Matt Braem Tackles New Off-Pitch Role as Collegiate Recruiting Advisor

By Ryan Makuch

Matt Braem traveled to the United States to pursue a career in the sport he loved then and now. Now, in 2022, closing in on a decade after Braem made the trip across the Atlantic, Braem takes on yet another aspect of soccer. Not satisfied with playing and coaching, Braem now hopes to reach and help even more youth athletes in the role of collegiate recruiting advisor.

The man beloved by the AFCAA faithful has been working on a step like this for a while, now. Even dating back to his latest season in AFCAA colors (2019), Braem’s individual training business was booming. On his work with those players, Braem beamed, “I have little brothers and sisters!” He would continue, saying, “I enjoy that one-on-one setting – teaching and creating a relationship and taking care of kids.” Braem now hopes to do that on a larger, broader, scale, with advice that can help everyone no matter their skill level or aspirations.

Braem launched his course, ‘The College Recruiting Guide’ in January with helping young athletes in need of some guidance as the primary motivating factor behind it. Noting the impact of his one-on-one sessions, and seeing high-level high school players feel stuck and lost in the college recruiting world, Braem noted how several D1/D2-level players that he worked with were landing below their talent level at D2 or even non-scholarship D3 schools. “The biggest thing was the frustration, like, man, if they knew how to market themselves they could get so much more money,” Braem said about the potential scholarship dollars going unclaimed by talented players.

Enter, The College Recruiting Guide. With videos, audio components, downloadable PDFs and guides, and Braem’s own personal wisdom and experiences used as a guide and interspliced within the learnings, Braem’s guide is a one-stop-shop in the collegiate recruiting world, and that’s on purpose. “I go from A to Z on how to get a scholarship,” Braem stated. He would also add, “I pretty much hold your hand the entire time,” emphasizing the hands-on nature of the course.

Hands-on teaching and leading are two things that Braem is able to do with ease. One of those, the leading that Braem does on the pitch, is something that has been apparent before for The Mighty Oak’s fans. Braem has been a staple in the history of The Mighty Oak on the field. Braem played every NPSL minute for the club in 2016, their first season in the league. For the next three years, Braem would return to Ann Arbor, his time on the field with the club culminating in 2019 where he would serve as captain for the club, play in the most minutes in the NPSL, score his first goal in a 2-0 road victory over Grand Rapids, and earn Men’s Team MVP accolades at the conclusion of the season.

‘Frenchy’ shone in the blues and white of AFCAA, but his journey to playing collegiately, and eventually professional, was not easy. A product of the Le Havre academy, and a former academy mate of the likes of Paul Pogba and Riyad Mahrez, which Braem discusses at length in a podcast appearance with Michael Lewis Cunningham, Braem spoke minimal English and lept into the deep end of the American soccer pool, shoring up in Iowa, before eventually moving on to Loyola-Chicago following two years at Iowa Western Community College.

“I didn’t know where I was going because I didn’t know the college scene at all, so I didn’t realize even that there were D1/D2D3/etc,” said Braem, highlighting his own lack of knowledge about the world he was thrust into, at the time. Now, well into a playing and coaching career of his own, Braem is ready to advise. 

Offering up a sneak peek for those interested, Braem discussed some of the most important things to consider for an athlete interested in pursuing a collegiate career. One of the first, and most important, steps Braem says a young athlete needs to take is to put their priorities in order. Braem offers his own journey as an example: a full ride, playing for a D1 program and living in a large city with an international airport for easy travel back home. 

That note of wanting to go ‘D1’ is something that Braem touched upon heavily, noting the amount of quality that non-D1 colleges and universities have in their programs. Using Yuri Farkas as an example by name, Braem knows that the best talent in the collegiate system isn’t all centrally located at the D1 level.

“It’s funny because I always think about it. If you look at AFC Ann Arbor, every single year we had 25-30 ballers, and not all of them played D1,” Braem said. “There was a lot of NAIA, lots of D2/D3 because they’re international or couldn’t afford D1, and kind of that’s the idea [behind the course]. Just because you play D1 or D2 doesn’t mean you’re better than that other player.” 

