Exhibition game raises funds for South El Paso Soccer club

their afternoon cheering and rooting for the neighborhood team. it was all part of a charity game that helped raise funds for the segundo barrio futbol club. the rival team also had some well-know n faces as well. abc-7’s jerry najera was at the game he is live with the story… evan josie this was an intense match. and although the segundo barrio team didn’t win they stilll ended up coming out ahead. at hart elementary school in south el paso players showed off their skills while parents and friends cheered. the game was organized by the segundo barrio futbol club director simon chandler. “we realized lot of kids wanted to play soccer but they didn’t have the means to do it. like all organized sports it’s expensive because you have to pay for uniforms, registration, equipment and you also have to get to the games” so instead o just asking for donations organizors set up an exhibition game. each player on the rival team had to raise 250 dollars. “susie first of all did they give you a run for your money? oh my god it was hard. it was hard to keep them they are talented kids” el paso independent school district board member susie byrd says there was a need to help the club. “for a long time there was no soccer program in this area and there’s very few soccer fields in the area” th club has 3 teams with players ranging from 10 years old to 14 and up. “this kids are among th best that i’ve seen the genius of segundo barrio football club is that they just need to play and a coach to coach them” the ver tired congressman beto o rourke tells me it’s more than just a fun game. every month, the team spends two weeks practicing and two weeks reading. “they are going to have better outcomes academically, athletically, and just in life sports build character” “it mea everything” “i like playin these games were you come back to tie it or win it” chandler says at the end of the day, its all about supporting the kids. “i want them to realize that people know who you are and they want to support you and i think the kids are proud to play in a team that represents their neighborhood” jerry live so who won? the panthers won 4-5 but those kids gave them a run for their money. and speaking of money they also raised about 5