MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Manasota Youth Soccer League has taught over 500 kids how to kick a goal every season—but now they are struggling to find a place to practice in the summer.
- Youth soccer team in need of a place to practice
- Team's park has been closed for renovations
- Summer practice put on hold
The league’s home field was Blackstone Park, but for two months it’s been closed, and they say county officials won’t tell them when it will reopen.
Melvin Marroquin has been a coach for the league for more than 10 years, and said many kids lived near the park, and often couldn’t be dropped off by their parents.
“The only way for them to get a ride or something is them riding their bikes,” Marroquin said.
With the parks uneven turf, flooding issues, and holes in the field, it disqualified them from hosting any home games, forcing some members of the team to stay home during a soccer match.
“Who knows, we could have the next Messi, or the next Ronaldinho, we never know, the only way we could know is if they play soccer,” the coach said.
The league moved to Lincoln Park, but Marroquin says the field is too small to host all of their practices.
“I feel hopeless, we don’t know what the future is going to be with this park,” he explained.
It’s still unclear if renovations will be brought to the field.
Bay News 9 reached out to Manatee County Parks and Recreation, and have yet to receive a response.