Above everything else, though, Braem emphasized the need to be a good student. “We’re talking about getting recruited to play soccer, but at the end of the day that doesn’t even matter,” Braem says about the on-field aspect. Braem noted how his own scholarship money came from 80% academic funding, and how he needed to keep his GPA above a 3.4 to remain eligible. 

It’s the focus on the off-field and it’s a willingness to break things down to the minute that makes Braem the perfect leader for this course. The awareness and understanding of the process make Braem, an AFCAA legend, former captain, and current MASL professional, the right man to help educate and inform incoming collegiate athletes of the world of recruiting. 

Josh Adam Joins The Mighty Oak for 2022 Campaign

By Ryan Makuch

AFC Ann Arbor are pleased to confirm the signing of Josh Adam ahead of the 2022 USL League Two campaign. Adam joins MSU teammates Lance McGrane and Louis Sala as the third Spartan planning to make the trip join I-96 to join AFCAA for the summer season. 

The Brighton native was a freshman for Michigan State in the 2021 collegiate season. Adam was hampered by injury throughout the year, but he was able to make ten appearances and five starts while logging his first career goal – the opener of a 1-1 draw with Wisconsin. Standing 6’2” and serving as a valuable presence in the backline, Adam’s collegiate experiences at an early age will surely aid him in his quest to play and improve over the summer. 

In discussing why AFCAA was the right fit, Adam said that the decision was ultimately not too tricky. “I knew I wanted to play somewhere locally during the summer, and I know AFC Ann Arbor is a very good club that will be able to help me continue to grow and develop as a player over the summer.”

Adam also fits right in with a core of men and women from Michigan or that have played in Michigan throughout their youth/collegiate careers. “It’s a very cool experience representing my state at both college and club levels,” Adam shared. “It's a great feeling to have people cheer me on who have seen me develop during my soccer career.”

As a player, Adam describes himself as a communicator on the pitch. “Playing in the backline, you need to be vocal and organize your team and I believe that a team that has good communication is more organized and will perform better together,” Adam revealed about his own play style and his sporting philosophy. He would continue to elaborate on his own style of play, and how he enjoys playing, saying, “I think that moving the ball around the backline is the best way to open up gaps to break lines and build forward rather than just playing kick and run to the forwards.”

It’s no surprise that with the knowledge of the sport in Michigan that Club Sporting Director Eric Rudland has Adam quickly impressed him, and Head Coach Rod Asllani. Rudland would say about the newest AFCAA signee, “Josh is a quality local addition. He has proven himself at Michigan State and in the Big Ten. We are looking forward to him joining us this season.” With high-pressure minutes under his belt in the defense, Adam provides valuable experience in managing a game even as just a freshman.

When asked about what he’s looking forward to this season, Adam said, “My hopes and expectations for this coming summer season are to gain knowledge and experience from playing with and against some older guys.” Adam is relishing the opportunity of learning from those with more footballing experience, as he notes, saying, “The older guys will challenge me and push me to become a better player.” Adam would also cheerfully add, “Lastly, of course, I'm looking forward to meeting the AFC Ann Arbor team!”

We are delighted to welcome Josh Adam to the AFCAA Family ahead of the 2022 season, and we look forward to welcoming him to Ann Arbor this summer.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014 and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!

Ann Arbor Native Claire Cahalan Joins The Mighty Oak

By Jinseong Kim

AFC Ann Arbor is excited to add Claire Cahalan to the 2022 USL W League squad. Cahalan is an Ann Arbor native and will link up with fellow Michiganders like Anna Doane, Chloe Ricketts, and Emily Eitzman, among several others.

Cahalan is a well-known name in the Ann Arbor youth soccer community. Having captained the Michigan Hawks Class of 2017 for three years, the midfielder won the U17 and U19 Michigan State Cup championships while with the Hawks. Michigan Hawks is a familiar name to the club, as it is where Eitzman played youth soccer with the Class of 2020 team. 

