Soccer (better known as football outside the USA) is the most mainstream sport played throughout the world, uniting over 32 countries. Die-hard fans fill stadiums to the brim and in that period of 90 minutes, no one is judged by their race or creed, just by how well you and your team plays the game.
Mayor Mike Duggan announced the launch of the “Goal Detroit” soccer league at Henry Ford Elementary School on Sept 4. The new league is comprised of 700 students from 44 teams, all hailing from Detroit elementary public and charter schools. A former soccer coach himself, Mayor Duggan is teaming up with the non-profit organization Detroit PAL, whose youth initiatives help build character in young people through athletic, academic and leadership programs. “We have to have more activities like sports, and soccer is the most popular sport in the world. It’s a step in the right direction,”says Mayor Duggan.
The schools playground bustled with kids learning soccer drills, kick techniques and team building. Most students were new to the sport and realized it is not as easy as it looks. “ I didn’t know it was going to be a lot of work like this. Its more than just kicking a ball” says student Elijah Cook. Spearheading the creation of the league is the mayor’s new hire Shawn Blanchard, Director of Youth Services for the City of Detroit. Blanchard approached the Detroit City Football Club to run the clinic. Co-owner Todd Kropp says: “ We are here to engage youth in soccer programs and teach kids how to play organized soccer.” General Manager Donavan Powell says: “Our motto is passion for our city, passion for the game and it starts with our youth.”
A new world is emerging. Not only will kids have their favorite basketball and football stars to look up to, they can discover soccer greats like two-time FIFA World Champion Thierry Henry, three-time World Cup Champion, Pele, and Brianna Scurry who earned two Olympic gold medals and three World Cup championships in the field of soccer. In the bigger scheme of the sport, Detroit may possibly produce the most phenomenal soccer player the world has ever seen, but it starts with practice and a good left kick.
Detroit PAL offers half off the cost of registration fees, uniforms, transportation and much more.
For more information contact the Detroit PAL office at (313) 833-1600 Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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