The idea of having a soccer program or academy for kids is an old one, dating back to 1998. At that time, I was asked to coach an Assyrian team composed of young guys who had a passion for soccer but were often neglected.
Recognizing their potential, I decided to establish Chicago Thunder based on my own experience. A few years later, with the help of Mr. Wilson Gewarges, I added a B team. We wanted to do more, so a few years later, we added a kids’ program to serve the community. However, we had to put a stop to it because I didn’t have enough funds to support it.
Until a year ago, I approached Mr. Odisho Piro, the athletic director of sports for ANCIL, and Mr. Oger Malik Ismail, the president of ANCIL. They both agreed to the idea, so I waited until it was approved by the board. Now, the soccer academy program is up and running, and we have more than 110 kids aged 7-16, all because of the support provided by ANCIL. Therefore, we must give credit to Mr. Oger Malik Ismail and the ANCIL community (Motwa). I ask our community to judge others by their actions, which speak louder than words.
Here are some amazing pictures and videos of our kids in action! To see more, follow us on our social media channels.
