REGGAE BOY and Philadelphia Union striker Cory Burke surprised a seven-year-old with a home visit and a signed pair of his cleats after a social media post.
According to an Instagram post, created by the fan’s mother and tagging Burke, Tyler Caruso was disappointed after the Union player turned down his plea for a pair of the striker’s cleats at a match in Miami last week.
“So I was at a Union game and so I asked for his cleats and he said, ‘No’. And I was kind of upset,” Tyler said in a subsequent interview with ABC News.
Tyler said whenever it was that he became a professional footballer, he would not do what Burke did.
“Mom, when I play professional soccer, I’m gonna give my cleats to a little kid after every game … even if it costs me a lot of money to buy new cleats all the time,” the post quoted Tyler as saying.
Burke said after seeing the post he felt bad and wanted to make it up to Tyler.
“I felt so bad and I am a person who would like to put a smile on a kid’s face,” said Burke.
Later that week, Burke surprised Tyler by showing up at his house with a jersey and a pair of cleats with the words “I hope I made up” written on the shoes.
“I was like, really happy and I thought it was gonna be a lie because like no one does that,” Tyler said.
Burke said this made him feel better.
“It means a lot you know, knowing that I am able to put a smile on his face and it could change his life,” Burke said.
The boy’s mother, Tina Caruso, said she was also happy about what the player did.
“It was just truly amazing – and we were just completely humbled by his kindness and his generosity,” she said.
“And it’s just really like, a message to us how these soccer players and athletes are just so connected with their fans.”
Tyler said he’s never going to forget Burke and he will remain his favourite player forever.
“I like Cory Burke because he’s a striker just like I am. And he’s like, really cool. And he’s like, just really good.”