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Soccer Exhibition To Benefit Youth Development Program

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: August 16, 2008

CLEARWATER - The ultra-competitive Galactics Soccer Club will bring its top talent to Oldsmar's Canal Park this Sunday to compete in a match to benefit African American youth soccer.

The event and game is being promoted as "The Game of the Stars," said Mauricio Munoz, director of public relations for the Galactics. The Galactics' competition will be a team comprised of media personalities from Spanish-speaking media outlets serving the Tampa Bay area. Television networks Univision and Telemundo, radio station Super Q 1300 AM and print publication 7 Dias are among those participating either in the game itself, providing coverage or both.

Galactics Clearwater International F.C. is an organization of more than 500 members from around the Pinellas-Hillsborough-Pasco area, Munoz said. Players range from ages 4 and up. The Galactics adult leagues participate within the Florida Suncoast Soccer League and United States Adult Soccer Association.

Sunday's event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the match beginning at 11.

Organizers will have food, drinks, music, a bouncy house for kids and other entertainment available from start to finish. Munoz said up to 200 people are expected.

Donations will be accepted throughout the day for the benefit of the soccer club's newest effort, the Galactics Greenwood Community Soccer Program.

"It's one of our programs to introduce soccer in the African American community," Munoz said. "We're running some programs right now in Greenwood at the Community Center and the Life Force Cultural Arts Academy. Four of five coaches go to teach the basics of soccer to the kids and we want to continue this program throughout the year for after school."

The latest endeavor to spread the sport's reach began July 7 and has attracted upward of 350 kids, according to a Galactics' press release.

Munoz said the club hopes to establish Sunday's event as an annual happening.

For more information on the event or Galactics' soccer, go to its href=http://galactics.org> Web site or call 727-461-2480.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

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