{"id":2024,"date":"2019-02-22T04:36:09","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T01:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/?p=2024"},"modified":"2019-02-22T04:36:09","modified_gmt":"2019-02-22T01:36:09","slug":"volunteer-coach-mohamed-alrayyashi-soccer-program-helps-students-do-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/volunteer-coach-mohamed-alrayyashi-soccer-program-helps-students-do-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteer coach Mohamed Alrayyashi: Soccer program helps students do better"},"content":{"rendered":"

YAN – Dearborn<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"To Mohamed Alrayyashi, soccer is not a mere sport; it is an activity to channel children\u2019s energy in the right direction. Instead of having children loitering aimlessly, he wants them on the soccer field enjoying their time while building their character.
\nAlrayyashi has been a coach at Salina School for the Michigan Yemen Soccer Association (MYSA) for 12 years. Although he volunteers about a dozen hours of his time each week, Alrayyashi says the trust of the students and the positive impact the program has on them are rewarding enough.
\n\u201cThese kids treat me as their mentor, their brother, one of their family,\u201d Alrayyashi told the Yemeni American News. \u201cI try to make sure that their grades are doing good, they\u2019re doing good with their families, their behavior is better. They\u2019re not just here to play soccer only. They\u2019re here to learn manners and to treat one another with respect. I don\u2019t get paid. We\u2019re all volunteers here.\u201d
\nAlrayyashi expressed gratitude to ACCESS and Dearborn Schools for providing a space for the children to play, but he called for a greater investment from the city, as the students are currently practicing in a basketball field.
\n\u201cI mean if you look at the number 300 plus kids at least they should do that because all these kids should have a place to play in and at least keeping them in a place is better than keeping them in the street where they may smoke or end up in a bad area,\u201d he said.
\nThe program is more than a game, he added, saying that it was meant to build leadership for the students..
\n\u201cWell, honestly like I said, I don\u2019t treat it as soccer only. I treated as a school-related activity to get the kids out of the street. And in the future, they will receive more than just soccer,\u201d Alrayyashi said. \u201cThey\u2019ll receive leadership and then hopefully, make it to the college soccer, hopefully, make it to beyond just college or professional.\u201d
\nMotivating students
\nHe also urged parents to support their children, saying that students tend to perform better on the field and at school when their parents are behind them.
\nAlrayyashi coaches children between the age of 6 and 13. Many of his students have gone on to received soccer scholarship for college.
\nMohamed Shajrah, a parent whose son, Adem is in the program, praised Alrayyashi, saying that the coach helps the community and interacts with each student to help with their development. \u201cThat\u2019s what I wanted for my son.\u201d
\nShajrah said Alrayyashi engages and motivates students to improve.
\n\u201cPeople say soccer practice but he teaches them a lot of things. He teaches them about school. This is a privilege for you. If you don\u2019t do good in school, you can\u2019t have this privilege, so he actually checks people\u2019s grades; he makes the students bring their grades to allow them to participate.\u201d
\nLeadership<\/strong>
\nMYSA founder Mohamed Altriadi recalled when Alrayyashi was still a player in the program, 16 years ago. Alrayyashi showed signs of promise and leadership early on, according to Altriadi.
\n\u201cI have to mention Ibrahim Nasir who was the person who worked with Mohamed and supported him. He urged him to take the coaching certification,\u201d Altriadi told YAN.
\nHe also lauded the coach\u2019s dedication.<\/strong>
\n\u201cI can easily say that there is no one else that I can compare him to Mohamed in our sport activities. That is based on all the years of experience that I spent with him. He volunteered with the organization to the point where he sacrificed his own personal and family time,\u201d Altriadi continued.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s even more interesting is that he does not complain whatsoever. He always appears very happy. The one thing that I would say is to ask God to reward him for what he did for us and for taking such heavy burden on my behalf all towards the work of the organization.\u201d
\nFor his part Alrayyashi credited his family for his success.
\n\u201cMy family had a lot to do with what I am doing right now. My parents taught me and siblings to always help others and never expect anything in return. My dad himself was always known for helping others,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I truly thank my family for always standing by my side and believing in what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

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