Nile's Coach at Orlando City is Yordany Alvarez aka Coach Gio.  Gio has an incredible tale of how he ended up in the USA.   Gio is from Cuba and use to play on the Cuban national soccer team.  Eight plus years ago, while playing an olympic qualifier game in Tampa, Fl. vs the USA, he and 4 teammates defected from Cuba. 

He struggled making a life here at the onset, but eventually was able to get a chance at some tryouts and played a few years in the MLS.    He is now a head coach for the Orlando City Youth Soccer academy and is beloved by all the kids he comes in contact with.

On December 20th Coach Gio returns home to Cuba for the first time since leaving with his teammates.  It will mark the first time he sees his Mom, family, nieces and nephews.  

We are collecting donations to help cover the costs of extra suitcases, toys and clothes for many of the kids in his family and collecting donations for sharing some Christmas cheer in Cuba.

Any donation will be greatly appreciated.  

Thank you, 
Coach Gio's 2005 Boys Pro-Academy II team