It was a great day for Matteo Rizzi and his family as players from Spanish club Brenes Balompie visited Matteo Read more

Rizzi family with players from Brenes Balompie

Oceanside, N.Y. 12/28/14 - It was a great day for Matteo Rizzi and his family as players from Spanish club Brenes Balompie visited Matteo to provide support in his recovery from cancer. Brenes Balompie players Dan Brown, Daniel Bedoya, Nicholas Gaitan, and Santiago Moore were accompanied by club manager Adrian Gaitan.

Matteo's father Pasquale Rizzi coaches Oceanside United's Division 1 team in the Long Island Soccer Football League (LISFL). LISFL President and USSF Delegate Gus Xikis and LISFL First Vice President Marciano Cipriano were also on hand as Adrian and the players presented Matteo with a personalized club jersey, club scarf, and a contract for Matteo to be an honorary member of the Brenes Balompie team for the remainder of the 2014-2015 season.

Brenes Balompie Club President Manuel Prieto later explained that the club will be playing their next match in honor of Matteo. Announcements will be made at the game and information will be shared on how contributions can be made to help the Rizzi family with the costs incurred from the care that Matteo continues to receive. The Brenes Balompie players have also agreed to donate a portion of their win bonuses for the rest of the season in addition to the contributions that they're already made to the Go Fund Me account setup to help the Rizzi family.

Adrian and Nicholas Gatian are natives of Oceanside and played youth soccer for Oceanside United. Dan Brown, Daniel Bedoya, and Santiago Moore also played youth soccer at various clubs throughout Queens and Long Island. They were home to visit with their families during the winter break in the Spanish League season when they learned about Matteo's recent battle with cancer.

Feeling compelled to do something for Matteo and his family, Adrian reached out to Gus Xikis and LISFL Director of Communications David Harris, who helped to organize the visit before Adrian and the players return to Spain.

Adrian Gaitan explained that "it was truly inspirational to see how this family has handled themselves during these very diffcult times. Having Matteo as a member of the Brenes football family is an honor."

Gus Xikis said, "the support from Adrian and everyone with Brenes Balompie has been tremendous. It's been amazing to see how so many people from the local soccer community have been so affected by this. They've tried their best to contribute and help Pasquale (Rizzi) and his family during such a difficult time. Now there is support coming all the way from Spain, which is truly amazing."

Matteo Rizzi with his parents and guests from Brenes Balompie and the LISFL

To contribute to the Go Fund Me Account for Matteo Rizzi please click here

Follow Brenes Balompie on Twitter @BRENESBALOMPIE Facebook and on the internet at www.brenesbalompie.com