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SOCCER IN THE STREETS Newsletter -
Spring 2006 (World Cup Edition)
"Here I am now, watching soccer every day, eating soccer every day, reading and breathing soccer every day, dreaming about being a professional soccer player." – Miguel Pinzon, Age 20
In this issue, read more about:
soccer in the streets team selected for streetfootball world festival 06
Team leaves on June 25 for international tournament in Germany
meet the team, part one
Say hello to your American representatives at festival 06
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FESTIVAL 06
More information on this very special event
MEET THE TEAM, PART TWO
Get to know the Soccer In The Streets players in Berlin
WORLD CUP FACTS
Learn some little-known facts about the tournament that billions will be watching
NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
Read More About Our Affiliates
soccer in the streets team selected for streetfootball world festival 06
Team leaves on June 25 for international tournament in Germany
 The soccer players that pull on the US jersey this summer have overcome much on their path to the World Cup in Germany.. One player lived in a cramped house with seven other family members, unable to play club soccer due to the high costs. Another player refereed games on the weekend to contribute to his family's meager earnings to make ends meet.
A brother and sister made soccer their outlet, while their single mother struggled, determined to find a way out of the projects. Yet another overcame his father's drinking problem, turning to soccer as his only way out. Soccer is an escape for another player as well, an escape from having to provide for his siblings because of his father's disability.
These players from the Atlanta area will be taking the field in Germany this summer, representing the United States of America and Soccer In The Streets, in the streetfootballworld festival 06. The festival is an official element of the German Federal Government for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The World Cup will be the focal point of billions of people worldwide from June 9-July 9.
streetfootballworld is an organization dedicated to the fun of the game, something easily lost in the high stakes business of the sport today. It uses the game to promote peace, tolerance, and cultural understanding and serves as a medium for social development. Currently, sixty organizations from five continents are members of streetfootballworld. Twenty-four of those organizations will be taking part in festival 06.
meet the team, part one
Say hello to your American representatives at festival 06
 Carlos Tovar
20 years old
Born in Mexico, Carlos came to the US with his family in 1992. Dealing with economic and personal problems in his home life, soccer was one way he could cope. Club soccer was not a viable option due to the high cost, and the need to work to help support his family eliminated the chance to play high school soccer. Carlos started working full-time at 16, which further limited his time to play the game. An uncle, Rogelio Terrazas, has provided him with a j ob and a chance to play on his team on Sundays. festival 06 will give Carlos an opportunity to play at an even higher level on a world stage. Without the Soccer In The Streets program, Carlos would not have such a phenomenal opportunity.
 Joseph DuBois
17 years old
Joseph is very intense and passionate about the game. He's been involved in the Soccer In The Streets program since he was nine years old. While he has always been one of the shorter guys on his team, he plays like he is much taller. This is due to his great vertical leap, physical strength, and work ethic. His work ethic has helped in other areas as well, the manager at his current place of employment is sponsoring him on his journey to Germany . A recent high school graduate, Joseph will use this experience as a stepping stone into the collegiate world.
 Sean Johnson
16 years old
Sean's parents hail from Jamaica , which has afforded him the opportunity to train as a goalkeeper in the Jamaican youth national team system. At Brookwood High School , he has often played forward because of the team's needs, and he has excelled there as well. Sean's athleticism has also allowed him to play basketball at Brookwood. His goal is to play professionally as a goalkeeper. Referred by a Soccer In The Streets coach, Sean's focus on soccer has kept him out of trouble.
 Miguel Pinzon
20 years old
Miguel was born in Colombia , aspiring to play with the Millonarios professional team and eventually j oined the youth system of that club. He came to America three years ago as a refugee and soon j oined both Norcross High School and the Norcross Soccer Club. Furthering his education, Miguel is currently attending and playing soccer at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia . Off the field, Miguel dons a dress shirt and slacks for his internship with a prominent local law firm.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FESTIVAL 06
More information on this very special event
How was the Soccer In The Streets team chosen for festival 06 ?
Before the tryout process, prospective players (identified through Soccer in the Streets programs and affiliates) were sent information packets and applications. An important aspect of the selection process was an essay, asking why the player should be chosen to be a part of the event. Players were chosen through a combination of their soccer skills and the compelling reasons they offered for their selection. It was important to choose players who would greatly benefit from participating in the event and would otherwise not have such an opportunity due to economic and other factors. Players were also assessed on their attainment in the face of adversity, their academic status and how well they would represent the Soccer in the Streets organization and ideals.
Who will the team play against?
The team has been drawn into Group B of festival 06 . It includes:
Paraguay, Centro para el Desarrollo de la Inteligencia (Asunción)
The Balkans, Football Friends Balkan (Belgrade/Skopje)
Costa Rica, Vive Fútbol (San Jose)
Colombia, Fútbol por la Paz (Bogotá)
Peru, Escuelas Deporte y Vida (Lima)
How did Soccer In The Streets get involved with festival 06 ?
