The reVision Football Club is a Southwest Houston-based team comprised of African immigrants that has received national headlines, including features in USA TODAY and on NPR. The team operates under the umbrella of reVision Houston, a faith-based organization that works to break the cycle of isolation among the most profoundly disconnected youth, most of whom are caught up in the juvenile justice system.
Having heard about the team and the program, Houston Dynamo midfielder Juan David Cabezas and defender Kevin Garcia visited reVision FC this week to get to know the players and share their own experiences. The visit brought back memories for Cabezas from when he was a teenager playing soccer back in Colombia.
“When I was fourteen years old, I dreamt of becoming a professional and they have that dream right now,” Cabezas said. “So we are here today trying to motivate them to continue pushing to fulfill their dreams.”
Cabezas and Garcia spoke to the team about their path to becoming professionals and how they joined the Dynamo. The teenagers asked about the hardships of being a professional such as time management, missing family and failure. Garcia told them that “getting cut from teams” was the hardest part.
“For me, failure hasn’t been hurtful, I’ve seen it as a blessing, and I’ve been able to grow from my failures,” Garcia said. “Holding on to your dream is what gets you through it all.”
Cabezas and Garcia joined in on their practice and provided pointers. The visit ended with an invitation to the Dynamo vs. LAFC match on July 12 at BBVA Compass Stadium and a special experience to join the team in the tunnel and cheer them on as they take the pitch.
The teenagers’ reaction to the visit and the invitation was one of pure joy. The evening was impactful one for the Dynamo players, and they wanted to return the favor: “We hope it’s a moment that they will never forget.”
