In case you missed it, last month the Mexican National Team played South Korea in a friendly U.S. match in San Antonio, TX on the way to 2014 FIFA World Cup. The city was abuzz with many events featuring star players past and present and San Antonio welcomed them with open arms.
One soccer club who was excited to have this match in our own Alamo City was Southside FC. The local youth team received a surprise from the Allstate Insurance Company and former goalkeeper for the Mexican National Team, Martin “El Pulpo” Zuniga. The night before the big match, Zuniga and Allstate arrived to the Alamo Indoor Soccer complex to give the members of Southside FC the opportunity to be trained by one of the best players in soccer and also to receive new equipment and gear to use this winter season.
During the team practice, the Southside FC players trained with Zuniga, who also interacted with the children’s parents and team trainers. Zuniga urged the players to work hard and support each other to reach their goals in both soccer and school. Sound advice if you ask me.
At the end of the event, Surprise! The students also received match tickets to the Mexico v. South Korea match at the Alamodome. Mexico won that match 4 – 0.
About Southside FC: Southside FC is located in the southern part of San Antonio and is comprised of over 56 teams ranging from U14 to U19. The organization is primarily composed of in-need youth from the area who typically cannot afford to participate in San Antonio’s premier leagues in the affluent areas of Northern San Antonio. To help offset league fees, and the financial burdens faced by its members’ families, the league relies heavily on local fundraising for equipment and uniforms. Southside FC is the fastest growing league in Texas, and provides quality youth soccer while expanding landscape in the South of the city. Southside FC focuses its attention on educating, training, and instructing youth aged 14 years -19 years by developing their athletic capabilities, and preparing them for a future in soccer.
