Part Of Something Bigger

Rumaiz Ahmed, USA

New York City FC and Goal Click are collaborating to create a storytelling series that highlights the authentic journeys of standout City In The Community (CITC) participants, reflecting their growth through the program, from youth involvement to leadership and employment. These stories will showcase the lasting influence of CITC and the meaningful role Capital Rx plays in setting the foundation for healthy living through their funding.

Through CITC’s STEM and leadership programs, Rumaiz Ahmed gained the skills, values, and community to grow his ventures and passion for giving back.

My name is Rumaiz Ahmed, and I am a mechanical engineering student at City College in NYC. I have also co-founded two companies: MARS Studios, a media studio producing podcasts and other content, and StreetGols, a platform that makes soccer accessible by helping communities host and join free pickup games.

I grew up in Egypt before moving to the U.S. in 2015 with my family. Soccer is extremely popular in Egypt, so it has been a constant in my life since childhood. Over the years, I tried other sports through different friend groups, but I always came back to soccer as the one sport I really connected with. Living in New York now, I still play the game that has been with me for as long as I can remember.

Soccer was the first sport I ever watched, celebrated, and even cried over. Moving around made it hard to find people to play with, especially since soccer was not common in my neighborhood until middle school. But once I found others who loved the game, I realized what makes soccer special: no matter where you are from or what language you speak, once there is a ball and two goals, everyone knows it is time to play.

Saturday Night Lights

I was introduced to Saturday Night Lights (SNL) in 2021 when Coach Bailee and Principal Ojeda invited my friends and me to play indoor soccer at school. We started playing weekly and, through the program, I discovered NYCFC after noticing the club’s badge on a jersey.

NYCFC became a huge part of my soccer journey in New York. It showed me what it means to belong to a club and be part of something bigger. Before them, I was just a kid who loved the sport, but never supported a team.

Through SNL and attending matches, I saw the energy of a stadium firsthand and understood the power of community. The moment I was honored with my own jersey in front of a packed stadium as part of a CITC initiative showed me soccer is not just about playing, but about being part of something greater.

The Power Of Community

CITC entered my life as the pandemic eased, and it completely shifted my path. At first, it was just a place to play on Saturdays, but the Youth Leadership Training (YLT) program opened doors. I did not truly understand the power of community until YLT, where I learned it is about people working together toward positive change.

I also learned about coaching, mentorship, and how to give back. Because of my interest in aviation, I joined their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program, where I gained insight into leadership, accessibility, and community impact.

CITC has taught me valuable skills like communication, mentorship, leadership, event management, and navigating partnerships. It also instilled values such as putting the community first and helping others whenever possible.

A podcasting course through CITC helped build my communication skills and led me to launch my first company. When that ended, I collaborated with my co-founders to start StreetGols, inspired by our time with CITC.

Everyone at CITC encouraged me to keep going, showing me that leadership comes from persistence and community. The growth I experienced from participant to leader was possible because of them.

Putting In the Work

Launching StreetGols was a collaborative effort, and the impact has been massive. It taught me that when your goal is to do good, people and opportunities will rally around you.

Building a community requires authentic relationships, whether through social media or hosting tournaments, and CITC showed me how powerful that can be.

Everyone who joins CITC feels the same way: it is a huge opportunity and one you do not want to waste. They give you that first chance, but it is on you to put in the work.

No one will chase you, but if you stay committed, success will come. And when it does, the most important thing is to stay humble and help the next person in line.