City SC Carlsbad hosted the 11th annual Giving Back Friendlies event on January 4, 2025. This year’s event raised $11,120 for beneficiary, City SC Harare. City SC Carlsbad also donated an additional $5k on behalf of the club to bring this year’s total donation to $16,120.
The Friendlies are City SC’s biggest annual community fundraiser. Every year, the club picks a cause or organization to support and dedicates a weekend of friendly games to raising funds for the chosen recipient. Since its inception in 2014, the Giving Back Friendlies have raised over $138,000 for a wide variety of worthy causes, ranging from local families in need to organizations doing life changing and in some instances, life saving work in the community.
This season’s beneficiary, City SC Harare, is a no-cost soccer program in Zimbabwe for local youth players who would otherwise not have the opportunities and resources to pursue their passion for the game. The program will empower young athletes by providing resources and a pathway to success and will help tackle social issues in the community. An initiative led by City SC Carlsbad Coach and Harare, Zimbabwe native, Taps Manhungo, City SC Harare held their first talent ID sessions this month. Sixty players attended tryouts for the U13 and U15 boys teams which will kick off their season in April. The long term vision is to expand the program to include girls teams and additional age groups.
“We are very proud to be able to support Coach Taps and the work he has done to launch City SC Harare,” said City SC Carlsbad Boys Executive Director, Glenn Malone. “To see our mission of igniting a passion for the game carried out in Zimbabwe is really exciting and we hope we can continue to make a positive impact on the community in Harare through soccer.”
Many thanks to all of our City SC players, parents, team managers, coaches, and staff who support this event every year and to all those who volunteered to referee games and staff donation tables. Donations from the Friendlies will go directly to help cover the cost of equipment, fields, insurance, coaches, video equipment, and player transportation which is a common barrier that prevents players from participating in organized sports.
Fundraising efforts for City SC Harare will be ongoing. Contact Taps Manhungo at info@cityscharare.com for more information on ways to donate.
Events like the Giving Back Friendlies truly define our club and community spirit. 100% of funds raised from this event go directly to City SC Harare, and will go a long way in helping players there realize their dreams!
