PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — James Mela learned how to bend a soccer ball like Beckham. Since childhood he has been playing sports.
“I turned professional at that club and then went to another club called Doncaster Rovers,” Mehra said.
After approximately seven years of professional experience, he relocated from London, England to Pittsburgh. And for his 20 years, he has shared his love of soccer with children in the community through his nonprofit organization, Pittsburgh Soccer in the Community.
“We sit them down and say, 'Look, it's fun to run around and kick the ball and score goals, but why would you do this?'” he said. .
Soccer teaches you more than just how to play the game.
“Leadership, teamwork, discipline, respect for your opponents, all these things go hand in hand in life,” Mehra explains.
And his nonprofit has given more than 6,000 children the opportunity to play for free in at-risk communities.
“When you look at the kids we raised in this field over 15 years ago, they're married and have homes and kids and have their own businesses. I mean, that's what it's all about,” Mela said. Told.
Arsenal Middle School is one of the first schools the nonprofit has partnered with. John Reemhouse is the athletic director there.
“That made me love soccer more than basketball. I played basketball in high school, and like I said, their energy is actually very contagious,” Leamhouse said. Ta.
Pittsburgh and Arsenal are a melting pot of cultures.
“They're coming from Russia, they're coming from Africa, they're coming from all over the world,” Liemhaus said.
So the nonprofit organization will also bring in cross-border sports.
“Because I was able to play a sport that I love and admire, it became a bridge for the students to feel wanted and needed,” Leamhouse said. .
Pittsburgh Soccer in the Community has an in-school program and participates in physical education classes. There are also after-school and summer camp programs in the Pittsburgh area.
“We came second in the city championships four years in a row. And we took first place four years in a row,” Mehra said.
Beyond the accolades, playing soccer has led to students' personal and academic growth and community safety.
“A few months later, we were meeting with the chief of police in the area, and they told us that there was basically zero juvenile crime in the summer,” Meara said.
For Mera, this mission is about more than scoring goals. Learning about soccer teaches life lessons to the next generation.
Pittsburgh Soccer in the Community summer and spring programs will be announced soon. There are also academies that offer scholarships for children to play.
Mehra said the nonprofit's next goal is to get kids on teams and leagues and put them on a path to college soccer scholarships.