(Liga Unida players and families pose with Philadelphia Union’s Marco Fabian. Photo: Jamal Pecou Sports)
By Alex Baker and Nick Baker
NEW CASTLE, Del. – Out of his sparkling white Range Rover steps Marco Fabian. It’s not everyday that an Olympic gold medalist and German cup winner who has twice played in the World Cup graces the fields of New Castle.
Fabian, 29, a Mexican midfielder, has just begun his first season with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union. On Wednesday night, he visited Kirkwood Soccer Club in New Castle to help promote the Kirkwood’s Liga Unida program.
Liga Unida was started three years ago by Diego Ruiz, former player and current head boys’ soccer coach at Newark High School. The program is designed to give underprivileged families in the community an opportunity for their kids to play soccer at a reduced cost.
“In the U.S. there is a pay to play system. A lot of kids who don’t have the opportunity to play kinda miss out,” said Ruiz.
(Philadelphia Union’s Marco Fabian signing autographs. Photo: Jamal Pecou Sports)
Fabian was at Kirkwood on Wednesday signing autographs and taking pictures with Liga Unida families — over 200 people lined up for a chance to meet the Mexican soccer star. Ruiz, 27, was in the background orchestrating the event.
The program started with 20 kids, then expanded to 50, but before Ruiz knew it there were 375 local members. Liga Unida charges about 65% less than other local leagues to play — $40 for an eight-week season. Yet, the benefits are more than just affordable soccer.
Largely targeting the Delaware Latino community, Liga Unida offers opportunity for players to be seen by scouts with the Philadelphia Union, in addition to offering families who have children interested in going to college a University of Delaware run seminar in English and Spanish.
Ian Hennessy, 52, head coach of the men’s soccer team at the University of Delaware, is already seeing the influence of Kirkwood and Liga Unida in the Delaware soccer community.
“Our venture here now is pretty young, we’ve had Kirkwood players go through into Delaware FC and we’ll have four Delaware FC players coming to UD next year,” said Hennessy, “Diego has done a great job with [Liga Unida], because there’s a real growing relationship now between the Union and the greater community.”
(Diego Ruiz (left) and Marco Fabian (right). Photo: Jamal Pecou Sports)
As kids ran around and kicked soccer balls Diego Ruiz couldn’t help but smile; “I see myself in all these kids. I had somebody that looked out for me and opened up opportunities for me and I wouldn’t be here without them.”
“If we’re lucky, out of all these 200-something people there’ll be maybe one professional, but most importantly in professions such as teachers, lawyers, and tomorrow’s leaders.”