New York, New York (August 12, 2009): Street Soccer USA, a program of the national homeless service provider HELP USA, announced today the 2009 Street Soccer USA National team that will represent the US in the Homeless World Cup in Milan, Italy, the week of September 6th. The 7 men and one woman on the National team range from 19-47 in age and hail from 6 cities across the US and all played in the three-day 16-city SSUSA Cup in Washington, DC, in early August.
During that SSUSA Cup, the top 8 players who exemplified achievement off the field, talent on the field, and good sportsmanship, were honored with a spot on the National team. The players listed below come from SSUSA teams organized in partnership with Youth Link Min, The Glide Foundation, HEP USA's Supportive Employment Center, The Urban Ministry Center, Jovenes, Inc., and Volunteers of America SAC:
Albin Soto (Minneapolis)
Antoine Lagarde (SF)
Chris Lodgeson (NYC)
Dexter Burnett (NYC)
Ebony Wright (Charlotte)
Jorge Revolorio (LA)
Wes Colter (Sacramento)
The National team will convene in New York City on September 1st for a practices and events before they depart for Milan. A special presentation of the team fundraiser At Cipriani Wall Street hosted by jersey sponsor The Promotion Factory will take place on September 2nd (for more info, please contact Carey Balogh at carey@thepromofact.com). A scrimmage with the USA team and a New York team of soccer celebs will take place on September 3rd, before the players depart for Milan on September 4th.
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28 of our 32 National Team Members have moved off and stayed off the streets since 2005.
Challenge our Stars:
Members of the National Team and rising stars from our programs are available for challenge matches. Our players have worked hard and molded themselves into amazing advocates and goodwill ambassadors. Our team will present about their experience with homeless, what sports can do to solve it, run a street soccer clinic for youth (we can even bring our portable street soccer pitch to your location for demonstrations), and challenge the best you've got if you are a school, adult team, club, or business. Reach out to us today.
Email, volunteer@streetsoccerusa.org to learn more.
Previous members:
Johnny Figueroa-2008
Cornelius Bracy-2008
Craig Holley-2006