Cahalan committed to the University of Toledo in 2017 and recently finished her college career at the Rockets. During her time in Ohio, Cahalan showed positive progress over the course of seasons. Her first year ended with two assists in 20 appearances, but in her senior year, Cahalan made the jump to the starting XI for all 20 matches and recorded two goals to go along with another pair of two assists. She was selected as Academic All-MAC in 2017 and 2021 and experienced NCAA Tournament action as a freshman. 

Cahalan recently graduated from Toledo and she is ready for a fresh challenge. Recalling back her memory from her college career, she explained how it was a dream come true for her, and she would make memories to further enlighten her career. 

“My college career was amazing, and I miss it every day. College soccer was a dream of mine since I was four and to be able to live that out and play D1 soccer was absolutely amazing. I learned so much during those four and a half years of my life playing college soccer and those lessons are things that I will take with me everywhere in life.”

After college, Cahalan felt Ann Arbor was the place she should continue her career at. She was expected to join the squad last season before the pandemic ripped the season away. “I am so excited to join AFCAA. Soccer has been such a huge part of my life, and with college soccer ending I knew that I needed to continue playing and AFCAA was the perfect place for me. An old coach of mine, Kevin [Boyd], from Legends FC, told me about AFCAA.”

In discussing her attributes, Cahalan described her as a technical, defensive player. “As a player, I am very technical. I play defensive midfield and I love that position because I can see everything on the field. I am involved in almost every play on the field. I am a hard worker and I play with a lot of passion. I'm a creative player on the ball and off the ball as well.” 

She would continue, “As a person I am passionate. I am a firm believer that there are no limits when it comes to what you want to achieve, so dream big. I also believe that loving everyone, no matter who they are, is the most important thing. I think soccer has taught me those two very important things and for that, I am forever grateful.” 

Women’s Head Coach Boyzzz Khumalo emphasized the role of a community club for local players who never had the chance or are looking for the next opportunity. “AFC Ann Arbor is a people’s team, a team for local players.”

He added, “The club opens up for high school players looking for college looks, college players who want to stay fit over the summer, and also those who are looking for the next level. Playing for AFC Ann Arbor could be a good thing for them to be seen by professional teams. On the men’s side, those things are already happening.”

Cahalan concluded with an enthusiastic comment. “My goal for the season is to play the sport I love and to help AFCAA win. I am so excited to meet all the women that are playing this summer and I want to build the strongest team that we can for this summer. I have seen all of the women that have been announced to play this summer and they are all so talented and I know that we are going to have a special team this summer!”

AFCAA Family, please give Claire a warm welcome back to her hometown, and look forward to a great summer season with her in the squad.

Mike Lorenc Makes an International Impact, Set to Assist in Polish/Ukrainian Border Efforts

By Ryan Makuch

Serving on the ground of the communities that we love and serve has always been part of the AFC Ann Arbor club ethos. Co-owner Mike Lorenc has decided to continue in the long-running AFCAA tradition and make a massive jump across the ocean to spend a month back in his native Poland to assist in the effort of resettling Ukrainian refugees in Poland or elsewhere.

Lorenc’s history with Poland has remained strong even following his move to the U.S. as an exchange student in 1992. Lorenc would note that before the COVID pandemic he’d been back to Poland each of the prior 12 years. This will be his first trip back, and it comes under spectacular circumstances as the Polish nation and people deal with the threat of further Russian aggression, as well as the influx of refugees that need a space to live, free from the immediate threat of war.

The answer to the question of ‘why go?’ is one that was fairly obvious for Lorenc. Born in Lublin, Poland, just about 60 miles away from the Ukrainian border, Lorenc has witnessed much of recent Polish history while living within Poland. A member of the Orange Alternative movement in Poland as a youth, Lorenc would witness the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union while living within it. “What’s happening in Russia and the Ukraine right now is near and dear to my heart,” Lorenc would say. “I felt almost obligated to not just hate-tweet and do things online but actually do something in person.”

