HARLEM — Christian Fuchs, a soccer star who plays with English Premier League champions Leicester City FC, schooled dozens of kids in their drills Thursday.
“It’s important to see a smile on kids’ faces,” Fuchs said.
“To me, (soccer) is more of an institution to get a community to socialize.”
Fuchs, who plays left back for Leicester City, an underdog team which shocked soccer fans by winning the English Premier League this year, said it was important to show kids the joy in the sport.
Fuchs’ organization, the Fox Soccer Academy, partnered with NYCHA to bring soccer to kids living in public housing during a week-long camp aimed at exposing kids to soccer who otherwise would not be.
Many of the kids, about 60 from ages 8 to 16, ecstatically ran the field in Harlem’s Frederick Douglass Playground, at 101st and Amsterdam Ave., scoring goals and running drills.
Mya Morrison, 12, said the sport never appealed to her, but after being in the camp she said, “I see the potential in soccer.”
The soccer camp was started two years ago by Fuchs and his wife, Raluca.
“Soccer in the U.S. is growing so fast and I'm so happy to be part of it," Fuchs said.
