Before the two teams take the pitch tonight, Crystal Palace USA and Cleveland City Stars will partner up for a good cause.
The two clubs are supporting an organization called “Servants for Haiti,” which will be collecting soccer balls, shoes and equipment outside of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium before tonight?s kickoff.
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“We have the blessing of the sport of soccer,” said Palace general manager/co-coach Pete Medd. “It?s the world?s game, and we want to give back a little.”
Fans that donate either shoes or a soccer ball will be given a voucher for a free ticket to any 2007 Palace home game. But aside from shoes and balls, other equipment is needed, particularly pumps.
“Once [balls] go flat there, you can?t pump them up,” said Palace sporting director/co-coach Jim Cherneski, who has twice visited Haiti to help in the construction of buildings.
“It?s something where the poverty level ? you can?t describe it unless you?re there,” Cherneski said. “The kids down there love soccer, but they can?t afford soccer balls and they can?t afford shoes. Everything down there is broken concrete.”
Cleveland will be sending a reserve team to Haiti for a game against the Haitian U-23 national team later this summer, and while on the island will be helping out in projects for the nation?s citizens.
Crystal Palace will plan to do more of these events throughout the year, particularly on June 16, when the team plays Bermuda.
“We?re doing a series of events similar to this with Haiti. Our next event is going to be [collecting for] South Africa, where my sister has been living for the past four years,” Medd said. “The poverty level is beyond description, and the one things kids love is soccer. We?ll be doing a similar drive and highlighting the fact that the World Cup will be in South Africa in 2010.”
