Sporting Kansas City defender Andreu Fontas opened a new Cruyff Court on Wednesday in his hometown of Banyoles, Spain.
Fontas’ initiative is tied to the Johan Cruyff Foundation, which has committed to the construction and maintenance of 15 free-use soccer fields in disadvantages areas throughout Spain's Catalonia region.
The newly developed Cruyff Courts contribute to an overarching goal of instilling values such as responsibility, integration, team play and personal improvement while also countering sedentary lifestyle and childhood obesity.
Named after the legendary Dutch soccer player, the Johan Cruyff Foundation supports and develops sports activities for children in need all over the world. As part of Wednesday’s inauguration, Fontas played soccer and signed autographs with local youth.
The soccer field that Fontas inaugurated Wednesday follows in the footsteps of other FC Barcelona soccer players past and present who have opened Cruyff Courts, including Ronaldinho, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Hristo Stoichkov.
Sporting KC signed Fontas in August after the center back spent his first 10 professional seasons in Spain. The 29-year-old developed in Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy alongside current Sporting KC teammate Ilie Sanchez, playing nearly 100 matches combined for FC Barcelona B and FC Barcelona from 2008-2012, before joining Mallorca (2012-13) and Celta Vigo (2013-18). He made his Sporting KC debut on Sept. 8, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Orlando City SC at Children’s Mercy Park.
