MONROE, Conn. — Children from nearly every age group played soccer behind Chalk Hill School on a sunny Saturday morning, while their parents and grandparents sat on lawn chairs to watch the matches. Monroe Soccer Club Coach Sana Sarr stood on the sidelines to take in all of the action on the grassy field.
Sarr, who is assistant director of coaching for the Monroe Soccer Club (MSC) and co-founder and president of the nonprofit Gambia Association of Autism and Development Disabilities (GAADD), organized MSC’s first annual Autism Awareness Fundraiser.
“It’s the first year in commemoration of Autism awareness and acceptance,” Sarr said. “A friend of mine, who is a former high school classmate, had a child and wanted to do something for Autism support and she reached out to me.”
Sarr, who emigrated to the U.S. from Gambia, and his friend, Sainbou Jobe, who now lives in Georgia with her family, co-founded GAADD. All proceeds from Saturday’s soccer tournaments will benefit the nonprofit, which has a classroom in Gambia.
“I’m really happy that Monroe Soccer Club is like a family supporting all causes in the community,” Sarr said. “The board was very supportive to organize this. We have members within the club and the Monroe community, who have children with Autism.”
The soccer matches were 15 minutes each with coed teams of four-to-five players for a four-on-four competition. Brackets included players under age 9 and 10, under 11 and 12, and under 13 and 14.
MSC Coach Craig McCloud, the director of coaching, assisted Sarr with the event and players from Masuk High School’s boys and girls varsity soccer teams also volunteered their time.
“The turnout is amazing,” Sarr said. “Everything was put together in the last three days. Close to 50 kids showed up and there was a good turnout of the high school players. The kids look up to them. All of them played at MSC as seven-to-nine year olds growing up and they’re still coming back to help. They know they can always reach out to us and we can reach out to them.”
Masuk soccer star, Ella McGee, in red, plays soccer with a group of girls.
Ella McGee, a Masuk senior and the reigning SWC Player of the Year, kicked a ball around with a group of girls in one area of the field. She was volunteering with Masuk teammates Kara Leandres, a fellow senior, and Julia Hourigan, who is a sophomore.
“It’s beautiful weather and the turnout is better than expected, especially on short notice, and being able to play with the kids is always fun,” McGee said.
McGee, who will play at Northeastern next year, and her teammates all grew up playing soccer with the MSC.
“I played here, probably from age eight to 11, and I’ve had Coach Sarr and Coach Craig,” McGee said. “As soon as Sana asked me, I was immediately willing to come out … anything for the MSC community.”
On another part of the field, Masuk boys soccer players — seniors, Joaquim Torre and Cash Dewey, and freshmen, Matt Rivera and Antek Turosienski — played with a group of boys.
“This is where I first played soccer when I was in second grade,” said Torre. “It’s really fun,” he added of Saturday’s event, “and it’s for a good cause. One of my cousins has Autism. I enjoy what MSC is doing, raising Autism awareness.”
Torre already knew some of the children from coaching for the Monroe Soccer Club. “It’s fun seeing them,” he said.
Since playing for MSC, Torre has maintained a close relationship with his coaches. Coach Craig McCloud was Torre’s mentor when he coached at the club for his Capstone Project.
“It’s a close knit community,” Torre said. “Even after MSC, Sana and Craig did a preseason camp for the high school soccer team. I saw Sana at a gas station recently and we talked about college.”
Though he has some desirable options, Torre has yet to decide on a college for next fall.
MSC Coach Sana Sarr, Joaquim Torre, Antek Turosienski , Matt Rivera, Cash Dewey, Kara Leandres, Ella McGee, Julia Hourigan and MSC Director of Coaching Craig McLeod.
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