Grassroots to Global Sports Diplomacy

Local to Legacy

Our Sustainability Strategy and Infrastructure

A school’s inability to pay does not have to prevent a program. Soccer Waza can deliver programming and provide the equipment even when a school cannot afford either. Our model combines self-funding, shared resources, reusable equipment and support from our wider network to cover delivery. We work with each school to establish what is needed and how the program will be supported.

From immigrant community soccer to international sports diplomacy, we build opportunities that return to the student, the family and the next generation.

Our sustainable program builds political alliances where possible and bridges gaps wherever people need help, regardless of politics. Political agreement is not a condition for receiving support. We are always finding ways to help those in need.

We have achieved this without major sponsorship—with heart and soul, hard work and dedication, and generations of refinement in our processes, procedures and professionalism. We self-fund activities and work with willing schools, public officials, community organizations, businesses, brands and families to connect resources with needs.

Our legacy lives in the multigenerational families and networks of people across the world who continue to be positively affected by the ever-increasing momentum of this work.

Our Sustainability Model: Connecting Resources with Need

We connect with underprivileged communities and create programs where they do not exist. We move usable equipment from people and organizations who no longer need it to those who do not have it. We draw on relationships, sponsorship opportunities and resources from suburban activities and clubs to support inner-city families who cannot afford access.

We connect with companies that can help transport equipment and resources, and develop school and international programs in conjunction with nonprofits and governmental agencies. The work connects community delivery with exchanges of knowledge involving federations, World Cup coaches and associations around the world. We seek to carry lessons from the field into policy, procedure and governance at every level.

Identify the need → Build the relationships → Share equipment and resources → Create the program → Develop people → Bring experience and opportunity back to the community.

This is our practical sustainability infrastructure: equipment stays useful, resources reach further, programs create continuity, and networks of people keep passing opportunity forward.

How we sustain the work

People and access: scholarships, subsidies, coaching and opportunities for people who need support.
Places and continuity: facilities, equipment, school programs and recurring opportunities to play.
Development: technical, tactical, physical and psychological learning, with skills that can carry into education and life.
Culture and diplomacy: soccer, music, dance and exchange across communities and countries.
Knowledge passed forward: experienced players, coaches, families and organizers helping the next generation.

Student → Family → School → Neighborhood → Community → City → State → Country → World → Student.

Our History: Malta, Detroit and the World

The Scicluna family’s involvement in Detroit soccer began after World War II, rooted in migration from Malta and community life in Corktown. Soccer Waza developed and registered during the 1990s; Mario Scicluna identifies 1997 as its registration year. The family history reaches further back than the organization, while the media collection documents more than thirty years of work.

1960s–1970s — Maltese Falcons: adult soccer and immigrant leagues.
1970s — Livonia Family YMCA: recreational youth soccer and an entry point for local families.
Wolves and Hawks: select travel soccer, with continued development through the 1980s. The club’s own history dates its conception to 1974 and credits Paul Scicluna and YMCA Executive Director Shirley Ritter.
Total Soccer: indoor facilities and year-round development, connecting infrastructure with access to the game.
Detroit Rockers: the family’s professional indoor soccer history, followed by further professional and community work.
Soccer Waza, Waza FC and Detroit Waza Flo: professional training, youth development, school and community programs, and professional competition.

The family archive also identifies the Maltese-American Benevolent Society, Detroit Express connections and Michigan Bucks. These are historical relationships and contributions; each has its own people, dates and role in the broader story.

Leadership across levels of the game

Our history includes owners, founders, directors and coaches across organizations serving elementary, middle-school, high-school, college and professional soccer. Mario identifies founding involvement in the Michigan State Developmental Soccer League (MSDSL), former service on the Major Arena Soccer League board, and founding involvement in several U.S. arena leagues.

The archive names PASL, MASL and its divisions, Major League Indoor Soccer, Major League Futsal and UPSL Michigan. Youth pathways include MSYSA, MSDSL, WSSL, MSPSP and US Youth Soccer competition. These relationships span different periods and roles. MASL itself was formed in 2014; Soccer Waza’s 1997 registration is a separate milestone.

People carrying the work forward

Paul R. Scicluna’s legacy connects immigrant community soccer, youth clubs, indoor facilities, school and college coaching and professional soccer. The family archive includes Livonia Bentley, Detroit Catholic Central and Eastern Michigan University.

Dominic Scicluna, Executive and Technical Director, connects youth, collegiate and professional coaching with international playing and development experience. The archive includes Schoolcraft College, Eastern Michigan University, Detroit Rockers, Detroit Waza Flo, Michigan Bucks, Windsor Border Stars and Las Vegas Legends, alongside experience associated with clubs in Malta, Costa Rica, Australia, Brazil and Jamaica.

