Supernovas: Soccer and integration taking root in Mexico

Kicking a ball isn't just about scoring a goal. It's also a way to rebuild childhoods and adolescents from vulnerable backgrounds, according to the Supernovas project, which is gaining ground in Mexico with three locations.

Supernovas is an initiative launched in 2022 by the Russian company InDrive , which currently has more than 3,500 children from eight countries (on three continents) training soccer with a much deeper mission to educate adults with values.

“We have the goal of positively impacting the lives of one billion people by 2030 with seven active projects around the world, related to education, art, and sports. One of them is Supernovas, through which we provide free training to children. The methodology that sets us apart is that the training is not based on competition, but rather on having a good time and having a safe place,” said Karla Mejía, Global Manager of Public Policy and Good Governance at InDrive.

Mexico is the third Latin American country to receive the program, along with Colombia and Chile. The other nations are Kazakhstan, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, and Morocco.

The first two locations in Mexico were Tlalnepantla and Cuautitlán Izcalli , which currently have 57 children under the direction of coach Estefanía Belmonte. Next up is Ixtlán de Juárez in Oaxaca, with another 86 children led by coach Daniel Pérez.

The third Supernovas location in Mexico will be in León, Guanajuato. It's worth noting that children don't have to pay a single peso to participate; they just need to be between five and 12 years old and live near the field where the program is held.

Supernovas uses existing public infrastructure, such as parks or sports facilities, to hold its program, provided there are no government or other issues. InDrive provides materials for the children and training for the coaches.

"For me, it's very important because in training, we work on the whole team—not just kicking the ball, but also strengthening skills and teamwork. This is Supernovas: using soccer as a tool for social inclusion so we can rebuild the fabric of communities," said the coach from the State of Mexico campus.

The program's ambassador is Christian "Chaco" Giménez, a former soccer player who was a star in Liga MX with clubs such as Pachuca, Cruz Azul, América, and Veracruz. His son, Santiago, currently plays for the Mexican national team and AC Milan.

"It's very exciting to see the children so happy to be here and to be given the opportunity to play sports, because it contributes greatly to social, educational, and value-building aspects," said the current Fox Sports analyst, who was surrounded by dozens of children taking photos and signing autographs.

"We're living in a very difficult world where things are going wrong right around the corner, and sports allow children to grow (...) So, don't neglect the issue of education, because it's very important in all areas of life, and this goes even more so for parents," Christian Giménez emphasized.

Furthermore, Supernovas is an official member of the "Football for the Goals" initiative, which belongs to the United Nations (UN). It also has a link with I Coach Kids, a European Union program. Both allow coaches to update their knowledge and methodologies for working with children.

Latin America has more than 1,000 children in this program, including those in Mexico, Colombia, and Chile. However, the potential for the tricolor territory is high.

“The truth is that 1,000 children sounds like a lot, but it's not enough. There's always more to do; we believe Mexico has tremendous potential, so we'll surely be announcing how we can expand this program as much as we can. We'll certainly be bringing many cities to the program next year, and our goal is to impact 1 billion people worldwide by 2030. Of those, a large percentage will be from Mexico,” said Rafael Garza, InDrive's country manager.

To join the program, visit https://supernovas.indrive.com/es/home, where more information is available.