sports n w o t s t r o p S al. Valley, C Fountain
Giving hope to young athletes By CURT SEEDEN Fountain Valley Living Magazine
Y
oung soccer players in Fountain Valley probably know Senouci
Djafri. Djafri, an ex-soccer player himself, founded Sarson USA in 1996 in Fountain Valley. His store offers soccer balls, uniforms, warmups and other soccer equipment. But maybe more importantly, Djafri is offering something to the less fortunate— specifically to those in North Africa where he grew up. Djafri is giving away the “Kick it for Freedom” soccer ball. “The creation of the Kick it for Freedom soccer ball all began when two soccer coaches met on the soccer field in 2011,” Djafri said. The meeting with well-known soccer coach Platini Soaf led to a bonding “over their immense passion for the sport,” Djafri said. “Both soccer coaches shared their stories of growing up in North Africa and the challenges that they and the millions of other African children faced on a day-today basis when trying to play the sport they love, fútbol.” Both coaches say they remember what it was like 40 years ago trying to play soccer. The kids in both of the soccer coaches’ respective neighborhoods, would have to all pitch in some money in order to purchase a plastic soccer ball or they would have to obtain plastic and create the ball themselves. 34
FEBRUARY 2015
Photo by LYNN SEEDEN
Senouci Djafri shows off the “Kick it for Freedom” ball that he hopes will help North African children and their love of soccer.
“It did not matter to the kids too much, what it took to achieve this ball because once they had it, their smiles were contagious, and euphoria filled the streets,” Djafri said. Both of the soccer coaches visit their homeland every year, and every year for the last 40 years, they have seen the same problem of kids trying to obtain a formidable soccer ball, Djafri said. In 2011, Djafri and Platini pledged to manufacture the Kick it for Freedom soccer ball and use it in an attempt to make a difference in the lives of millions of kids
Fountain Valley Living Magazine
around the world. For every soccer ball sold by them, one Kick it for Freedom soccer ball will be donated to less fortunate children. The Kick it for Freedom Soccer Ball is designed completely by kids. Each of the soccer panels that make up the face of the soccer ball were designed by a kid. The price of the soccer ball is $29.95 and that includes the second ball that will be donated to a less fortunate child. The Kick it for Freedom Soccer Ball can be found at www.sarsonUSA.com and www.shopformidable.com. www.FountainValleyMagazine.com