Neighbor Spotlight: Soccer Source owner teams with Open Field to outfit needy kids from Pittsburgh to Cameroon
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Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would like to nominate someone as a Neighbor Spotlight, visit northjournal.com, select the “Post Story” button in the upper right corner, click the “New Article” button and complete the form to publish your nomination. Questions? Email Neighborhood News Network editor Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.
During the nearly three decades that Scott Longo has operated a soccer equipment supply shop in McCandless, he’s been happy to use the business to help needy kids by donating new and used gear.
But when a chance came up to help players in the Central African nation of Cameroon who are in dire need of even the most basic equipment to play the sport, “it really struck a nerve with me,” he said.
Longo, who owns and operates Soccer Source along Perry Highway, said he learned about the need in Cameroon from a supporter of the Pittsburgh-based non-profit organization Open Field, which was started by Justin Forzono.
“After speaking to Justin about what he was trying to do, I decided we were in a good position to help his cause,” Longo said. “We’ve helped outfit teams a number of times over the years, including supplying equipment to children in Africa.
“But the thing that really struck me about Justin’s efforts was the fact that even though their goal is to help teams in Cameroon, they haven’t forgotten that there still is a need to help the kids in the Pittsburgh area who are in need,” Longo said.
Forzano started Open Field after visiting Cameroon several times as part of his studies in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Dayton.
“The kids played soccer every day in the village where I was living,” Forzano said. “But they had no equipment. It was sad to see kids having to play barefoot or in sandals. There were even two players who shared one set of cleats, with one wearing the left shoe and the other the right. They were playing with anything other than a decent pair of shoes.
“So before I went back the next year, I got some donated gear together so I could bring it with me. That’s when the seeds for this organization were planted.”
Forzano said Longo is helping to fill a critical need that often goes unmet — outfitting coaches with the equipment they need.
But rather than ask for donations of used gear, Forzano and Longo are trying to raise money to purchase the items.
“It’s not too difficult getting things like used cleats, balls and uniforms because a lot of people have that sort of stuff to donate,” Forzano said. “And sometimes we get old referee gear, which we always appreciated. But we rarely get items the coaches need such as whistles, stopwatches, disc cones and bibs — and that’s what we need the most at this time. So having Soccer Source help us acquire those things is fantastic.”
Forzano said the campaign is focusing on soliciting monetary donations so new items can be purchased for the coaches.
Longo said while the pandemic slowed foot traffic at the store during the past year and likely cut into the fund-raising effort, business is picking up.
“Whenever I have to opportunity to talk to a client about the project, they want to do something to help and are very generous,” he said.
Forzano said helping kids in Cameroon and the Pittsburgh area with soccer equipment does more than just provide them with recreation.
“We train all of our coaches to be mentors,” he said. “There’s a topic discussed at every game, such as the need to end violence against women, which is a big problem.
“Having adults to guide these kids can really have a positive impact on their lives by keeping them from getting connected with the wrong people.”
He said the organization is working in Cameroon as well as Pittsburgh, “because kids in low-income communities in our area are really dealing with many of the same problems as kids in Africa.”
Longo said he is glad to part of finding a solution to the problem.
“What they are doing makes a lot of sense, so I want to help them any way I can,” he said. “I figure, if someone else isn’t going to do it, then why not me?”
Donations can be made online at openfieldintl.org.