MLS WORKS and ESPN announced the full rosters for the 2016 Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star soccer match. The match takes place on Tuesday, July 26 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, CA at 5:30 PM PT, just two days before the 2016 AT&T MLS All-Star Game.
For the third year in a row, the Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star soccer match is presented by MLS WORKS and ESPN, and the match will feature athletes representing 18 MLS clubs from the U.S. and Canada. The teams will take the pitch in an East vs. West matchup immediately following the MLS All-Star open training session at Avaya Stadium. The Unified Sports All-Star soccer teams are comprised of players with and without intellectual disabilities, and will play an 11 v. 11 match consisting of two 35-minute halves. The team uniforms for the game will be provided by adidas.
Representing New York City FC are special olympian Andeano Taylor-Sewell and partner athlete Ahmed Wague. Andeano Taylor-Sewell is a 19-year-old student at the Roy Campanella School in Brooklyn, New York, who came to the United States in 2014 from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. A natural leader and skilled soccer player, in only his first year participating in Special Olympics competitions, Andeano helped lead his club team, the Knights, to winning the gold medal at the 2015 New York State Special Olympics Fall Games. He commented, “I’m excited about the opportunity to go to California and participate in the All-Star Game. I’m also excited to meet all the new players from around the country and watch the professionals play.
Ahmed Wague was born and raised in Bamako, Mali, where he first fell in love with the game of soccer. He moved to the U.S. in 2010 with his family and is currently a senior at the Frederick Douglass Academy in East Harlem, New York. His two favorite soccer players are Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and NYCFC’s Jack Harrison. Playing Unified Sports soccer has given him the chance to work on his skills, help others get better at the game, and make new friends. When asked about the opportunity, he said, “I’m excited, but for me it’s not only about playing soccer. It’s also about meeting new people and learning how to communicate with others. More importantly, it’s about friendship and respect."
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ESPN soccer analyst and commentator Taylor Twellman will serve as sideline reporter, providing color commentary and interviews with players and coaches throughout the match. MLS All-Stars will be on hand greeting the athletes as they take the field, and San Jose Earthquakes players will serve as celebrity coaches for both teams, as well as presenting the Unified athletes with medals following the game.
The game will showcase the Special Olympics Unified Sports exchange program, the cornerstone of the ongoing partnership between MLS and Special Olympics North America. Through the Unified Sports soccer exchange program, Unified soccer teams from MLS cities travel to other MLS markets to compete in exhibition matches with their Special Olympics counterparts. Unified matches are scheduled in conjunction with MLS club matches, providing MLS fans with an opportunity to witness first-hand the talents and abilities of Special Olympics athletes. Supporting the matches is ESPN, media partner to both MLS and Special Olympics International and the Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports.