Mario Scicluna, President and Director of Development, connects training, league formation, governance, scholarships, cultural production and international sports diplomacy. His record includes study and playing experience associated with Western Michigan University, Bond University and the University of Malta, as well as professional soccer and other sports. Creative work includes The Road to Dharma, Golden Shoes, and music, drum and dance activities.

Programs, Facilities and Opportunity

Our development pathway includes Waza Developmental Academy, Waza FC Select, SST skills training, ATP advanced training, FutSoul Academy, Panna Waza, summer camps, adult play, college and professional pathways, Waza Track Club and Waza Basketball Club. We work across football formats, including traditional outdoor soccer, arena soccer, futsal, street football, panna, beach soccer, footvolley, soccer tennis and table-based forms of play.

Mario reports hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship support over the years, alongside assistance with college opportunities and professional pathways. He also identifies goals remaining at Clark Park and Patton Park as part of the family’s contribution to community soccer infrastructure.

Community work reaches Detroit, southwest Detroit, Hamtramck and Dearborn, including immigrant and underserved communities, as well as suburban families. The annual Waza Spooktacular connects communities through competition; the organizer estimates a reach of approximately 15,000 people and more than 300 teams.

International charitable and community work described by Mario includes the One Dollar Campaign, genocide-related charitable football, work connected with Grandma Obama in Kenya, Nigerian development activity, and more recent Curaçao and Brazil Legends activities. The media archive below provides coverage of selected programs and exchanges.

Schools, Music, Dance and Peace

Our school model includes during-school, within-school, inter-school and after-school programming. Soccer skills, music, dance and cultural exchange create multiple ways for students to participate and develop.

Pulaski School: the April 6, 2026 Street to School event marked the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Our post-event account records nearly 300 students, fifteen program segments and two student performance groups, with remarks by Belinda Evans-Ebio, President of UNA-USA Greater Detroit.

Contributors included Pulaski’s administration, cheer team and student musicians; Mario, Dominic and Valentino Scicluna, Omar Lahbiki, Davide Di Poce and Nelvis Ndah; Brad Hale / Peoples Records; Sundance and Solair DiDominico / Drums & the Run; Jonathan “Preach” Whitlow and Tanya McLeod / Children of Soul; Carolyn Crawford / Northern Soul; Shannon Slebodnik; and Rob Newman and William Alexander / Four Horsemen.

The September 21, 2026 Pulaski School Soccer Waza Tournament for Peace is planned for 315 students, 14 classes and 9 grades, ages 4–14, marking the International Day of Peace. These are planning figures, not final attendance. Continuing school programming is organized around Fall, Winter I, Winter II, Winter III, Spring and Summer.

The broader school record includes current Momentum Academy programming, the Earhart futsal pilot referenced in our proposal, César Chávez appearances, and proposals in progress for Redford Union and CCA. Completed work, current programming and proposals are different stages of this continuing development.

International Competition and Exchange

The archive includes WMF activity in Michigan in 2015 and Tunisia in 2017; AMF competition in Mexico and Colombia; FIFUSA competition in Colombia; Costa Rica futsal; ISFA / JSFA street football in Japan; panna, footvolley and other international formats.

Our latest organizational account adds involvement with the 2026 ISFA 3v3 World Cup in Utrecht, Netherlands, and the 2026 SOCCA World Cup in Essen, Germany. Official event references are included below; those references establish event information rather than individual player or team roles.

Grassroots to Global Initiatives: Shared Goals, Practical Action

We align our work with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The connections below are Soccer Waza’s mapping of relevant goals to program purposes and our own work; they are not a claim of certification, funding or endorsement. Each numbered goal links to the UN’s full targets.

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Relevant target: 3.4 — well-being.
Related initiatives: UNESCO Fit for Life; U.S. Soccer Soccer at Schools; Soccer for Success.
Soccer Waza contribution: Regular activity, coaching, healthy habits and welcoming places to play.

Goal 4: Quality Education

Relevant target: 4.7 — education for peace, global citizenship and sustainable development.
Related initiatives: FIFA Football for Schools; UNESCO Quality Physical Education; Soccer at Schools; Soccer for Success.
Soccer Waza contribution: School programs combine football, life skills, music, dance and respectful teamwork.

Goal 5: Gender Equality

Relevant target: 5.1 — ending discrimination against women and girls.
Related initiatives: FIFA Football for Schools; UNESCO Fit for Life.
Soccer Waza contribution: Our commitment is equal opportunity for girls and women to participate, learn and lead.

