The New Haven Steelers Pop Warner football team has reason to celebrate. The team, made up of players ages 8 to 10, are headed to Disneyworld.
“Eight teams throughout the country are invited to play down at Walt Disney at the Pop Warner Super Bowl Championship game,” said Reggie Lytle, president of New Haven Pop Warner.
Since the team won the state championship and advanced through the regionals, this is their big chance to become national champions and bring the title home to Connecticut.
“I'm really excited because I already had two chances to go down to Florida when I played JP2. My first year, we didn't do so well. My second year, we made it to the regional finals, but lost to Worcester. This year, we made it,” said Sahin Hasan, one of the players.
However, the cost is a little overwhelming for the players and their families right before Christmas time. It costs about $40,000 total for the team’s trip. The team has been fundraising, but it still needs that extra boost, which it just got from the City of New Haven.
“I'm announcing a $10,000 contribution toward those expenses from the City of New Haven,” said Mayor Toni Harp.
The New Haven Housing Authority and the Board of Alders are also pitching in.
Local
“It's good to have things like this, the Mayor coming to do her part and let these young men know that they work hard, and we appreciate it, and New Haven is going to stand behind them,” said Saladin Hasan, Sahin Hasan’s father.
