SOCCER ATHLETES TRAVEL TO CUBA AS TRUMP REVERSES OBAMA TRAVEL BAN

SOCCER ATHLETES TRAVEL TO CUBA AS TRUMP REVERSES OBAMA TRAVEL BAN

By Christopher Shuttlesworth The Chicago KICS Community

Academy, is a nonprofit 501C organization that continues to

be one of the largest youth soccer programs in Chicago. The KICS United FC U16 and U12 boy’s soccer teams came together last week

at Dunbar Park, located on 300 E. 31st., to train for their final session before their historic soccer competition in Havana, Cuba and Varadera, Cuba.

Tina Feldstein, who is a Chicago KICS Community Academy board member, said their organization and community leaders have been working with the Cuban government to conduct the soccer competition in Cuba since 2015. She explained that speaking with the

Cuban elected oŠcials and getting the ‘Okay’ to come there wasn’t so easy because of trust issues that still lie between Cuba and the United States.

“They required us to come there and meet their sports agents and government oŠcials and administration to show that we’re a legitimate

organization,” Feldstein said. “We were told by Cuba that you will have to come to Cuba before we will ever come to Chicago.”

She said the trip to Cuba is historic because this is the first time that a Chicago youth soccer team has ever traveled to Cuba and it could also be the last time.

Feldstein stated that President Donald Trump’s recent move to overturn former President Barack Obama’s Cuba travel policy could have a strong e•ect on the KICS soccer team revisiting Cuba.

“It’s all up in the air and even though it maybe allowed next year, the Cuban government may say no,” she said. “It’s very touch-and go

with the Cuban government, so we’re very grateful to get this trip and we’ll see what type of relationships we can develop in hopes of

building enough trust to bring another team to Cuba next year.”

She said the KICS Academy believes in comradery and competition, but most importantly cultural change and empowering

global unity.

“We feel that it’s critically important that our youth have the opportunity to experience cultural exchange, to be involved in team

sports, to be leaders in their communities and be open and exposed to ideas different from their own,” said Feldstein.

Alderman Pat Dowell, 3rd Ward will also be traveling on the historic trip which will include over 60 players, parents and other community

leaders. “It is surprising to see the progress that has been made in the last two years halted and reversed by the Trump Administration.” said Alderman Pat Dowell.

Cayden Hanmon, who is 11 years old said, he has been playing soccer since the age of 2, and has grown to love the physicality of the

game.

“I love getting physical with people so I can knock them off the ball and get it,” he said. Although it’s not his first trip overseas, it is

his first trip to Cuba. It’s going to, “be exciting because I’ve never been to Cuba and it ’s going to be weird meeting different people,” he said.

After returning from Cuba, the KICS International Program will kickoff the KICS cup, which began four years ago. Feldstein added that the KICS cup is an international youth soccer tournament where 100 teams from 10 nations are invited to play against local

soccer teams in Chicago.

This year, the KICS cup is set to have teams from Guatemala, Ethiopia and Columbia play against Chicago local teams starting July 5-9.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

STARR Community Services International, Inc.