Greenwood Wolves soccer team gets special access to Saturday's Toronto FC game with Cincinnati
CBC
The Greenwood Secondary School boys soccer team was granted special access to Saturday's Toronto FC game with Cincinnati at the BMO Field.
The team, known as the Greenwood Wolves, caught the attention of Toronto FC's president Bill Manning after winning the city championships.
They had the opportunity to meet Toronto FC legend Dwayne Derosario ahead of Saturday's game, and carried the crest as a part of the opening ceremonies.
Coach Peter McKenzie said it was a special day for the boys, who are all newcomers to Canada.
"A lot of them are escaping political persecution or violence back home, they have family members who weren't able to come to Canada safely, so certainly challenges that most teenagers don't face in Canada," McKenzie told CBC News.
"I think being part of a team, making connections with other students from other countries, alleviates a lot of that stress.
"Forming bonds with each other, feeling a connection with their school, their city and their new country, I think it's a great way to relieve that stress and just to make those first experiences in Canada to be positive ones," he added.
McKenzie says the team includes players from Afghanistan, Angola, Brazil, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mexico, Syria and Turkey.
With a student population who are all newcomers, Greenwood Secondary School's mission is to help its students learn English, work on their math, and move them into a regular high school.
"The kids are kind of beside themselves. It's super exciting just being down here," McKenzie said.
"There's a couple of students who had never been on the streetcar before coming down, so this is all very new. It really is. It's a special experience and we're very thankful to TFC for making it happen."
Team captain Natnael Aemro, 18, who is from Eritrea, hopes to play at the TFC field in the future.
"I love all things about Canada, the freedom, education, more opportunity to play soccer, and especially today, I mean, TFC Field, that's a big surprise for me. I have never been in TFC field. This is my first time," he said.
"I'm so excited. When I first came in from the door I wish to play here one day and I hope I'm gonna do it."
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