage with SSUSA coaches in 2019. This, and the fact that this season kick off was hosted in collaboration with the LA Galaxy Star Squad provided for much excitement leading up to the event. Of the 20 youth participants that attended, all went home gear and “SWAG” after going through a series of soccer stations. A huge expression of gratitude goes out to Santa Monica United for providing SSUSA LA with a large gear donation, and to the Galaxy Foundation for seamlessly providing goodies and shorts for the youth attendees.
Youth participants and program partner staff seemed to be equally happy at the conclusion of the event. Kelly Kunf, Family Emergency Services Chaplain quotes “From our perspective, everything was great. The kids were super excited to start soccer back. This was a spectacular way to kick-off the new season. Thanks to everyone for your service to our kids”.
SSUSA LA looks forward to more opportunities to collaborate with the LA Galaxy Foundation on clinics and events serving the Los Angeles communities they seek to impact.
Program Launched with Outreach Youth Rehab Facility!
Our Street Soccer NY team is always looking to expand the populations that we work with. We are excited to launch a new program for Outreach, a residential youth rehab facility. Street Soccer NY has been leading sessions for the Outreach girls on Tuesdays and boys on Saturdays, striving for gender equality. Both groups are enthusiastic and extremely excited about learning the sport of soccer. Initially, we have focused on the Street Soccer Skills of “Showing Up” and “Playing With Heart.” Participants have been earning “Show Up” Points for coming to practice, which they can use to earn Street Soccer shirts and shorts. Bonus points are awarded to players who embody the ideals of fair play, hard-work and positivity. The players came up with the point system on their own and are eager to show up and earn their gear!
Nike Global Football Apparel visits Community Club
On January 29th Nike Global Football Apparel visited our East Portland Community Club. They dedicated 10+ guest coaches, and held a massive gear giveaway with shoes, outerwear, soccer balls and jerseys. Nike staff helped coach different warm up stations and led teams in our rotating scrimmage games. Afterword, they gave shout outs to Blue Card recipients and distributed gear to all kiddos.
Everyone had a blast and the youth were extremely grateful.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to join Sacramento Republic FC to give/show support to the town and victims of the Campfire and learn how else we can help. Street Soccer USA’s founders, Rob and Lawrence, experienced their home burn down when they were children and tell us “what seemed like a bad thing was a life-affirming thing. Wow, there’s a community behind me.” That experience is what planted the seed years ago for the birth of Street Soccer USA. We want to give the same support to the victims that led the National movement of Street Soccer USA.”
“There’s so much to do to rebuild. Luckily we’re in a position to give a long-term commitment to this community. We’re planning on doing that for a long, long time to help to bring Paradise back.” – Sacramento Republic FC”