BUILDING A ‘FIELD OF DREAMS’ IN THE BRONX
By Venanzio Ciampa
Street Soccer USA Coach & Board Member, President of The Promotion Factory
Our underserved communities face a slew of problems, from poverty and crime to homelessness and addiction. But there is hope. The story of Street Soccer USA’s successful effort to build a new soccer field in the Claremont section of the Bronx offers valuable lessons on how determination, perseverance and persistence can make a significant impact and provide a ray of light to those who need it most.
I am one of the earliest supporters of Street Soccer, a nonprofit formed in 2010 that is dedicated to empowering communities across the country through youth and young adult soccer programs. Initially I was strictly a fundraiser and board member, but then I became more active in the organization, serving as volunteer coach in the Bronx for eight years. My involvement has been a labor of love, and I cherish every minute spent with the kids, who range from 6-18 years old.
Hearing about their lives during post-game meals and giving them advice about their futures has been an incredible experience. They affectionately call me Coach V, but I have learned more from them, and the challenges they face, than they have from me. As more parents reconsider signing their children up for youth football programs, especially after the recent injury to Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, there is no doubt in my mind that Street Soccer, and the entire sport, will continue to grow and thrive.
Eight years ago, Lawrence Cann, the founder and CEO of Street Soccer, began offering twice-weekly soccer lessons for neighborhood kids in Claremont, just a stone’s throw away from Yankee Stadium. The field was just a sloping hill that was mainly used as a dog run. But that did not stop Cann and Louis Torres, the dynamic principal of nearby P.S. 55, from teaching the fundamentals of soccer and the importance of team building.
It was perfect timing. Claremont, located in the poorest congressional district in the country, was changing. Many families from Africa had recently emigrated, and soccer was the sport of choice with the youth. Also participating in the clinics were young Hispanic and white kids who loved the game but had no outlets.
As the program grew, coaches knowledgeable in the sport volunteered their time. The combination of Rohan Allen’s fundamental coaching and subtle motivation helped improve the kids’ skills as well as their understanding of strategy and tactics, and they won a few tournaments. Rohan also established a real bond with the players, often visiting their homes and meeting their parents.
The weekend practices were truly a thing of beauty. What was happening on the uneven, dog poop-pockmarked field, nothing more than a patch of dirt, made me very proud. Despite the lack of decent facilities, the boys and girls were committed to practicing and improving their game. Even more important, many of the early participants in the program have graduated from high school and attended college, taking with them valuable life lessons about responsibility and sportsmanship.
One big issue remained: the field. It was simply not suitable for practicing or games. We knew that a new field with modern features would not only be a boon for Street Soccer, but it would also bring the community together in a shared purpose. This green patch of hope would be the ultimate accomplishment of our mission and prove to the kids that dreams can be achieved.
In 2021 the tragic death of Teddy van Beuren, the beloved chairperson of the NYC Street Soccer board, brought an outpouring of grief and inspiration. Teddy, a Princeton graduate who captained the university’s soccer team, motivated all of us to give back, collaborate and create a better future for the kids. His family and friends went to work to build the field in his honor. In six months, they helped raise over $500,000, which includes a $250,000 grant from the New York City Board of Education.
The new field, which opens in May 2023, will have an adjoining Media Lab for learning and be outfitted with state-of-the-art computers. The Claremont community collected private donations for a scoreboard, and there will be bleacher-style seating for those attending games and tournaments. The game that is played on this field will provide children of all ages with the ability to get (or stay) physically active and fit for life.
Out of a terrible tragedy came a beautiful new soccer field that will have an enormous impact in the community. And while we could have never achieved this goal without the help of the city and countless donors, the kids who participate in Street Soccer programs deserve most of the credit. With their dedication to the sport, commitment to hard work and practice, and resilience in overcoming less-than-ideal fields and facilities, they showed us the way forward and helped make our dream a reality.
-V