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designated players
harlem renaissance
The mainstream media is always a step behind when it comes to soccer, so it should come as no surprise the New York Times came to Harlem FC a few weeks after I did, highlighting the burgeoning club’s search for fields.
Updating the story, Executive Director Irv Smalls e-mailed me about his weekend, and I had to share it. After the jump, Irv adds more evidence to the mountain of proof that New York is an artesian aquifer waiting to be tapped. Didn’t you know - all the good stuff is underground.
From: Irv Smalls
To: This Is American Soccer [at] gmail [dot] com
Subject: Future FC Harlem Lions
This weekend was all about Harlem Youth Soccer (FC HARLEM) reaching the West African population in Central Harlem. I met a lot of the community on Saturday, and they are excited about getting involved with FC HARLEM. Today I ran into this group of kids playing soccer over at Thomas Jefferson field. They were from Mali, Ghana, Guatemala, France, USA, Cote d’Ivorie, and Mexico. They were so excited about playing organized soccer and they want on the FC HARLEM LIONS travel team real bad!! Ages 11-to-14. When I gave them an MLS ball you should have seen the smiles on their faces.
(Four of the kids have actually called me tonight!)
What was great was to see them playing the pickup game behind the goals during a soccer match, which as usual featured two youth clubs NOT from Harlem. In any event here are some quotes from them today:
Saul, 11, Cote d’ Ivorie: “Those kids out there are not as good as us! We should challenge them all!”
I asked them if it bothered them that they could not get on the field…
Bilal, 13 yrs, Ghana: “It sucks cause I live right over there (pointing to Thomas Jefferson houses) but we will play anywhere even in the street. We all tough like that! (pointing to scrapes on his legs and elbows)
Jose, 12, Mexico: “Soccer is my life, its all I think about….I’m gonna make your travel team!”
Cenen, 14, Mali: “Do you charge a lot like everyone else to play because I don’t have lot of money?
Juan
on May 22nd, 2007 - 1:25pm
This is really cool. I honestly believe this is where our future lies if we’re ever going to field competitive national teams and MLS squads worth watching. Immigrant kids from soccer-crazy countries (and their kids in a generation) that play all day on the street or rock strewn parking lots because they genuinely want to and love the sport, not because it’s one of several planned activities (in between violin and “play dates”) that mommy chauffeurs in the minivan, are mirroring the phenomenon that takes place in favelas, barrios, and banlieues all over the world.
I think Irv Smalls is doing a great thing–I think futsal is genius for kids to work on their ball control skills–and I wish there were more people like him.
kem
on May 24th, 2007 - 11:59am
Is Harlem FC looking for coaches or any other kind of help (tutuors etc)? I’ve been searching for a way to help spread the game in Harlem specifically and would love to be of assistance to Harlem FC. I couldn’t find a way to reach Irv Smalls but if he’s looking for people, PLEASE forward my email to him.
thanks Adam!
Stan Tatum (tat106)
on Jun 4th, 2007 - 7:25pm
Good to see great things happening in my neighborhood. This field is a godsend (thanks to former councilperson Philip Reed) but it’s a shame you’ve gotta get there before 8am on the weekend to use it.
Maybe Mr. Smalls can see about converting some of the B’ball courts in the park (over by Manhattan Center HS) to Futsal Grounds.
BTW, the Parks Dept. is renovating the ballfields over on 128th & 3rd avenue. It looks like FieldTurf is being installed and I saw a couple of goalposts as well.
The future looks bright for football in East Harlem.
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