James Marcelin, midfielder for Haiti’s National Team, previously with the Portland Timbers and newly signed with Sporting KC in Kansas City, Kansas, is GOALS' first-ever international ambassador! Mr. Marcelin was born in St. Marc, Haiti, and has had a prominent career in Haiti and abroad. He joined Haiti’s national soccer team in 2007 and signed onto MLS team the Portland Timbers in 2010 and Sporting KC in Kansas City, Kansas in December, 2014.

As an ambassador, Mr. Marcelin will help raise awareness about GOALS’ work and will serve as a role model for the 500-plus soccer players in GOALS’ daily youth programs in Haiti. Excerpts from GOALS' Interview with James Marcelin:

Why do you like GOALS?
Marcelin: I would say that I like GOALS because they're doing something positive to help the Haitian community in Haiti. I am willing to support the children and be a good role model to them as a professional soccer player.

What is your family like?
Marcelin: One thing I would say about my family is that they're very supportive. Especially my mom, she has been supporting me from the beginning until now. I will never turn my back on them.

What do you miss about Haiti?
Marcelin: I miss pretty much everything about Haiti, starting with my family and friends.

What advice can you offer to younger players?
Marcelin: The advice I would offer to young players is to let them know that if I can do it, they can do it as well. They also have to focus on their education. They must have a destination at an early age. They have to know where they're at and where they want to be. One of the most important thing I want them to know is to never let somebody tell them they CANNOT DO IT because they CAN DO anything positive they put their heart to as long as they believe.

We absolutely agree that education is so important! Which is why we created the GOALS Dream Team School Scholarship fund so that GOALS soccer players have the opportunity to attend school. Click here for more information or to sponsor a student athlete.

Thank you so much for your interview, James, and for being such a great role model to the children GOALS works with every single day in Leogane, Haiti. Wishing you best of luck to you with Sporting Kansas City!

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