Exhibition game raises funds for South El Paso soccer club
On Saturday Soccer fans in south El Paso spent their afternoon cheering and rooting for the neighborhood team.
It was all part of a charity game that helped raise money for the Segundo Barrio Futbol Club.
At Hart Elementary School in south El Paso players showed off their skills while parents and friends cheered.
The exhibition game was organized by Segundo Barrio Futbol Club director,
Simon Chandler.
“We realized a 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,” Chandler said.
Instead of just asking for donations organizers set up an exhibition game each player on the rival team had to raise $250.
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,” Byrd said.
The club has three teams with players ranging from 10 years old to 14 and up.
“These kids are among the best that I’ve seen. The genius of the Segundo Barrio football club is that they just needed to play and a coach to coach them,” U.S. Rep. Beto O’ Rourke said.
O’ Rourke tells ABC-7 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,” O’ Rourke said.
“It means everything to me,” said Segundo Barrio player Joel Villanueva
“I like playing these games were you come back to tie it or win it,” Marcos Adame, team captain said.
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,” Chandler told ABC-7.
The exhibition game raised about $5,000.
