Detroit City FC is proud to celebrate its first-ever youth soccer teams, the Detroit City FC Youth initiative, in collaboration with Mayor Michael E. Duggan’s Immigrant Affairs Office.
The co-ed U-10 and U-12 Detroit City FC Youth teams participated in the Police Athletic League (PAL) at Historic Fort Wayne and were comprised of local Detroit youth players, including refugee youth recently relocated into the city.
The U-12 team reached the PAL Championship game. Both youth teams will be honored at halftime of the home match against Kalamazoo FC on Friday, June 23.
The main initiative of this program is to create a welcoming environment and positive experience for youth within their neighborhoods through the sport of soccer. Detroit City FC is committed to using the global game of soccer to unite communities and create learning experiences that cross cultural boundaries.
“This initiative represents, in a small way, the beautiful potential of sport, in particular soccer, to bring together communities,” Sean Mann, co-owner of DCFC, said. “We look forward to working with the Mayor’s office and our partners to grow this project to reach more of Detroit’s newest young residents and help them get acclimated to our great community.”
The program is expected to expand in the fall.
“This partnership is a great example of the work we are doing in Detroit to welcome refugees and ensure we are all working together to build a Welcoming Detroit,” Fayrouz Saad, Director of Immigrant Affairs for the City of Detroit in the Mayor’s Office, said. “There is no better place than the soccer field to bring youth together to accomplish this.”
The Detroit City FC Youth teams were coached by Detroit City FC staff and volunteers from the ACCESS youth soccer program.
ACCESS is the largest Arab American human services non-profit in the country. The coaches provided guidance in both Arabic and English while teaching teamwork and tactical skills. Volunteers from Samaritas, the largest faith-based non-profit human service organization in Michigan, supported the players and their families.
Detroit City FC is excited to continue its partnership with PAL. All Detroit PAL players receive a free season ticket to all DCFC home matches. PAL provides opportunity for tens of thousands of children to play sports in safe spaces, and PAL’s soccer league is one of the largest in the region.
Both DCFC youth teams will be honored for their accomplishments at halftime of Friday’s City match at Keyworth Stadium. Tickets are available at tickets.https://www.detcityfc.com.
About Detroit City FC: Detroit City FC is a grassroots football club working to satisfy the market for soccer in Detroit, represent the city in a positive light, and build community through soccer. A member of the National Premier Soccer League since 2012, Detroit City has established itself as one of the most talked about soccer teams in North America. Learn more about DCFC at https://www.detcityfc.com.
