Miami FC Kendall U-16 and U-18 to Play First U.S. Soccer Development Academy Home Game at Tropical Park on October 28

Miami, October 25, 2007 – The Miami FC Kendall U-16 and U-18 teams that participate in the new U.S. Soccer Development Academy program will play a double-header – their first and only 2007 home games – at Tropical Park on Sunday, October 28, at 4 pm and 6 pm respectively. Sunday’s opponent is regional rival Boca Raton’s Schulz Academy, one of only four clubs in the state of Florida accepted by the U.S. Soccer Federation to participate in this unique national program that is designed to improve the development environment for elite male youth soccer players throughout the country.

After five matches Miami FC Kendall’s U-16 development team is undefeated with victories against Washington Premier, Richmond Kickers, Schulz Academy, and Atlanta Fire United, and a lone tie versus Birmingham United. Their U-18 mates have faced stronger opposition against the older squads of the same clubs, scoring one win, three ties and a loss. Sunday will feature a rematch of a tightly contested U-18 match in which the teams had to settle for a 2-2 tie in their first meeting earlier this month. There will be food, beverages, music and appearances by Miami FC professional players, coaches and the official mascot, Hotshot. There is no charge for tickets and parking is free.

Miami FC, Kendall Soccer Coalition (Kendall SC), and Plantation Eagles SC recently signed an umbrella partnership to develop youth soccer in South Florida anchored by their joint initiative to field the Miami FC Kendall U-16 and U-18 teams as the only representatives from the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale metropolitan area in the new Development Academy program.

The Development Academy is a program instituted by U.S. Soccer this year to enhance the development environment for elite boys soccer players - ages U-16 through U-18 - throughout the country by setting minimum training standards and providing a structured competition among especially selected clubs from across the United States. The sixty-four clubs chosen for the inaugural 30-match season had begun Academy league play on October 4, 2007 with a kick-off showcase tournament at the Home Depot Center in California.

Given that Miami FC was actively planning to launch its own youth divisions and the close ties that already existed between the professional club and Kendall SC, when U.S. Soccer selected the nationally renowned youth club to be the single representative from Miami-Dade County in the Development Academy, the two organizations decided it would be mutually beneficial to join forces in order to recruit, coach and field the best possible U-16 and U-18 Academy teams. Plantation Eagles SC, who have an existing program partnership with Kendall SC, have also been instrumental in helping the Development Academy program reach youth players from the Broward County area. These Academy teams play under the name of “Miami FC Kendall” and wear the official Miami FC uniforms and apparel.

“This partnership is a natural. Miami FC is committed to developing soccer at all levels. As is the case with major soccer clubs around the world, one of the keys to doing so is creating a club structure that begins at the youth level and culminates at the professional level,” said Aaron Davidson, President of Miami FC. “Youth soccer and professional soccer have primarily developed on parallel tracks in the United States and one of the primary objectives of the Academy is precisely to bridge this gap between youth and professional soccer in this country. The Miami FC– Kendall SC – Plantation SC partnership represents our first effort to bridge this gap in South Florida.”


Miami FC’s contributions to the partnership include financial support, coaching assistance, sales and marketing services and other resources. The financial support will be allocated primarily towards the significant costs of the Academy in an effort to reduce the financial burden on the players and their families, and ensure that the best possible youth soccer prospects are able to participate. The other contributions will be made available to Kendall SC and Plantation Eagles SC teams of all ages, levels and abilities.

The partner youth clubs will actively promote their partnership with Miami FC including, for example, displaying signage at their respective club facilities, and wearing a Miami FC patch prominently on the sleeves of their recreational and competitive team jerseys.

“This partnership with Miami FC will provide us with important resources to take our program to the next level,” stated Marcos Fernández, President of Kendall SC. “Miami FC’s contributions and active participation in Kendall SC will give our club an unprecedented support base and inspire our members to believe that they can one day play at the highest levels of the sport in our country, including professional soccer.”

Kendall SC’s proven track record developing collegiate and professional talent earned them the special recognition from the U.S. Soccer Federation as one of the inaugural Development Academy clubs. In addition to the more than 30 high school seniors who graduated last year and are now playing college soccer, three former members of the club advanced to play professionally in the United States during the last year: Nicolas Mosquera and Luis Calix signed with Miami FC and U-20 US National Team member Bryan Arguez, was drafted in the first round of the MLS Draft. Several other Kendall SC members have also played in the past year with US National and Regional youth teams.

