HARLINGEN — A local girls soccer team took matters into their own hands and helped clean up the field they play in.
The RGV FC Toros Academy participated in this community service effort Oct. 29 at the Harlingen Soccer Complex, where the girls play three times a week.
“The Parks and Rec Department has always been very supportive of us as an academy,” said Lupe Zuniga, the team’s coach.
“We wanted to teach the girls some responsibility and the importance of community service,” he said.
According to Zuniga, the city already had the plan of improving the conditions at the complex.
They delivered loads of dirt throughout the complex, and the girls rolled up their sleeves and participated in spreading it out.
“These girls love soccer and are passionate. This team has helped them build team camaraderie and create lasting friendships among teammates,” Zuniga said.
“This was just another way for us to come together and provide solutions. They learned to take action and hopefully other teams and others will do their part and partake in taking care of their field,” he said.
Zuniga also mentioned Araguz Construction provided equipment to the team to be able to do the cleanup.
The girls currently in the team range from 7 to 8 years old.
The Academy is the only officially sanctioned U.S soccer development Academy club in the Rio Grande Valley.
The girls program competes within the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and United Soccer Clubs Champions League (USC-CL).
Zuniga has been a coach since 2005 in the Harlingen area and used to coach his son and now his daughter.
“I hope our experience will shed some light on the importance of community service and more importantly the value of respect for those pursuing their own ambitions and dreams,” he said.
