For his work supporting children in his country Sierra Leone and community engagement down in South Florida, Miami FC and the former Philadelphia Union midfielder Michael Lahoud has received the North American Soccer League (NASL) 2016 Humanitarian of the Year.
Lahoud, 30, teamed up with New England Revolution striker Kei Kamara to launch a school in Freetown as a part of Schools for Salone, an organisation with the goal of rebuilding the education system in the country.
Accepting the award the versatile midfielder, who received his first international call for Sierra Leone in August 2013 for their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Equatorial Guinea said the school means a lot to him.
Schools for Salone: The Sierra Leone native has given back to his homeland through education
“The school is a part of me, it is a part of my story and will always be a part of my story. Building it has been a dream come true. I hope to continue changing the lives many through the sport that I love.” he told club’s website.
Lahoud has been called up to the Sierra Leone national team four times in his professional career.
He made his international debut in a 3-2 victory for Sierra Leone 7 Sep 2013 in a FIFA World Cup qualifier and was substituted in the final 15 minutes of the match.
Lahoud and national teammate Kei Kamara were the co-recipients of the 2015 FIFPro Merit Award for their efforts in creating a school for children displaced by civil war in their native Sierra Leone in December 2015.
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