Beach soccer and service work hand in hand

Special needs children and the beach soccer world came together in Espinho, Portugal for a spectacular day of teaching and fun

What defines an athlete? Physical abilities like speed and strength? Sure. Now how about defining a role model? That is a little tougher. Immeasurable qualities like generosity and kindness? Definitely. After this weekend in Portugal it is obvious that we have a number of athletes that possess all of the above mentioned traits, and then some. 

CERCI (Centro Especial de Reabilitação de Crianças Inadaptadas) along with The Beach Soccer Foundation, President of the Espinho City Council, Joaquim José Pinto Moreira, and five players from the Portuguese National Beach Soccer Team, Madjer, Bruno Torres, Belchior, José María and Jordan, provided 15 Down Syndrome children an unforgettable learning experience. Who provided the learning is still in question though, as the service and acts of kindness were just as important to the organizers as the children. One known fact is that no one involved will soon forget this activity. 

In the middle of the XIX Mundialito, the longest tenured beach soccer tournament, the groups, consisting of all volunteers, took time out of their day to spend a few hours with these kids, teach them a little about beach soccer, and just plain play. The players showed the children tricks and taught them how to play just like they do on the sand. 

Portugal may have been unstoppable during the Mundialito but the children were having so much fun and learning so quickly that they were able to score on the Portuguese stars. They will now be able to tell their friends and family about the time they played with professional athletes and scored a goal. It was easy to see how important the event was for the players also as they were excited just to make the children smile.

What can never be measured, or defined, or quantified, or anything was the sheer joy that the city of Espinho, CERCI, The Beach Soccer Foundation, Madjer, Bruno Torres, Belchior, José María and Jordan shared with the 15 special needs boys and girls in Espinho.