Future Ballers Of New York City
Chelsea Quito, New York, USA
Goal Click teamed up with New York City FC to tell the inside story of the New York City Soccer Initiative (NYCSI), building 50 mini soccer pitches in communities across the five New York City boroughs with partners from the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC, U.S. Soccer Foundation, adidas, and Etihad Airways. Youth participants aged 8-23 told the story of their own football life, street soccer culture, and the impact of the pitches on their communities.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?
My name is Chelsea Quito. I am 19 years old and I'm from Ecuador. Football has been a game changer in my life. It has allowed me to meet amazing people and become part of such an amazing origination, where I now coach kids in underserved communities. I started playing when I was 12 with South Bronx United Soccer Club, a nonprofit organization. They allowed me to gain confidence and fall in love with the sport.
Who is in these photos? Do any of them have interesting stories?
The people are my friends, coworkers, and the future ballers of New York City. Each photo has its own individual importance but the one that sticks out to me the most is the empty blue pitch.
The field is empty but not for long. Once the kids are let out of school this is a safe meeting ground for everyone to have fun, de-stress and meet new ballers from all over. This pitch will be the place where a kid scores his/her first goal, where he/she meets their life long friend, but most importantly where they fall in love with the game for the first time - and the love for the game changes their life for the better. Thousands of stories will form on that pitch - and that pitch is just one that represents so many throughout New York City.
After a fun soccer session is over everyone brings their hands in and shouts, “We love soccer” to show their appreciation and love for the game. The kids are from a public school and they are in kindergarten. I love how everyone comes together and shows gratitude towards the coach and the game.
Coach Kwame was getting the kindergarten class excited for the new year. He was discussing the importance of trying new things and for many this was their first time playing soccer. For everyone this is going to be fun school year with Coach Kwame. I love how excited this class was to play soccer. I also love how Coach Kwame’s smile is contagious, it definitely radiates onto the kids. I think it's important to teach these kids unity and give them pep talks on the importance of trying new things and having fun!
Coach Oumou brings all of the kindergarten class in for a pep talk before the big game. She mentions that the last person to ‘bring it in’ is a chicken. I think you can guess who was the chicken! I love how creative Coach Oumou is when she coaches. The little kids’ imagination is unbeatable and this little girl really believed she was a chicken because she was last to bring it in for the pep talk.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
The photos were taken throughout all of New York City, in Brooklyn, Manhattan and my hometown the South Bronx. The photos were capturing a week in my life. I coach throughout the week apart from going to school, and play football on the weekend with my friends. But what I really wanted to focus on was on the kids and the beauty of an empty field. The focus should be on the importance of the development of children in underserved communities and giving them the proper guidance and opportunities, which is what I feel these coaches are providing.
Can you tell us your personal story?
I started playing football when I was 12 years old, which many people (including myself) consider a pretty late age to start. I begged my mom to put me on a recreational league on the weekends and she did. From there my life changed for the better. Football meant everything to me. I would look forward to every Tuesday and Thursday, which is when we had practice. Football allowed me to meet new people. Many of my teammates were immigrants, they shared their stories with me and made me view life differently, the struggles and fears they faced were far worse than what I imagined.
I do love working with kids and would volunteer on the weekend where I started playing football, which was at Macombs Park in front of Yankee Stadium. Kids bring joy to me and I have a passion for soccer and combining the both is honestly one of the best opportunities I have. I now have the privilege to work with kids in underserved communities in New York City, and play a role as both a head coach and a role model. At 12 years old I did not know football could open so many doors the way it did for me. I want to help kids see that football can bring so much positivity and opportunity into your life.
Why is football important for your community?
Football in my community is what will allow these kids to develop leadership skills, sportsmanship, and most importantly give these kids an escape from their lives. Most of the kids in my community are exposed to high rates of crime and violence. Football will allow these kids to stay on track and have a positive outlook from their life. It will also help grow the love for football in America.
What does football mean to you? What ambitions do you have for the future?
Football is my passion; it has brought me life-changing opportunities. I have gone to Costa Rica as a volunteer to teach soccer to underserved kids in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Football to me means opportunity, change, diversity and unity. I am currently studying international business with the hope to one day help kids all over the world in their communities find their voice and passion. I want to continue working with non-profit organizations like City in the Community with New York City Football Club. I want to travel the world. The first place I would want to start a non-profit is Ecuador, my native homeland.
What impact has the NYCSI programme had on you?
Personally the New York City Soccer Initiative (NYCSI) has allowed me to be part of a bigger impact. In the summers of 2018 and 2019, with the help of the NYCSI program and Soccer Bloc (a free 5 week summer program that aims to bring people together and create safe spaces across the city) I was able to help deliver free soccer session to kids on the blue pitch right under the Triborough Bridge, Queens.
This experience helped me develop both as a coach and as a person, because I realized how some of the kids’ parents did not nurture their children and left a 8 year old responsible for their 5 year old sibling. I realized how some of these kids are forced to grow up at a young age and unfortunately do not receive attention and nurturing from their parents. These kids seek guidance and positive influences. With the programs that are currently active and are continuing to grow, these kids will have a positive change in their lives. While this has impacted me, this will impact thousands of kids throughout New York City once the 50 pitches are all built. This is what I am most excited to be a part of.
What do you think the future looks like for soccer in New York and the USA? What do you want to change?
I think the future of soccer in New York alone is definitely growing compared to what it was a decade ago. I think with the new blue pitches being built throughout New York City and the programs that City In The Community has with schools, after schools, summer programs, Soccer Bloc, Saturday Night Lights (a soccer crime prevention program on the Friday and Saturday) soccer will definitely be both more inclusive and accessible.
Soccer in the USA still has to grow. I definitely feel other US states are more soccer orientated, like California as an example. As a whole our country should focus on using soccer as a development tool, not just to develop a player but develop them as a person, a leader. I want to change how expensive it is to join a club team. I also want to develop more non-profit teams throughout New York City because as of now there are not many affordable options. It doesn’t necessarily have to be “official teams”. I just want kids, adolescents, anyone really, to go out and have group of people to play with. Lastly I want soccer to definitely be more inclusive of gender, age, race, and ability.
What are the opportunities for female footballers in your community, New York and the USA?
Honestly there are not many opportunities that I know for female footballers; besides the programs I mentioned which I feel are essential and impactful. The new blue pitches being built throughout New York City and the programs from City In The Community are more inclusive and accessible. These programs are all female inclusive and help develop courage and leadership skills.
