Congratulations to Sporting Omaha FC and Puma FC, who were named Sporting Club Network Academy Affiliate of the Year and Sporting Club Network Member of the Year, respectively. Guests from both clubs attended Pitch Black, Sporting Kansas City’s annual team awards ceremony, on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park.
Despite just rebranding to Sporting Omaha earlier this year, the 2016 Academy Affiliate of the Year has actually been one of the longest-standing and most important relationships of the Sporting Club Network since the program was launched just over five years ago.
Originally named Omaha FC, the club formed a long-term partnership with Sporting Kansas City after blazing a trail in Nebraska as one of the leading clubs focused on player development and coaching education. As the two organizations realized their ambitions aligned, it only made sense to formalize a partnership with OFC becoming an Academy Affiliate to Sporting Kansas City.
Since that time, both parties have worked tirelessly to leverage the Sporting brand and developmental resources to collectively grow the game in those local communities while providing as many opportunities for the club’s members to learn and enjoy their experience in soccer. The club then took a major step forward in both its evolution and obligation to those goals by rebranding to Sporting Omaha FC earlier this year. By doing so, Sporting Omaha has cemented its long-term commitment to the Academy Affiliate program as an integral part of Sporting KC’s overall youth development system.
Puma FC, the Sporting Club Network Member of the Year, is a youth soccer club headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. Puma FC started in 2010 with just 40 kids and has progressed to over 800 players ranging from 4-18 years old with 4000 family members from both Missouri and Kansas. Puma FC continues to grow and demonstrate the strength in soccer development in the Midwest while providing teams with both "friends playing with friends” and competitive levels in local recreation leagues and the Heartland Soccer League.
Puma FC has constantly supported all Sporting Club Network events and clinics through activation, participation and marketing while also supporting Sporting KC’s academy program. Throughout the years, the club has improved the content and consistency with marketing and social media efforts to provide transparency for all club members.
Always looking for ways to give back to local communities, Puma FC created a Chance 4 All which utilizes soccer as a tool to reach out to the underserved communities by providing the opportunity to play the beautiful game without paying. A Chance 4 All includes mentorship programs, project donations, full player and team sponsorship for Puma FC Northeast, nutritional education, and fitness education, as well as Adopt-a-family for Christmas program. Puma FC is also working with the Boys and Girls Club of Kansas City to help their kids play soccer in Heartland Soccer League. The Sporting Club Network proudly congratulates Puma FC for winning SCN Member of the year and appreciates all the organization does for the Kansas City community!
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