TSF Website has Moved!

The News & Observer's Edward G. Robinson III has a great profile on North Carolina native and former Tar Heel Eddie Pope today on the front page of the sports section. The thing I've always admired most about Pope is the work he has done through the Eddie Pope Foundation. The EPF in a non-profit organization which uses soccer to help develop the mind, body and spirit of underserved youth.

When we founded the Triangle Soccer Fanatics supporters club, I made it clear that I wanted there to be a strong community involvement by our club. My goal is to tap the passion for soccer in this area and funnel it back into the community. The Eddie Pope Foundation is at the top of my list of organizations I would like to see TSF get involved with.

Back before the USA v. Jamaica match, I had an opportunity to participate in an interview with Pope after a training session. The other interviewers asked him the standard assortment of questions and he ran off the genuine but well-rehearsed answers that you tend to hear at a player interview. As the interview broke up, I stopped Eddie and told him about TSF's interest in getting involved with the EPF. At that moment his manner changed from that of a tried-and-true elder professional to one of a wide-eyed excited kid. Eddie couldn't contain himself when talking about how excited he was about Foundation's work and how eager he is to get even more involved in the community. I almost got the impression that the World Cup and the MLS season were just a big distraction for him and that he couldn't wait for them to be over so he could focus on working with the EPF.

In the N&O profile, Pope indicates that he hopes to return to the local area after he retires. I hope TSF can get involved with Pope's Foundation down the road, possibly even starting an EPF-sponsored program in the Triangle. In the meantime, I encourage all of our members and TSF readers to consider supporting the Eddie Pope Foundation.