After a driven shot into the net, Matt Grafe raised both arms over his head, then turned and gave spectators two thumbs up.
Grafe is FC Cincinnati’s representative for the sixth-annual Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Soccer Showcase, which will be played next Wednesday in Orlando as part of MLS All-Star Week presented by Target.
In Orlando, he’ll be joined by Lindsay Bartsch, the Program Director at Special Olympics Hamilton County, as well as representatives from almost every other team in MLS in a East-vs.-West showdown.
However, on Tuesday morning, they were together at the Mercy Health Training Center in Milford to receive their FCC jerseys and to receive some advice ahead of the trip.
“It’s really awesome that FC Cincinnati and MLS allow Special Olympics to be a part of this and give this chance to our athletes,” Bartsch said. “It’s pretty exciting. I’m a Cincinnati girl myself, and Matt (is from here too), so it’s really cool being able to represent our hometown.”
The duo will fly to Orlando on Monday morning and will practice with their Unified teams on Tuesday before playing Wednesday.
This event aligns Special Olympics’ Unified Sports Soccer Exchange Program with MLS’ “Soccer For All” initiative. In this case, this is an opportunity to unite Special Olympic Athletes with Unified partners.
“I’m pretty excited,” Grafe said. “I’m ready to represent FC Cincinnati.”
He officially was deemed ready for the All-Star Game when FCC winger Emmanuel Ledesma gave Grafe his jersey and they passed the ball together. Then, Interim Head Coach Yoann Damet introduced himself and gave the player a pep talk.
“Enjoy it, all the best and score some goals,” Damet said.
