Trust to outfit Soccer for the Nations teams
Soccer for the Nations co-directors Lexi Robinson and Valair Shabilla
NASHVILLE — With a record number of participants, the Nashville Roadies and Soccer for the Nations turned to the people of Nashville to help complete the necessary funding to outfit their teams for the 2019 spring season. This is where the Nashville Soccer Supporters Trust stepped in. On Tuesday, the Trust agreed to pick up the tab on shoes and shinguards for the Soccer for the Nations teams, pushing the Trust’s total contribution to the organization this spring north of $1,000.
Soccer for the Nations, which is a charitable arm for the Nashville Roadies supporters group, aims to provide opportunities to play soccer for the children of Nashville without regard to the child’s socioeconomic background. After being previously affiliated with the organization, the Roadies assumed full operation of it last fall, and this spring marks the first season since taking it over.
“We are always proud to partner with Soccer for the Nations,” said Trust president David Wasiolek. “Their mission is one that is embraced within our own, which is to promote local soccer and community welfare. By working together, we can ensure a brighter future for Nashville by using soccer to positively impact our most precious resource — our children.”
“We’re thrilled and grateful that the Trust is partnering with The Roadies and Soccer for the Nations to provide equipment for our players this season,” said Roadies president Newton Dominey. “The Trust’s contribution affirms that the work done through Soccer for the Nations has value and resonates in our community. We look forward to continuing to work with the Trust to make Nashville a city where every child has access to the sport we love, and that the voice and contribution of all supporters groups are valued.”
The charity is a fully volunteer-run operation with Roadies members Lexi Robinson and Valair Shabilla serving as co-directors. The charity aims to help all children, but specializes in working within low income and immigrant communities.
“I feel like I can relate to some of these children in a way that a lot of people can’t,” explained Shabilla, an Iraqi refugee who settled in the Middle Tennessee area in 2009. “We didn’t have a lot of money when I came to America. There were people who were there for me when I first came here, and I want to do my best to try to return that favor to this community.”
“We currently serve 55 kids, and today’s donation ensures that all of them will be able to play in the league,” Robinson added. “This is 20 more children than we were able to work with last year, and we already have a waiting list for the fall season. We were involved in a really small area last year, and we’re excited that were able to grow our reach this season. We now have a lot of hope that we’ll be able to keep expanding to serve an even larger group of children going forward.”
The Soccer for the Nations teams will begin their season this weekend at Douglass Park. The teams compete in the Mid State Youth Sports league, and individuals who would like to donate to the organization may do so at SoccerForTheNations.com.
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