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

Relevant target: 10.2 — social inclusion.
Related initiatives: UN Football for the Goals; inclusive school-sport programs.
Soccer Waza contribution: Scholarships, subsidies and equipment redistribution lower financial and access barriers.

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Relevant target: 11.7 — inclusive access to public spaces.
Related initiatives: Local school, parks and community delivery context.
Soccer Waza contribution: Community programming and facilities connect families with opportunities to play, including work described at Clark Park and Patton Park.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Relevant target: 12.5 — waste prevention, reuse and recycling.
Related initiatives: UN 2030 Agenda; Soccer Waza equipment-sharing network.
Soccer Waza contribution: Keep usable equipment in circulation by moving it from those who no longer need it to those who do.

Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Relevant target: 16.7 — inclusive, participatory decision-making.
Related initiatives: International Day of Peace; International Day of Sport for Development and Peace; Sister Cities International; U.S. Department of State sports diplomacy.
Soccer Waza contribution: Peaceful play, cross-cultural exchange and community input connect field experience with leadership and governance.

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Relevant target: 17.17 — public, private and civil-society partnerships.
Related initiatives: UN Football for the Goals; UNA-USA; Sister Cities International; school and community networks.
Soccer Waza contribution: Connect schools, families, nonprofits, companies and public agencies so resources reach communities with unmet needs.

Organizations and official program references

U.S. Soccer Foundation

Soccer for Success in School

Logos identify the initiatives and local institutions discussed here. Program status and the nature of each connection are described below.

United Nations

U.S. Department of State — Sports Diplomacy

Sister Cities International

Michigan.gov

City of Detroit

Detroit Public Schools Community District

UN Football for the Goals: football-led advocacy and action for sustainable development. Our application has been submitted; membership approval is pending.
FIFA Football for Schools: football and life-skills education, developed in collaboration with UNESCO. We are exploring participation.
UNESCO Fit for Life and Quality Physical Education: inclusive sport, well-being and stronger physical education. These are alignment and guidance references.
U.S. Soccer Soccer at Schools: school access to football, training and resources. Our existing registration is identified in our correspondence.
U.S. Soccer Foundation Soccer for Success: healthy habits, life skills and mentorship. Mario Scicluna has completed Soccer for Success in School registration and has Learning Lab access. School curriculum training is in progress.
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace and International Day of Peace: the observances connecting our April and September school activities.
UNA-USA: Greater Detroit chapter participation in our April event.
Sister Cities International: peace through community relationships and mutual understanding. U.S. Department of State Sports Envoy Program: sport-based exchange and cross-cultural connections. Outreach and shared purposes do not establish formal program membership.

Local delivery: Pulaski School and Detroit Public Schools Community District place this work in a school community, within the City of Detroit and Michigan. Their inclusion identifies the local setting; it does not assert that each government or institution has endorsed this strategy. ISFA and SOCCA championship references remain part of our international football history.

Help sustain the work: We welcome support for player scholarships, school coaching, reusable equipment, transportation and community playing spaces. Companies, foundations and individuals can contact Mario Scicluna to discuss a specific contribution and how its use will be documented.

Next-stage sustainability priorities

Building on this social and organizational foundation, our next-stage priorities are to strengthen participation and scholarship reporting, gather school and participant feedback, document and strengthen equipment reuse and redistribution, and assess practical ways to reduce waste and unnecessary travel. Environmental baselines and targets remain to be established; we do not present unmeasured environmental outcomes as proven results.

Media Library: The Work Behind the Strategy

The following collection preserves the distinct destinations recovered from our supplied media archive and adds recent event references. Repeated links are consolidated. Descriptions identify the subject of the archive item; social platforms may require sign-in, and older third-party content may change or become unavailable.

Youth development, schools and access

Our development pathway connects the first opportunity to play with skills training, team participation, scholarships and further opportunities. These archive links show the work at different stages.

Professional soccer, leadership and the media record

Professional experience and league involvement inform the coaching and opportunities brought back to local communities. League websites are reference resources; individual Waza coverage is labeled separately.

International competition and sports diplomacy

Our archive connects club teams, individual players and coaches with international competition. These are distinct forms of participation, not interchangeable claims of institutional partnership.

Street, beach and creative forms of football

Small-sided and creative formats make room for different spaces, skills and cultures. The archive includes panna, street football, futsal, beach soccer and footvolley.

Community, charity and cultural exchange

Football brings people together across borders. These links connect the story with community activity, ambassador work, music, film and other sports.