Crowds that could double last year’s estimated 5,000 soccer players and fans are expected in Kendall for Miami’s Second Annual Soccer Festival Sept. 29- 30, according to its entrepreneurial innovators, Alan and Scott Georgeson.
The 2012 Festival will attract even greater numbers of youth league teams from South Florida to compete in tournament play, based on early registration numbers already exceeding those of 2011, said Scott Georgeson.
“This year’s Festival is hosting teams from under-5 years through under- 18, expanding last year’s attendance that began with under-9’s,” he explained
“We are hoping to announce the appearance of a known soccer star or celebrity once again for this year’s festival,” added Georgeson, noting Abby Wambach, star player of the U.S. Women’s Olympic team, kicked off the Miami Festival in 2011.
The 2012 Festival hosts both adult and youth soccer competitions with a court of tented concessionaires, providing soccer specialties, food, music at Kendall Soccer Park at 8011 SW 127 Ave.
Buffalo Wild Wings and Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza, two of the major cosponsors, will provide special fare to accompany a first-time license for beer and wine service at the Festival.
The Georgesons who established the first Soccer 5 program in the U. S. three years ago organized the two-day Festival in 2011 to serve as a backdrop for a yeararound program popularizing adult and youth recreational leagues.
Now in partnership with Miami- Dade Parks Department, the Soccer 5 programs create year-around league play for both adult and teenage teams, as well as the Soccer Academy that teaches soccer at early ages.
On Sept. 3, the Academy began the first of two eight-week sessions for its fall-winter season, providing soccer lessons from 6-7 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights.The first program continues through Oct. 26. A second session is dated from Oct. 29 thru Dec. 21. Special attractions for Academy members include participation as ball boys with FIU games, attending a Miami Heat game and liaison for coaching by an English Premier League Club.
A rumbling thunderstorm postponed a barbecue for 40 youngsters and family members Aug. 24 to Sep. 3 that celebrated ending of an innovative ten-week summer camp. The first-time summer program was designed to teach toddlers to teens (ages 3-12) basics of the Soccer 5 game played on reduced-sized fields.
For festival information, visit www.miamisoccerfestival.org for detail on all Soccer 5 programs, visit www.soccer5usa.com/miami.
