A former Cayman national football coach and his footballer brother who now work in the United Arab Emirates, have donated $400 to their former club here, East End United, for its youth program.
Coach Thiago Cunha worked for East End United Football Club for eight years, up to 2010, and was also a coach and technical director of the women’s national team for 10 years.
He helped around 30 female footballers to reach universities and professional clubs until he left to work in Dubai last year – and still helps them from the other side of the world.
His brother Diego Cunha is working with Thiago at the Al Sharjah club as the youth fitness coach.
Diego has been in Dubai for four years with Al Sharjah and helped them win the Under-19 League in 2012.
Diego played for East End United in the shortened season after Hurricane Ivan hit the island in 2004 when Thiago was the team’s coach.
East End were Cayman’s U-23 Rally Champions in 2005.
“We decided to help East End United with our personal donation for the youth development program as part of their challenge people to help program,” Thiago said.
Four months ago Al Sharjah won the UAE U-19 President’s Cup and the sheik owner gave the Cunhas a bonus.
They contacted Eric Solomon, East End assistant coach and a former player and Dexter Benliss, a former East End youth and senior goalkeeper, and donated the money to the club.
“We think if everybody helps a little, East End’s football program can improve and we are also improving the lives of the youth there,” Thiago said.
Solomon said, “We are very thankful for this help from Thiago and Diego and really appreciate it very much.
“It will help us boost the team’s confidence and keep the team together for years to come.
“The youth are our soul. The other coaches and I are passing on what we were taught from Thiago.”
Solomon added that it is hard for East End to get sponsors so they support the team out of their own pockets.
“Thiago took the team out of a hole and now he is still doing a lot from afar,” Solomon said.
The Cunhas also sent two Al Sharjah jerseys as a gift; the UAE U-19 final game jersey for the U-13 team and also the final game’s goalkeeper jersey for Anthony Frederick, who for 11 years was the East End manager.
“Anthony deserves the goalkeeper jersey and much more,” said Thiago. “He really worked hard and deserves to be recognized.
“I would like to thank all who worked hard for East End, like Dion Brandon, Darcia Hamilton, former president John McLean and today’s East End President Henry Solomon for his hard community work.”
Thiago added that they developed some very good players in East End, particularly Benliss who is graduating in January 2015 from Johnson & Wales University in Miami.
“We had the privilege to see Dexter develop from 10 to 18 years old in the East End football program,” Thiago said.
“After he graduates he will return to East End to help the youth program like he did before. Dexter is a very good role model for East End youth.
“The football is a good environment for the players to learn discipline and leadership.
“Our intention is making East End’s program bigger and better in the future. If we can help from here in Dubai, why can’t people around there do the same?”
He thanked CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb, Dalton Watler, Mark Scotland and Collin Anglin for their help when he was East End’s technical director.
“They helped the East End football program a lot with equipment and sponsors,” he said.
Benliss said, “Thank you for your support over the years, Thiago. The East End program has been responsible for developing not only my football skill but it has also developed the team’s working skills along with respect for others and discipline.
“Before leaving for school, I worked along with the youth program trying to give back what I have learned over the years and look forward to seeing more development done.”
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