Zack Dabby, Contributing Writer
The Annual US Soccer Heroes Cup was recently hosted at Red Bull Arena, with New Jersey Youth Soccer fully supporting the event. First Responders, consisting of firefighters, police and EMTs, faced off against civilians from the New Jersey community for the memorial match.
The US Soccer Heroes Cup, which was founded by Alex Lalaoui, is now an annual tradition that honors fallen civilians and the heroes who bravely sacrificed their lives during the attacks of 9/11. Lalaoui is a respected member within the Hudson County area who has deep ties within the soccer community. It is only through his vision and perseverance that the special night happens. The event provided a unique opportunity to celebrate first responders, as they were featured in the pre-game ceremonies and honored on field during halftime of the Red Bulls match before taking the pitch at the end of the night for an exclusive exhibition match.
The Heroes Cup started off as a game between two local departments, Jersey City Fire and Jersey City Police, in 2008 at Giants Stadium when it was home to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (rebranded to the New York Red Bulls in 2006). The event evolved in 2015, and instead of firefighters vs. police, it turned into first responders against civilians as a means of building a bridge between the two groups. Under this new format, interest grew, and the number of spectators quickly tripled. The goal of this match has always been to build trust and relations between the two groups. Additionally, the Heroes Cup aims to use the game of soccer to connect and inspire positive social change.
“I have had the pleasure of partaking in the US Soccer Heroes Community Cup on four occasions, and each time, it’s an unforgettable event. Great players and coaches on both sides,” reflected Detective Sergeant Byron Aguayo with the Englewood Police Department. “Great competition and great memories. Aside from playing, I have had the pleasure of partaking in the opening ceremony with the Englewood Police Department Honor Guard as well and must say that it’s an honor presenting the colors. Great event to be a part of, play on, and live firsthand.”
Throughout all the years of the Heroes Cup, the New York Red Bulls have been one of the match’s biggest supporters, and because of that, the Red Bulls have been a part of every match.
“The US Soccer Heroes Cup is one of the longest running events at Red Bull Arena,” said Ben Norowski, Manager of Group Sales with the New York Red Bulls. “Alex Lalaoui has dedicated significant time and resources into building what it has become today. We’ve been lucky to work with Alex to continue to grow the event, and we’re already looking forward to next season’s edition.”
The participating civilians helped the cause by promoting the game and selling tickets, which contributed to the large crowd that stayed after and supported the players until the end of the night.
“It was an honor and a privilege to play in the Heroes Cup,” said Joshua Dooner, soccer player and Lieutenant at the NJ Juvenile Justice Commission. “I can’t say thank you enough to all involved. The organization, players, the New York Red Bulls, the staff and volunteers were all amazing, and I look forward to participating again in the future.”
The night of the Heroes Cup started off when the participants got honored at halftime on the field in front of an energetic crowd at Red Bull Arena. With thousands of fans showing their support, the players headed back through the tunnel to the locker rooms to prepare for the upcoming match. The players got the full experience in the locker room under the direction of the respected coaches that created the strategy and line-ups.
The Civilians were led by Richie Williams, a former coach with the New England Revolution, MetroStars and current coaching instructor for NJ Youth Soccer. On the other side, the First Responders were coached by Auke Wiersma, US Soccer and NJ Youth Soccer Coaching Educator, US Soccer A-License coach and Senior Director of the NJ Olympic Development Program.
“On Saturday 9/7/24, US Soccer Heroes honored and remembered the failed victims of the 9/11 tragedy,” Coach Wiersma stated. “The First responders won the game, 2-1, but more importantly all players left it all out on the field. It exemplifies the determination, dedication and commitment the first responders show every day to make life for everyday citizens possible. It was a true honor to be their coach and to take the trophy home.”
The match started after the Red Bulls finished their game against Sporting Kansas City. The game was a competitive contest from the opening whistle. The First Responders, after constant pressure on their attacking end, knocked in the first goal to take an early lead. Just minutes later, with a long-distance chip, the First Responders got another first half goal for extra security.
This only made the game more competitive, and one chance after another, the Civilians tried to claw their way back into the game. Early in the second half, the Civilians scored to make a game of it. The back and forth continued with many scoring opportunities, but the First Responders were able to hold onto their lead and claim the Trophy for the third year in a row.
“My experience with US Soccer Heroes has been amazing,” said Victor Hurtado of the U.S. Marshals Service. “Getting together with different Law Enforcement Officers and taking the pitch with guys I met 15 or 20 years is a great feeling. Also, playing with civilians that played against me in my college years and be able to see them once again is an awesome feeling. US Soccer Heroes always finds a way to contribute to our communities in a positive way each and every day.”
SoccerCoachTV was onsite to capture all of the on-field and behind the scenes action. Led by Professor Shaun Green, one of the most watched and followed soccer coaches in the world, SoccerCoachTV is a major influencer in the online soccer community and is one of the most watched coaching platforms in the world. Click here to watch the footage.
“This event was only possible with the generous contributions from the many sponsors, donors and volunteers,” Alex Lalaoui said in closing. “It is a night that so many people look forward to all year long, and we look forward to make this celebration even bigger and better in the future to show our appreciation for all of those first responders who put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect all of our communities and families.”
Moroccan International Airline and Surf Pro were lead sponsors for the US Soccer Heroes Cup. Additionally, there were numerous donors, including Hoboken PBA, Port Authority PBA, North Bergen PBA and Ocean City PBA. To learn more about the US Soccer Heroes Cup and to learn how you can support the event, contact Alex Lalaoui via email at coach.alex@icloud.com.