Right before the game, David Beckham announced he would end his career with the LA Galaxy, and some speculated that he would going to retire afterwards. He recently announced that he would leave the MLS to continue playing in a different league, which has yet to be announced.

We had a chance to show Beckham and several  LA Galaxy players a Senda Fair Trade soccer ball!  Many were intrigued about our products and mission. Now we need to get a few of them to start playing with them in the off season…

Beckham has a long, prestigious, and controversial  career, and has become a soccer and marketing icon. He started playing professionally with Manchester United in 1992 at age 17. He  has since played for Preston North End, Real Madrid, Milan, and the L.A. Galaxy. Beckham has played over 100 games for the English National team, playing in 3 World Cups (’98, ’02, ’06), and missing the 2010 World Cup due to a torn Achilles tendon.

It will be interesting to see where Beckham will continue his career as a player, and if he will return to the MLS as a team owner or manager. Meanwhile, we will continue to work to see if  we can see him bending a Senda Fair Trade ball, perhaps at an upcoming charity game..

Sam Cronin of the San Jose Earthquakes with Santiago Halty, Founder & CEO of Senda Athletics

Before the end of the 2012 Season, we had the chance to catch up with Sam Cronin, who has been a supporter of Senda since the very beginning, and has helped us test our different ball models. Here is a summary of our conversation!

Santiago – “Who are your soccer heroes?”

Sam  –

“…growing up, the player I always idolized was Paul Scholes from Manchester United so, try to mirror my game after his a little bit. I have a lot of respect for his loyalty to Man U, and just the quality of player he is.”

Santiago –“What would you say is the motto that you try to live by, your success motto?”

Sam  –

“I keep it pretty simple: I just try to improve every day, and give my best every day. I’m not a, kind of big picture guy, I just, focus on each day and make the most of each day and, it’s worked out for me so far.”

Santiago –“What has been your best moment as a soccer player?”

Sam –

“I would probably say, professionally is probably making the playoffs in 2010, and beating New York in the first round which we weren’t expected to do, but a moment I’ll always cherish in my career is back in college, when our team won the national championship. Just the group of guys we had and all the work we put in as a team to get to that point was really special to win that together as a team.”

Santiago –“What team and what year was that?”

Sam –

“That was Wake Forest University in 2007.”

Santiago –“ What has been your most difficult moment as a soccer player?”

Sam –

“Yeah when I was in Toronto FC I had a pretty successful rookie season and the next year the new coach came in and, I just wasn’t in his plans. After a few months I was traded to San Jose, which has turned out to be a good situation for me. But in the short term back then, you know, whenever you’re traded its like you hit a cross road: it’s a defining moment whether you’re going to step things up and make the most of it or if, you’re gonna let that—the coach’s kinda lack of confidence in you, bleed over and affect your play.

It was a moment when I just really put my head back down, got to work again, and I’m happy with where things turned out now.”

Santiago –“How do you see soccer as a vehicle for social change? As a tool for changing people’s lives for the better?”

Sam –

“I just think soccer is, as they say, is the world’s game. You go anywhere in the world and there are kids playing soccer and for the most part it brings smiles to their faces. It’s such a simple game, but a source of so much national pride and happiness for kids all over the world. So as a professional player I think I’m in a unique position to leverage that and to impact people’s lives, especially kids. I know when I was a kid I looked up to certain players and people and yeah, so I think soccer is a great vehicle to execute change in the world.”

Santiago –“You learned quite a few things about Fair Trade in Soccer since we first met a year and a half. Why do you think Fair Trade is important in Soccer?”

Sam –

“I think it’s important in soccer but also in, in every other production in the world. I mean, you here so often, especially in recent years, about malpractice in terms of factories and workers across the world so, as the world continues to progress it’s important that no one is left behind, no countries are being victims of poor practices, especially in factories with cheap labor, so I think it’s important. And I think it’s great what Senda’s doing just to be active in that community, and hopefully more companies will take on the Fair Trade mentality.

Check out Sam Cronin testing Senda Soccer balls in San Francisco!!

On September 29th, 2012, America SCORES cities nationwide joined forces to beat the Guinness World Record for the most soccer balls ever dribbled by a group at one time. There were 749 dribblers in San Francisco at the historic Candlestick Park, and 2,149 total across all participating America SCORES cities! Beating the old record of 2,068 set by the U.N. in Gaza Strip, America Scores successfully pulled of a truly incredible feat!

