In its first-ever Halloween youth street soccer tournament, Samba X drew teams from around the state with some colorful names like the Crayon Crushers, Team Gatorade and the Dead-Icated, to promote their soccer services and grow the sport through a fun event.

Samba X, a New Hampshire-based soccer player development and training company, offers one-on-one, personalized training sessions for players in the third grade through the collegiate level and group training sessions.

The tournament, held at the Tri-town Outdoor Ice Rink in Hooksett, capped off a period of rapid growth since the organization came together in March. It was founded by former UNH and Austin FC defender, Chris Pinkham, and his youth soccer teammate, Spencer Nowe, who’s the assistant coach for Merrimack Valley’s varsity boys’ soccer team.

“We’re really looking to develop the next generation of players in New Hampshire and develop them the right way,” said Chris Pinkham. “When they’re with us, they’re working on individual technique and skill to get themselves super confident on the ball and to separate themselves from everybody else. So if you’re coming to Samba, you’re coming because you want to be a baller and you want to put in the extra work to distinguish yourself from everyone else.”

Sunday’s tournament featured 12 makeshift “middle school skillers” teams with players encouraged to dress up in costume. Upbeat hip-hop and rap blasted through the speakers as the players balled out and displayed their best “tekkers” or techniques with the ball at their feet.

Eventually, the five-a-side tournament whittled down the teams until The Blue Bosnians beat Panther Elite, 9-8, in the final.

Over the summer, the league put on street soccer games at Keach Park in Concord and began to grow its player base through community-based outreach and tournaments. Since starting earlier in the year, they have worked with over 500 players around the state.

“The energy we bring, we make sure everything’s positive, everything is team-oriented, but individually based,” said Nowe. “We always make sure we instill a positive attitude and dedication and work hard.”

They’re just getting started.

Starting on Nov. 5, the organization will begin five-month-long winter training programs for young girls and boys with the mission to help the best talents in the state take their game to the next level through mastery of the ball, playing in and out of pressure, and growing their confidence.

“We were in a program called Samba early on when we were growing up, and he (Pinkham) reached out to the old coach. It stopped about 10 years ago, and we just wanted to start all over. It’s been my dream to train players and start my own clinic,” said Spencer Nowe.

Dedieu Lukuse from Concord High School and Boris Hirwa, who plays for Seacoast United’s U-16 MLS Next Academy team, train with Samba X. Lukuse hopes to make it to the collegiate level and is aiming for UNH. He said that Samba X has improved his skills overall.

Hirwa is of Rwandan origin but has grown up in New Hampshire. He said he wants to model his game after Antonio Rudiger from Real Madrid and French legend N’Golo Kante.

“Before we had Samba X, it was just everyone by themselves,” he said. “Samba X gives us a lot of support to get ready for our seasons. And with Chris too, you could do one-v-ones with him, and he does a lot for you, not only just in soccer but with school too, he’ll be at the high school if you need tutoring and help you.”

Samba X also seeks to make soccer accessible to all – the league has its own scholarship fund, which currently pays for 15 players to participate. The fund is maintained via donations plus 100% of the proceeds from league merchandise.

Soccer is already the largest worldwide, but in America, it has taken longer to gain a foothold in a hyper-competitive sports market that features the “big four” of ice hockey, baseball, basketball and football.

The country recently hosted the 2024 Copa America — one of the most prestigious competitions in international soccer — and is set to host the 2026 World Cup, which will be the largest in history with 48 countries, in a joint bid with Mexico and Canada.

“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to change the culture of soccer in New Hampshire, because you look everywhere else around the world, and they’re starting with street soccer, something that’s super easy. All you need is a patch of concrete and some shoes,” said Pinkham. “So we’re trying to really get street soccer, futsal, going in New Hampshire because we think that’s the best way to develop players.”

The growth of Major League Soccer and the sport is driven by the youngest and most diverse audience out of any major sport, according to Sports Business Journal.

“It’s grown tremendously from like all levels. We have UNH, which is a top-25 program over the past years. And then the USL (United Soccer League) Seacoast United Phantoms,” said Panos Galatas, the director of operations for UNH men’s soccer, who attended the tournament. “I think this inspires the youth and the youth development within the state. I think it’s just growing and growing.”

Moreover, participation rates for boys’ and girls’ soccer between ages six to 18 are outpacing and growing faster than all other sports except for golf and tennis according to a study by Project Play.

“I feel like soccer in New Hampshire is getting better and better each day. It used to be really down, it was everyone for themselves. But now we’re creating teams and everything’s coming together really well,” said Hirwa.

Alexander Rapp can be reached at arapp@cmonitor.com