FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – As part of Major League Soccer’s Soccer for All Week, the New England Revolution will honor the Massachusetts-based New England Amputee Soccer Team as “Heroes of the Match” on Sunday, May 16 as the club takes on Columbus SC on ESPN2. In celebration of the league-wide initiative to highlight efforts throughout the league that foster more inclusive and equitable communities, the Revolution will recognize eight members of the team in front of Revolution supporters during halftime of Sunday’s match.
The New England Amputee Soccer Team was founded by Massachusetts residents Nico Calabria and Rafael Perdigão in 2019. The team competes in the American Amputee Soccer Association and welcomes amputee athletes of all ages and genders. Calabria, a native of Carlisle and a teacher at Concord-Carlisle High School, has also competed on the national stage as captain of the United States Men’s Amputee Soccer Team, which he joined in 2010. Perdigão, who resides in Shrewsbury, began competing as an amputee athlete in his home country of Brazil in 2008, where he founded the first professional soccer team for amputees.
In addition to the in-stadium recognition, each member of the New England Amputee Team has received a customized Revolution kit, including a jersey, shorts, and cleats. The Revolution are also donating state-of-the-art, durable sets of crutches to the athletes to aid them in competition, as part of a long-term commitment to support the team. All Sunday, fans can also follow the amputee soccer club behind the scenes during their day of recognition as they will take over the MLS WORKS Instagram account. The Revolution plan to host the team at a future match at Gillette Stadium once permitted by state and local COVID-19 ordinances.
The full New England Amputee Soccer Team roster, including hometowns, can be found below:
<strong><u>Name</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Hometown</u></strong> |
<p>Brian Bardell</p> |
<p>Northbridge, Mass.</p> |
<p>Christopher Barnett</p> |
<p>Marlborough, Mass.</p> |
<p>David Bonfiglio</p> |
<p>Foxborough, Mass.</p> |
<p>Nico Calabria</p> |
<p>Concord, Mass.</p> |
<p>Vinny Fischer</p> |
<p>Abington, Mass.</p> |
<p>Musabwa</p> |
<p>Syracuse, N.Y.</p> |
<p>Rafael Perdigão </p> |
<p>Shrewsbury, Mass.</p> |
<p>Emily Sunderland</p> |
<p>Cambridge, Mass.</p> |
New England Revolution “Hero of the Match”
The Revolution’s Hero of the Match Program honors local first responders, members of the armed forces, or individuals making a difference in their communities with recognition in Gillette Stadium during Revolution matches. To learn more about the program, or to nominate a “Hero of the Match,” click here.
MLS Soccer For All Week
First introduced by MLS in 2018 through MLS WORKS, the league’s social responsibility platform, Soccer For All signifies that everyone is welcome to MLS, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status, and emphasizes the league’s commitment to drive positive social change and end discrimination. MLS and its clubs will conduct initiatives year-long that provide inclusive opportunities in-stadium and for members of the local community including sensory rooms, mini-pitch builds, and youth soccer programming, equipment donations to underserved and underrepresented communities, and first-team experiences for individuals with and without intellectual and physical disabilities. Learn more about Soccer For All Weekhere.