Long-running roots to Poland make Lorenc proud to share in his homeland with his sons. When discussing about the positives of his return and the trips he’s taken in the past, Lorenc noted how he likes to return primarily for personal and business reasons. On the personal level, Lorenc expressed how he enjoyed sharing in places and foods and new cultural experiences with his sons, and allowing them the opportunity to see where and how he grew up. 

On a professional level, Lorenc is deeply tied to Google Poland, having been employee number one there 17 years ago, and spending another two years in the area growing and expanding Google’s footprint in Central and Eastern Europe. Also a travel junkie, Lorenc noted how he enjoys seeing Warsaw booming and turning into a European metropolis, while also following the socio-economic and political waves that happen in the country.

Lorenc’s plan in Poland starts with providing incoming refugees with the essentials and necessities. Lorenc plans to assist in providing hot meals, water, free transportation, and clothes, among other things. The GoFundMe started by Lorenc offers those who wish to contribute monetarily the opportunity to support. 

Even in gravely serious conditions and times, though, Lorenc looks forward to spreading the beautiful game in hopes to spark some joy among the young refugees – in Lorenc’s words, he hopes that the soccer equipment that he plans to distribute will “get their mind away from the tragedy of war”. Lorenc is bringing with him to Poland about a dozen soccer balls to begin with, and an additional 250 soccer balls (along with other equipment) have been secured for more broad distribution amongst refugee camps around Poland. 

In discussing the decision to do something in-person, Lorenc noted how inspired by AFC Ann Arbor’s in-person initiatives. “With COVID over the past two years, we have really accelerated our community outreach,” said Lorenc, discussing the club’s impact. “And a lot of what we’ve done has been in person. So being, quite frankly, inspired by Bilal [Saeed], Boyzzz [Khumalo], Emily [Eitzman], Justin [Harper], and people around the organization who have taken time to go create camps and help everywhere.” 

Lorenc feels that AFC Ann Arbor being an organization that deals in the live entertainment world makes it inherently an ‘in-person’ organization. “We have live games and we bring the community to our live events; the purpose of our club is already in-person,” he would note. Acknowledging how Community Kicks really helped push the club’s already progressive thought process into motion, Lorenc praised the club’s initiatives for promoting sport, health, and positive nutritional habits, and encouraging the young participants to be part of their greater community at large. 

“Coming to the U.S. and joining AFC, the impetus was to try and promote soccer in the U.S., and very quickly we kind of pivoting from, yes, doing that, but also soccer as a platform to do good,” said Lorenc, discussing the purpose of AFC Ann Arbor. Calling the tackling of a diverse array of social issues a “core belief” of the club, Lorenc would say that in its own way, that provides the club with a purpose. Noting how Poland and Ukraine hosted the 2012 European Championships, Lorenc believes in the unifying nature of the sport. He notes the diversity of the players, staff, and fans of The Mighty Oak, saying, “We’ve always had a heavy dose of international players, [and w]e have lots of fans that are first or second-generation with roots overseas, and soccer united all of them.”

Perhaps no sentence better sums up the desires of the club, and that of the individuals within the club, than Lorenc’s astute point: “We don’t just want to be a soccer club. We take pride in being a good neighbor.” Whether that’s in the States or abroad, in our homeland or our adopted home, and on a macro or micro scale, AFCAA and those that make up the club remain active and willing to help, no matter where, and no matter when. 

If you desire to help Mike Lorenc’s fundraiser, his GoFundMe link can be found here. Nearly $30,000 has been raised as of time of writing, and Lorenc will be matching $20,000 of this with his own money. Materials will be purchased on the ground, in Poland, and Lorenc will be working with cities and refugee camps to ensure that 100% of proceeds help refugees fleeing from Ukraine.

