Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2016
CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov | (212) 306-3322
christian@foxsoccer.academy | (646) 217-1111

NYCHA YOUTH SCORE BIG WITH INTERNATIONAL SOCCER CHAMPION CHRISTIAN FUCHS AT FOX SOCCER ACADEMY

World Class Soccer Player Teams Up with NYCHA to Offer Scholarships and Remarkable Sports Opportunity to 5 Public Housing Youth

NEW YORK—The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the Fund for Public Housing today recognized the Fox Soccer Academy, founded by renowned European soccer pro Christian Fuchs, and the groundbreaking partnership to bring the skills and passion for soccer to New York City public housing youth. This year, Fox Soccer Academy offered scholarships to NYCHA youth between the ages of 8 and 16 for the opportunity to learn firsthand from international soccer pros at the competitive soccer camp, which is based at Frederick Douglass Field in Harlem.

In total, five NYCHA boys and girls received nearly $3,500 in scholarships to attend the week-long camp, which concludes Friday. In total, 60 children from New York City and beyond are participating in the top soccer academy, learning from world class players such as Christian Fuchs and Michael Gspurning, as well as former pro players and coaches Peter Hackmair and Heinz Griesmayer, who trained and discovered Fuchs.

“This incredible opportunity for youth in public housing to learn soccer from international professionals demonstrates NYCHA’s deep commitment to collaborative partnership meant to improve the lives of residents,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This programming, based in Harlem, not only offers an incredible experience for youth passionate about this game, but it builds on NYCHA’s existing summer camp programs at developments citywide.”
“This collaboration is a fantastic example of how NYCHA is creating partnerships to make our communities more connected,” said NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye, who also serves as a board member on the Fund For Public Housing. “Through this program, five young residents are learning and exercising at the same time – free of charge. We are proud to team up with Fox Soccer Academy to bring these summer sports scholarships and opportunity to some young residents.”
"Since meeting my wife my love for the USA and in particular NY has grown and grown,” said Fox Soccer Academy founder and world renowned soccer player Christian Fuchs. “The Fox Soccer Academy was my chance to give something back to the next generation of soccer players. Soccer in the US is growing so fast and I'm so happy to be part of it."

Fox Soccer Academy was launched two years ago by professional soccer player Christian Fuchs, who wanted to instill knowledge and a love of the game to the next generation of soccer players. Fuchs currently plays for the Leicester City Football Club and was instrumental in helping deliver their first English soccer title as Premier League champions in his first year on the team. The camp teaches the S.A.M. Method, which stands for Study, Apply and Motivation. The S.A.M. method is based on the fundamental concept that soccer makes sense only when the players enjoy the game. Its goal is to teach the professional aspects of soccer while teaching a love of the game to motivate and focus the players.

Fox Soccer Academy is based in New York City, where Christian and his wife Raluca Gold-Fuchs are raising their two children and run the camp.

Earlier this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the New York City Football Club and adidas announced the launch of the New York City Soccer Initiative, a public-private partnership that will build and maintain 50 soccer fields in underserved neighborhoods across the five boroughs over the next five years. Fields, including those on public housing at Cypress Hills Houses in East New York, Brooklyn and South Jamaica Houses in Queens, will begin to open for play as early as next year.

The Fund for Public Housing is an independent not-for-profit organization, which collaborates with public and private industry entities to reimagine and improve the way public housing works by investing in the well-being of NYCHA residents, and their surrounding communities.