IN ITALY, it's known as "calico," in Latin America it's "fútbol" and in the rest of the world it's "football." And even though it's called "soccer," the kid set are working hard to make it as big in America as it is in the rest of the world. Kids like 9-year-old Albert Green and 10-year-old Robbie Lacomble, who, under the tutelage of Mike Karr, now have a chance to aspire to the levels of professional soccer the world over. Mike Karr is the Board Chair of the Los Gatos-based Pacific Soccer Academy, a youth soccer development center modeled after European soccer academies. PSA is teaming up with PSI (Pro Soccer International), a U.K. counterpart of PSA that has over 50 years of experience in developing players at youth and professional levels. Together they will create the first Center of Excellence in the United States. Thanks to the new partnership, Green and Lacomble will be able to spend Easter break training in England. PSA is a nonprofit organization—the first of its kind here in the States—and fundraisers are held to keep the ball rolling. The next one will be at Hawgs Seafood Restaurant in San Jose on Jan. 20, 2007. So stop by and check out the future of U.S. soccer in the making.
The PSA Dreams of Stars fundraiser happens Jan. 20 at 7pm, Hawgs Seafood Restaurant, 150 S. Second St., San Jose. $40 per person/$70 per couple/$300 for 10. (408.378.3893; www.acificsocceracademy.org)
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