Former soccer player rebuilding his American dream crushed by tornado outbreak
MAYFIELD, Ky. (WZTV) — A former soccer player's American dream twenty years in the making was crushed in less than ten minutes.
Just over 20 years ago, Luis Pardo left his home in Chile to play college soccer in the United States. After that, he wound up in Mayfield.
Fourteen months ago, he used his life savings to start The Soccer Factory, a year-round training facility.
“I wanted to give something back to the community by teaching the way that I was taught soccer.” -Luis Pardo
Nia Haley, says the soccer factory became her second home. “Besides family, that’s all I’ve known. I mean I’ve played since I can remember.”
The facility Pardo built mostly with his own two hands was destroyed in the matter of seconds. He says, “you never think something is going to come in less than 10 minutes and take 15-20 years of work.”
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The day after the tornado, Pardo says dozens of his students and their families came to help him clean up the debris. Then something magical happened.
"The kids right after we cleaned up they went and started playing a game in the same spot where the field was.”
Teammates say they just wanted to play where they find peace. Katelyn Puckett, a soccer player says, “this was a place that everybody loved and we didn’t want it to stop so we decided we would keep playing here.”
Until it’s time to rebuild, coaches, parents, and players now finding comfort from the chaos that surrounds them through sports.
Pardo says, “that’s what soccer does. It unites people.”
He tells FOX 17 News he owns other businesses around here that were also destroyed by the tornado. However, he says right now his main focus is on rebuilding the soccer factory.
If you'd like to make a donation to his rebuilding process, click here.
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