“This is yet another step in the development of Miami FC and our relationship with Kendall SC. Our partnership shows how professional teams and youth clubs can come together in very positive ways for the good of soccer,” added Luiz Muzzi, GM of Miami FC. “We are confident that this relationship will help both of our organizations tremendously as Kendall SC looks to build on its long-time success in youth soccer and Miami FC looks to assist in developing future soccer professionals. We believe that our joint efforts will increase the likelihood of producing future pros such as Nico and Calix, who have made an impact as rookies for Miami FC after coming through the Kendall SC program.”

Victor Pastora, Kendall SC’s Director of Coaches and Assistant Coach of Miami FC, commented, “This is a genuine partnership. The participating clubs are coming together with a common mission to develop soccer in the US from the ground up. I have been working for both Kendall SC and Miami FC over the past couple of years and am confident that this partnership provides a foundation to establish a fully integrated soccer pyramid in South Florida that will produce some of the best and most well-rounded soccer talents in the country.”

“This is truly a unique partnership amongst the professional team and the top youth clubs in South Florida. We saw the opportunity to unite around the new U.S. Soccer Development Academy and have done so in a way that benefits all of us and soccer in general. The U.S. Soccer Development Academy aims to bring the best players together and this partnership will ensure that the best of South Florida participate,” said Mike Rowan, Director of Plantation Eagles SC.

Juan Carlos Michia, USSF Region III Men's National Staff Coach, commented, “This is an exemplary partnership. Miami FC and Kendall Soccer Coalition had the mutual respect for each other and the vision to jointly create what I anticipate will be one of the most competitive teams at the U-16 and U-18 age groups in the Academy.”

Miami FC Kendall US Soccer Development Academy Team Rosters

Miami FC Kendall U-16 Age High School
Shane Malcolm 16 Piper HS
Jordan Fernandez 16 John A Ferguson HS
Francisco Barbella 16 Miami Sunset
Andres Moreno 16 John A Ferguson HS
Edison Enderica 15 Miami Palmetto HS
Victor Cortez 15 Felix Varela HS
Michael Rosado 16 Monsignor Pace HS
Daniel Murillo 16 Miami Southridge HS
David Sarabia 16 Florida Christian HS
Andrew Quintana 16 Florida Christian HS
Eduardo Quintero 16 American Heritage HS
Camilo Madrinan 16 Cypress Bay HS
Andres Seidenthal 16 Belen Jesuit Preparatory
Christian Ramos 16 Miami Southridge HS
Alvaro Bastidas 16 American Heritage HS
Jose Sandoval 16 American Military Academy
Raffael Centofanti 15 John A Ferguson HS
Juan Monsalve 15 Felix Varela HS

Developmental U-16
Andres Mills 16 Coral Reef HS
Fabio Raucci 15 Belen Jesuit Preparatory
Christian Cabrera 15 John A Ferguson HS
Jeronimo Giraldo 15 Felix Varela HS
Borely Martinez 15 John A Ferguson HS
Jonathan Bidegain 15 John A Ferguson HS
Santiago Schmid 15 John A Ferguson HS
Jose Diaz de Villegas 15 Florida Christian HS
Jonathan Castro 15 John A Ferguson HS
Sebastian Evers 16 Gulliver Preparatory HS

Miami FC Kendall – U-18 Age High School
Alexis Mina 18 Felix Varela HS
Marco Franca 17 Miami Sunset HS
Mark Rafols 17 John A Ferguson HS
Gustavo Zamora 17 Miami Sunset HS
Kevin Ante 18 Felix Varela HS
Franklin Blaise 17 Miami Sunset HS
Luiz Yamashita 18 Felix Varela HS
Brian Carvajal 17 Felix Varela HS
Hosman Ramos 18 Miami Southridge HS
Eduardo Jimenez 16 John A Ferguson HS
Christian Gonzalez 16 Miami Sunset HS
Pablo Punyed 17 Miami Coral Park HS
Christian Campero 17 Felix Varela HS
Eder Molina 18 Coral Gables HS
Christian Ospina 18 Felix Varela HS
Victor Angulo 17 Miami Sunset HS
Adam Kramer 17 Saint Thomas Aquinas HS
Yeong Choi 17 American Heritage HS
Fabrizzio Pittaluga 18 Palmer Trinity HS

Developmental U-18
Christian Lopez 18 Miami Sunset HS
Rodrigo Mancenido 17 G.W. Braddock HS
Alvaro Yusty 17 Miami Sunset HS
Nicholas Ramirez 17 Palmer Trinity HS