Through their research, the organization streetfootballworld ( www.streetfootballworld.org ) located and contacted Soccer in the Streets in 2004, to be included in the formation of a network of like-minded organizations that explore the social dimension of football (soccer.) Since the network is based in Berlin, Germany, part of their charge was to organize the festival 06 event and bring together the core network partners, including Soccer in the Streets, for the event during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
MEET THE TEAM, PART TWO
Get to know the Soccer In The Streets players in Berlin
 Jaron Smith
18 years old
Jaron started playing soccer when he was six, the love of the game passed down from his Jamaican father. The skills learned from his father have enabled him to play with the Atlanta United club and Dunwoody High School. He is also currently playing with an adult team in a local Carribe n summer league. College is next on the horizon for Jaron, where he is hoping to continue playing. Being involved with soccer has opened many doors for Jaron.
 Lauren DuBois
16 years old
Lauren, who has been involved with Soccer In The Streets since she was seven years old, is used to being the only girl on the team, she is in the same situation in her family with two brothers. She is very strong minded, as she has watched her mother bring her family up single-handedly from the projects to owning their own home. Lauren is in the International Baccalaureate Program at Love joy High School and is very excited to travel to Germany. Lauren has spoken about opening a camp for disabled children once she completes college. Whatever Lauren chooses to do, helping others will be a major part of it.
 DeAndre Harrison
16 years old
The youngest player on the team, DeAndre turns 16 immediately before the tournament begins. He has been involved in the Soccer In The Streets program since he was nine years old, and wants to continue that association throughout his life. He has already informed the CEO that he's interested in that job! In lieu of a takeover of Soccer In The Streets, DeAndre would like to be history teacher and is excited to learn about the other cultures represented at festival 06. He attends and plays soccer at North Atlanta High School.
 Cesar Terrazas
20 years old
As one of the older players on the team, Cesar has shown himself to be a leader in training sessions. He came to the United States from Michoacan, Mexico. He followed his father to America at the age of seven. Coming from a large family, Cesar was unable to keep up with high costs of club soccer, thus the streets have been his playing field. He has played in local adult leagues, and was MVP at Berkmar High School during his junior and senior seasons. He is currently attending Emmanuel College, still winning awards with his soccer skills.
WORLD CUP WRAP
How's the other US team doing?
Through two games, the United States is 0-1-1, but they have not been eliminated from the tournament yet. After the disappointing loss to the Czech Republic, the team battled back to a hard fought draw with the legendary Italian squad.
With that result, that means the US must win in its final game against Ghana . A US win and an Italian win over the Czech Republic puts the US through to the Round of 16. If the Italians tie or lose, then second place will be decided by goal differential, something that will be difficult for the US to make up.
Both games will be played at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday morning on ESPN and ESPN2. Take a late breakfast or early lunch and cheer on the team! Go USA (and go Italy too)!
NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
Greenville, SC
Greenville just celebrated their Graduation Event at the end of May. Danee Frederick and others brought three teams down to participate in the recent Street-Cup in Sandy Springs, GA as well. The kids of Greenville can't wait for their fall season to start!
Tuskegee, AL
 Three teams participated in the spring season in the Montgomery youth league. Two of those teams ended the season as champions, the U7 and U9 teams. The U7's showed remarkable improvement, scoring twenty more goals this season than last season. The U9 team was just as impressive, especially considering that the team was made up mostly of seven year olds.
Currently, the Tuskegee youth are hard at work during their Summer Skills Session, which will run through the end of July. The team is also learning the Ndebele language of Zimbabwe, very similar to the Zulu of South Africa, in recognition of the 2010 World Cup being held in South Africa .
Houston, TX
MLS Houston Dynamo Players Ricardo Clark (a former Soccer In The Streets participant), Julian Nash, Marcus Storey, and Chris Wondolowski held a mini-camp at the International Soccer Fields in Houston . The camp was held for players between the ages of six and eleven. The goal was to get the kids ready and excited for the upcoming summer season. Coaches Ricardo Bermeo, Eduardo Bermeo, and Alejandro Cortez assisted director Santos Zuniga in setting up the camp. Thanks to Ricardo, Julian, Marcus, and Chris for their time with the kids!
Philadelphia, PA
George McDermott reports that the first camp for our Philadelphia affiliate will kick off on June 19. There are over seventy campers, ages 4-12, signed up to start the program. We'll keep you informed on the efforts in Philly as they develop.
We're waiting to hear some news from YOU . . . Soccer In The Streets supports the efforts of affiliates and like-minded individuals promoting programs for the benefit of less advantaged kids using the sport of soccer. If you have any information, news or stories that you'd like to share with our supporters and friends, be sure to send it to us at info@soccerstreets.org. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
“ON THE BALL” is the quarterly newsletter of Soccer In The Streets, an Atlanta based nationwide non-profit organization that teaches less advantaged kids to make positive choices in life so as to better themselves, their families and communities through soccer.
Copyright 2006 by Soccer In The Streets, Inc. All rights reserved. This message may be forwarded to individuals if this trailer is included, but may *not* be reposted publicly or reprinted in any form without explicit permission.
Soccer In The Streets, Inc.
2323 Perimeter Park Drive NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
Phone: 678.993.2113
FAX: 770.452.1946
Email: info@soccerstreets.org
Website: www.soccerstreets.org
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