Senda Athletics provided ~250 custom for the America Scores record-breakers in San Francisco, and the record-breaking balls used are available online!

Lot of Senda soccer balls to help break the record!

After two years of hard work, sweat, and of working with amazing people from all over the world, I am excited to say we are officially ready to ship Senda Athletics Fair Trade Soccer balls.

Our brand new website is up and running, and we can take orders on-line, by email, fax, twitter and even in person! Getting here has been a fantastic adventure, and this is only the beginning!

I would love to share some parts of this adventure with you.

I have played team sports almost as far back as I can remember, and had many experiences that taught me much more than the importance of exercising and team work. For me, they were a way to spend time with friends, a path to self-confidence and the means to learn discipline. It is from that foundation that Senda –which means “path” in Spanish – grew.

During middle school in Argentina, where I grew up, I became aware that there were many young people in my city who didn’t have the same opportunities I did to play sports, and make friends by spending hours on a soccer field. I also realized they did not have an opportunity to get an education. I quickly felt that I wanted to be able to change that.

While traveling in Latin America, Europe, and North Africa during my college years (at UC San Diego), I saw firsthand the universality of soccer and its power to bring people together. Soccer was king not only in Argentina, but around the world. Fair Trade also became a passion, and I realized that the way we buy every day products can transform the lives of workers around the World.

After I graduated in May 2009, I decided I was passionate (and crazy) enough to start a fair trade athletic company that would support grassroots projects using soccer as a tool to change their communities.

I went back to Argentina and discovered some really good organizations that were using soccer to improve the lives of young people, and to promote education. One of those organizations was Defensores del Chaco, in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. After visiting Defensores’ club, and meeting with the staff, coaches and players, it was evident that I had found Senda’s first partner organization.

In October of 2009, I moved to Berkeley, California, where I found out about Soccer Without Borders. After meeting with SWB’s founder Ben Gucciardi, and hearing about the vision for his program in Oakland, I realized I had found Senda’s second partner.

Following a business plan competition at UC Berkeley in 2010, reaching the semi-finals along with an impressive team, it was time to actually build a company. I have to say it has been a lot harder than I ever believed it would be…

What makes it all worth it are all the passionate and selfless people I have met along the way. Getting to know the coaches and young players from SWB and Defensores, playing soccer with them, and trying to become a part of their community has been incredible.

I owe a lot to Defensores and SWB, who have worked with me tirelessly to help build Senda’s vision, and most importantly a path to reach that vision.

At Senda, we promise that we will work to make the best soccer balls and equipment for players of all levels, and to ensure that everyone that makes a Senda product is treated fairly. We believe that people who make the soccer equipment that allows us to enjoy the “Beautiful Game” should be happy too.

I know that with the soccer community, we will be able to fulfill that vision.

Please join us,

santiago

Who knows, maybe soon enough Senda will be the official provider of another international soccer tournament? Send us your suggestions!

During the entire World Cup, US players inspired a country to believe and fight until the very last minute, no matter the circumstances. Japan shared the same spirit in the final, and was a just winner.

Before the game, and during half-time, our friends at America Scores, organized soccer games for the children who went to see the game. Everyone who stopped by their tent had the chance to enter a raffle to win a Senda ball.

For the mini soccer games, everyone used our soccer balls, and the kids loved them! It’s always nice to see young people using Senda equipment. They are some of the first people to understand and embrace the importance of Fair Trade, and to get excited about our mission.

We had an excellent time at the Civic Center, and really enjoyed all the soccer energy present that day. Senda really believes in the power of soccer to change the lives of girls, so it fantastic to see all the support for women’s soccer. We are convinced that players can be very good role models for girls around the country, and even around the World, showing how determination, and team work can help achieve good results on and off the field.

US fans are proud of this team, and the Olympics are only 12 months away. In London 2012, once again, the USWNT will have an an entire country supporting them! We hope they will continue playing with the same team spirit and determination, and win the gold medal this time.

SoccerFours, which organizes community pick-up soccer games in San Francisco, put together a fundraiser for Japan on April 2nd, and Senda provided the soccer balls for the game. Our founder, Santiago, had a chance to hang out with SoccerFours’ Chris Hutchison, play in the tournament, and even acted as the official photographer for the event!

Almost 50 participated, and SoccerFours was able to raise $800 which will be donated to the American Red Cross and their efforts to help Japan.

Thanks to everyone that showed up and played!