Homeless USA Cup reports
Posted by USA - 04/07/2008
National Coalition for the Homeless ED, Michael Stoops, Ted Leonsis, Ed Foster-Simeone of the US Soccer Foundation, and Lawrence Cann and Rob Cann of Street Soccer USA symbolically kicked off the Homeless USA Cup 2008 in Washington DC, 27-29 June.
The ball used was the Kevin Carrol Red Ball which symbolizes Kevin’s mantra, “a ball can change your life!”
Mark Ein, who hosted us in his World Team Tennis Stadium rolled out the first ball in the opening match.
New York’s team from HELP USA coached by Chris Murray started slow, but rebounded to win the DC Cup beating Austin, Texas in the final. 3rd Place goes to Charlotte, North Carolina
In an exciting penalty kick finale, Atlanta edged out San Francisco to take the Leonsis Family Trophy. Ted Leonsis was around the event all weekend as was his son Zach who was a major cog in executing tournament logistics. Ted matched his underwriting of the tournament with characteristic personal involvement. Our hat is off to Mr. Leonsis and our congratulations goes to Atlanta and their coach Boubacar Sarr who has done a tremendous job not only coaching his players on the field but in mentoring them off the field. They are deserving team of the Leonsis Family Cup.
It is easy to have fun when you win, but the Roadies showed great spirit when they lost. Coaches David Flomo and Keith Deisner from The Peter and Paul Community Shelter for the Homeless drove to the Cup in vans a day early in order to meet with their senator. The Roadies continued being advocates once the tournament began, showing the best in human spirit and embodying what the tournament is all about. Everyone will agree that the moment of the tournament was the final second goal scored by the smallest player in the tournament which gave St. Louis their only win in their very last game.
Please be honored, Roadies, as we view this trophy as the highest honor. We plan on seeing the Roadies next year to defend the award!
We also want to thank NIKE whose representatives could not make it to help us kick off the tournament, but whose LET ME PLAY campaign outfitted all our players with top of the line gear for the tournament, including balls, shin guards, goalie gloves, you name it . . .
Here are the final Street Soccer USA National Rankings:
1. Minneapolis, Minnesota (youthlink mn) 2. Los Angeles, CA (jovenes) 3. Charlotte, NC (Community Works 945 of the Urban Ministry Center) 4. Ann Arbor, MI, (Port) 5. Atlanta, GA (Homeless Task Force) 6. San Francisco (Spitfire Soccer Acadamy) 7. Washington, DC (Street Sense, National Coaliton for the Homeless) 8. Richmond, Virginia 9. New York, (HELP USA) 10. Austin, TX (lifeworks, the arch) 11. St. Louis, MO (peter and paul’s)
