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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Sports
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.
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