Westbrook Academy in South Gate gets new court for emerging sport: futsal
Usa today news
The Westbrook Academy celebrates the opening of a new futsal court in South Gate on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
LA Promise Fund President Veronica Melvin speaks during the opening of a new futsal court at the Westbrook Academy in South Gate on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Westbrook Academy celebrates the opening of a new futsal court in South Gate on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
LAFC’s Denis Bouanga celebrates the opening of a new futsal court with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Westbrook Academy in South Gate on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Mando Fresko speaks during the opening of a new futsal court at the Westbrook Academy in South Gate on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Westbrook Academy celebrates the opening of a new futsal court with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in South Gate on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Westbrook Academy celebrates the opening of a new futsal court in South Gate on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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The Westbrook Academy celebrates the opening of a new futsal court in South Gate on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Westbrook Academy in South Gate showed off its new futsal court on Wednesday, Sept. 1.
The LA Promise Fund, the Los Angeles Football Club, the LAFC Foundation, Metro by T-Mobile and the LA Promise Fund teamed up to create the new court.
Futsal is a variation on soccer that is tweaked to be ideal for hard-court and indoor settings. Players use a smaller, heavier, less bouncy ball compared to regular soccer, so the ball is easier to control on a hard surface.
LA Promise Fund President Veronica Melvin, Westbrook Academy Chief of Schools Jason Marin, LAFC owner Carlos Vela, actor/radio host Mando Fresko (a South Gate native) and LAFC forward Denis Bouanga were on hand for the event.
After the ribbon cutting, Westbrook players got to show off their skills in the emerging sport on their new court.
