soccerNM.com

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The problems on the Native American Pueblos across NM are well-documented.

Combating those problems is no small task, but the Notah Begay III Foundation has tackled the myriad of problems through something that the state’s native golfing son knows best: sports.

Toward that end, the foundation sponsored a series of soccer clinics this summer aimed at health, fitness and establishing self esteem, said Damon Lucero, foundation soccer director.

“We’re trying to get the kids to move,” he said. “Exercise is a big part of it. Soccer is a means that we’re using. We’re trying to teach them some skills, but that’s just a small part of it. We’re trying to give the kids a foundation for life skills. We’re trying to make a change in their lives and using soccer as the vehicle.”

In past summers, the foundation has sponsored four teams that played in the annual Indigenous Soccer Cup, said Notah’s brother, Clint, who is the Foundation’s soccer coordinator and runs the San Felipe Soccer Club.

“This summer, we wanted to figure out how we could have an impact on more kids,” he said. “The older kids like the ISC, but we’d only reach about 50 kids. This way, we have about 100 kids a day, 400 a week.”

The Foundation recently brought in Lucero, who well-known in the soccer community and a veteran club and high school coach, to provide a structure for the soccer programs.

And the kids have responded.

“It’s fun,” said Martina Sandoval of the San Felipe Pueblo who will be an eighth-grader at Bernalillo Middle School. “Soccer gives you something to do and I get to learn more about soccer.”

San Felipe’s D’Alan Sandoval, who going to be a seventh-grader at Bernalillo, enjoyed playing World Cup.

“It’s like playing real games,” he said.

The players were broken into countries and kept track of their scores throughout the days of the camp.

“The kids look forward to that,” Lucero said. “We give out awards for team spirit and good sportsmanship.

Along with the soccer instructions, participants received nutritional information, watched videos and even got lunch.

“We know there’s a lot of poverty on the Pueblos, so we want to make it easy for everybody to participate,” Begay said.

The Foundation has given youngsters a way to continue to give back to their communities.

Simone Duran of San Felipe, who’s attending the University of New Mexico, is getting her first exposure to soccer.

“It’s a good experience,” said Duran, who played volleyball, softball, basketball and cross country for Bernalillo High School. “I like soccer. I like the skills they’re teaching. They’re teaching soccer and creating self-esteem.”