Syracuse Midfielder Curt Calov Commits to AFCAA For Summer

By Jinseong Kim

AFC Ann Arbor are excited to announce the signing of New Jersey born midfielder Curt Calov ahead of the 2022 season. Calov will play his first senior club soccer at AFCAA.

The New Jersey-born midfielder has been one of the top prospects around New England area in recent memory. Back at Delbarton High School varsity squad, he scored 20 goals in 33 games over the course of three years. At his senior year, Calov took the captain’s armband and led the team to the state championship. The same year, he was also selected as a 2020 High School All-American team.

Calov admitted how valuable these experiences at Delbarton are to him, and how he would integrate it to future career, with AFCAA. “Every season you plan on making it to the final and winning it all, luckily with Delbarton, I was able to captain them to a victory and cement my name in the long name of legacy in the school. It helped me grow in a leadership position and take on responsibilities that prepared me for college soccer. The team culture helped me build a great work ethic, one that has led me to succeed in my first season at Syracuse and will help me prosper and grow at AFC Ann Arbor.”

Calov had a strong freshman season at Syracuse before joining AFCAA. He played all 18 matches, scored five, which puts him third on the team by number of goals scored. After the season, Calov was featured on Top Drawer Soccer Top 100 Freshmen List (ranked #76) and earned 2021 ACC All-Freshmen Team honors. 

Calov was passionate about playing for a new team, and already aiming for the best possible results. “I am psyched and ready to get started in working toward the goal of winning a USL League Two championship with AFCAA. I believe it is the best place to be to challenge me and keep me in the best playing shape for the upcoming fall in college soccer.” 

Calov would provide some other key examples for what has attracted him to Ann Arbor. He pointed out the culture of our city and community played a huge role in making final decision. “Firstly, I chose the club based on the renowned history and the great town of Ann Arbor. Secondly, my coaches at Syracuse directed me in the way of the club knowing it would suit me best and that it is the best place to be. Lastly, based on the numerous conversations with Coach Rudland I felt as if it would be a great honor and pride to play under the entire coaching staff at the club.”

“As a player, I would say I am quite calm on the ball and look to expose the space behind the defensive mid-right and right in front of the center back. I feel I am best with the ball at my feet facing the goal and am very comfortable in 1v1 situations. As a person, I am a quiet kid who is pretty kept to himself. In my free time, I like to fish and enjoy the quiet serenity of it.” Curt added, in discussing his attributes both on and off the field.

Club Sporting Director Eric Rudland reinforced his high expectations on Calov. “Curt is a fantastic addition to our side for 2022. He comes from great pedigree in his youth career, and burst onto the college scene this past fall as one of the top freshmen in the ACC. He will be a welcome addition to our midfield line, and we expect him to be an impactful player.”

Calov concluded a talk by restating his ambition for this summer: “My goal for this season is to help lead AFCAA to a USL League 2 championship and create good friendships with my teammates as well as a name for myself around the country.”

The Mighty Oak family, once again, give a warm welcome to Calov and we hope for a positive summer season with Calov and other squad members. 

AFC Ann Arbor Adds Louis Sala to 2022 Men's Roster

By Ryan Makuch

AFC Ann Arbor is pleased to announce the signing of Louis Sala ahead of the 2022 league season. Sala will join collegiate teammate Lance McGrane with The Mighty Oak in Ann Arbor for this summer campaign.

The midfield man is coming off his senior season with the Michigan State Spartans in 2021-22. Sala played in 16 of MSU’s 17 games, logging a goal and three assists, a metric good for second on the side. As a junior, Sala would make 11 appearances, starting nine of them, and securing a goal and an assist. Sala spent two seasons with the Northern Illinois Huskies before his time at MSU, making 36 appearances as an underclassman with 16 starts. 

New Men’s Head Coach Rod Asllani has high hopes for his newest roster member. “Louis is a versatile player that can play many positions across the front line,” he would say. “He’s a technical player and has a very good understanding of the game. I see him fit well with our style of play. In addition to that, he has good delivery of the ball and can be a threat on set pieces.”

