Damian Rivera, of RI and the New England Revolution, hasn't forgotten his roots

CENTRAL FALLS — Friday evening brought something of a role reversal for Damian Rivera.

Here was the professional soccer player answering questions. It wasn’t that long ago that he was one of the kids asking them.

Rivera is a Cranston native and attacking midfielder with the New England Revolution. He’s also an alum of Project GOAL, a city nonprofit with a combined focus on academics and athletics. Rivera wasn’t much older than the two dozen kids on this pair of futsal courts when he signed a professional deal with the Revolution in November 2019.

“Seeing them where I was, it’s nice coming back here,” Rivera said. “I was just like them. I was here in the program.”

More Damian Rivera: Cranston native Damian Rivera gets first start for Revolution, and scores first MLS goal

This 90-minute outdoor session included skill training and four teams squaring off in short matches. It followed work in the classroom down the hill on Ledge Street. That’s the price for partaking in some fun and bringing home an autograph to finish off a given week.

“We’re pretty strict with our rules — probably more strict than even the schools themselves can be,” said Darius Shirzadi, the executive director and co-founder of Project GOAL. “I’m sure Damian was in there once and we didn’t let him play.

“He was probably upset about it — he forgot his shirt or he forgot his shin guards. But he was rarely one of those kids.”

Rivera has already made some waves this season with New England as a 19-year-old. He became just the third player in Major League Soccer history to score in the opening minute of his first start, doing so in an April 30 win against Inter Miami FC. Rivera’s left-footed strike was the stuff of dreams and sparked a 2-0 victory at Gillette Stadium.

“I get to do what I love to do for a living,” Rivera said. “It’s a dream come true. I remember coming in here wanting to be a professional soccer player.”

Rivera was an academy standout with the Revolution after spending time with Project GOAL, Providence FC and Bayside FC. He was the seventh player to come through the youth ranks with New England and reach the first team — only Diego Fagundez and Noah Buck were younger. Rivera diverted from the high school and college career track almost before he could have started it.

“Joining the academy at a young age, I wanted to be a professional soccer player,” Rivera said. “It was always my dream. It did come a little quick.”

Playing for the Revolution at the moment is something equivalent to taking graduate-level courses in the sport. Bruce Arena has managed the U.S. Men’s National Team twice and three other MLS clubs. Jozy Altidore, Gustavo Bou, Carles Gil and Matt Turner are among several New England players with significant experience in the league and overseas.

“They’re all guys to look up to,” Rivera said. “They're all very positive guys giving me feedback as a younger person on the team. It’s very helpful when you have guys like that on the team.”

Rivera’s charitable instincts go beyond his home state. He’s also signed on with Common Goal, an international soccer organization that asks for a 1% salary donation from players and managers to combat racism, gender inequity, LGBTQ+ discrimination, climate challenges and general wellness. U.S. Women’s National Team star Megan Rapinoe, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata and Chelsea striker Timo Werner are among the high-profile names aligned with the project.

“Such a humble kid,” Shirzadi said. “Really no ego on him whatsoever. You don’t see what he does in terms of the work ethic and the joy for the game.

"That’s what we could always see.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com    

On Twitter: @BillKoch25 

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Cranston native Damian Rivera back at Project GOAL as a professional