During the occasion of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer
Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in June, members and staff of the
Bahamas Beach Soccer National Team took time out to participate in the Rafa
Marquez Clinic for
children in Mexico. Bahamas National Coach Christian Villi, Technical
Advisor Roberto Ceciliano and players Julian Smith and Torin Ferguson joined
members of the Canadian Soccer Association
Beach Soccer Team and staff at the clinic organized as a joint venture between
Beach Soccer World Wide,
coordinators of the CONCACAF Tournament and Fundacion Rafa Marquez “Futbol y
Corazon, A.C.
Beach Soccer World Wide earlier this year launched the
Beach Soccer Foundation with a view to contribute positively to the countries
and regions where it holds its tournaments. The foundation focuses on three
different areas of awareness:
Sun - increasing the awareness of
skin cancer
Child - reintegrating children
into society
Beach - protecting the
environment, cleaning beaches and recycling.
While
in Mexico, in conjunction with the Mexican professional player Rafa Marquez
Foundation, the two groups brought together 20 kids from Guadalajara, selected from a group of over 1,000
participants, along with 30 others from Casa Infantil Mojoneras, a hostel in Puerto Vallarta and gave them all the opportunity
to see matches in the competition, participate in two clinics, and receive
t-shirts, bracelets, balls and other souvenirs commemorating their
participation.
It
was certainly an exciting time for the Bahamian group, who happily gave away
Bahamian flags, signed autographs for the children, and
took the opportunity to pose for pictures with them. Bahamian team Captain
Julian Smith and goalkeeper Torin Ferguson certainly made
an impression on the children and were fine ambassadors of the Bahamas for
participating in this programme. The effect that the gesture
will have on these disenfranchised children will most
likely be monumental to them, and elevated these players to the status of icons with the group. Beach Soccer World Wide’s intention
with the programme was to make the children happy for a day, by making them feel special and loved. Along with the visits,
the group conducted an auction of Barcelona jerseys signed by first team
players from the club, with some of the proceeds going to these two groups.