SDFC speeches

KWFN-FM / 97.3 The Fan

2/5/2025

SDFC speeches at ribbon cutting ceremony.

Transcript

00:00to Tom Vernon for having the vision to start the academy. Thank you to all the donors that

00:06helped keep the academy afloat during the hard times and thank you to Sir Mohammed Mansour

00:13and his group for taking the academy to heights that are bigger than anything that any of us

00:20could have imagined. I've seen some nice facilities in my playing career but this right here is

00:27definitely the best that I've ever played in. When I was in the academy we used to actually

00:34cut the grass on Friday afternoons with machetes just to get it ready for the games on Saturday.

00:41Part of the lesson in that was for us to take pride in our environment but it was also in

00:46part because the academy didn't have enough funding to have a full-time grounds team.

00:51So again thank you to Sir Mohammed Mansour and the Sequan tribe for these incredible facilities

01:00and the staff that work here. I'm just glad that we don't have to cut the grass with machetes anymore.

01:08Being a right screen gave me the best chance of making it as a professional soccer player

01:13but what stuck with me most are the lessons that I learned while I was there.

01:18Lessons that I'm able to apply to all aspects of my life today. Right screen pushed me out of my

01:24comfort zone to achieve something bigger for myself and for my family. I learned the importance

01:30of hard work and embracing competition. In my time at the academy we were rewarded not based

01:38on performance but rather on our effort level and attitude. I went to the academy as the top student

01:46of my generation. Humbly speaking I was getting better grades than anyone in my class.

01:53And making this dream a reality. As we open the doors to this amazing new chapter

02:01let us remember the history that surrounds us here. This land is rich in history and tradition

02:08and we honor those who come before us as we pave the way for future generations of athletes.

02:17To Sir Muhammad and the Right to Dream family I could not be more proud of our partnership.

02:25So much passion and history and to use a great phrase that I've come to love Sir Muhammad

02:32we have a drive to succeed. The alignment of our values cannot be understated.

02:40Together we are creating a legacy that will inspire countless individuals

02:44to pursue their dreams on and off the pitch. On behalf of the Saquan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation

02:52we want to thank you all for being a part of this momentous occasion this morning.

02:56Here's to the future of football in San Diego, the spirit of collaboration and the continued growth

03:03of our vibrant community. Let's usher in a new era for our team and for our land. Thank you all.

03:15We're going to have winners here from San Diego through the Right to Dream system, through the

03:19coaches, through the amazing management that we've put together here in San Diego.

03:28I think it's this is the defining moment for San Diego.

03:33This team will not only be a sporting entity it promises to be a catalyst for culture,

03:40for diversity, for community, for economic growth in this city.

03:45We will encourage fans from all walks of life including the cross-border communities of

03:52Mexico to come together in support of the city's first major league soccer team. San Diego is a city

04:00that thrives on creativity and deep sense of pride in the community.

04:07From the bustling southern border to the coastal neighborhoods it's a city of dreamers,

04:13doers and innovators. San Diego reflects this spirit and soccer is a universal language.

04:22It brings people together, the bridge between cultures and the symbol of unity. With this team

04:30with this team we have an opportunity to showcase San Diego's rich tapestry of cultures.

04:38This is a club for every fan whether they were born here or moved here we will see them

04:45represented and celebrated. San Diego is building community and creating a sense of belonging.

04:54We hope this will be a lot of fun along the way. Soccer is a world game and it's time for

05:00San Diego to take place on the world stage. My dream is to have homegrown players from here

05:09that instead of the players from Europe

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