Indeed, Sala himself agreed with the assessment that he is a versatile player, and he also expanded a bit more on his playing style, saying, “I’m a creative player who looks to help and lead anywhere I can.” With plenty of weapons in his arsenal and traits to bring to the pitch, it’s no surprise that Sala is hopeful for the upcoming summer season. 

“I was really drawn to playing in a professional environment and have seen a lot of great players come through AA in the last few years,” Sala would say about what drew him to The Mighty Oak. With hopes to challenge for the league championship, Sala desires to be part of a side to help elevate his game as well as the club. 

As the fourth man announced for the 2022 season, Sala happens to share connections with all three other players. Sala not only plays at MSU with McGrane but he, like Hemi Nasser and Shion Soga, hails from Michigan. A West Bloomfield native and a graduate of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Sala now has the opportunity to play in his home state at the highest of levels for collegiate and club ball. 

“It’s really cool for me cause I feel like the state of Michigan is a really strong soccer state and having that validation and backing from the Michigan soccer community is excellent,” Sala would share with AFCAA. 

We look forward to welcoming Louis Sala alongside the rest of the squad to Ann Arbor for the 2022 season and seeing him on the pitch for The Mighty Oak.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014 and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!

Dearborn Native Hemi Nasser Joins The Mighty Oak

By Jinseong Kim

AFC Ann Arbor are delighted to announce the signing of Hammad “Hemi” Nasser ahead of the 2022 USL League Two season. Nasser is from Dearborn and played college soccer at Butler University.

Prior to college, Nasser played club soccer at Vardar Academy Michigan for two years, registered 20 goals in one season. In his freshman year with the Big East side, the striker appeared in 18 matches and helped the Bulldogs reach the semi-finals of Big East Tournament. The following season, Nasser played 11 games and registered two goals and two assists. He logged another pair of goals and assists in his junior year, helping push the Bulldogs to the Big East Tournament Semi-Finals for the second time in his career.

“I always knew AFC Ann Arbor was a good team and program to be a part of,” said Nasser on his first year at AFC Ann Arbor. “I was humbled to get the call to come to play for the team and I look forward to a good season.”

Apart from his college career, Nasser was a stand-out in the Flint City Bucks’ 2019 USL League Two championship run. Nasser, who was only 17 when he first joined the Bucks, provided a solid pass that led to the lone penalty goal which would decide Flint City’s championship victory over Reading United AC. 

On his long-awaited return to Michigan, Nasser didn’t hesitate to hide how grateful he was. “It feels great to be back home. The pandemic has really given us the opportunity to sit back and appreciate what matters: family, friends, and of course, soccer. So to have it all back to somewhat normal makes me excited again.”

Nasser gave some insight on him as a person and a competitor, saying, “As a player, I believe that I do whatever it takes for the team to win. I always try to stay humble and thrive with my teammates to victory. As a person, I'm an easy-going guy who loves to have fun with his teammates and enjoy new experiences. I’m definitely a fun guy to be around.”  

Nasser has already experienced USL League Two, not only playing in the league but lifting the championship trophy. He is eager to integrate his championship pedigree and winning mentality to the squad facing the inaugural season at a new league. Where he is aiming is the very top. Nasser noted, “The goal for the season is to win the league. No doubt. No task is easy, but I feel with the team we have we can do it.” Nasser was also looking forward to personal development. He would continue, “Ultimately, I want to end the season knowing that I benefited as a player to be better and gave it my all. If you give it your all, the sky is the limit. We got to let everything else happen.”

Eric Rudland, Club Sporting Director for AFC Ann Arbor, elaborated on how he is looking forward to having the local lad in the squad. “Hemi comes to us off high recommendations and boasts a solid playing history. We are expecting him to make a big impact for our club on the field.”

AFC Ann Arbor welcomes Hemi to his home state and to the AFCAA Family, and we look forward to a strong, competitive summer with him. 

About AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014, and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!

Bella Petrock Returns to AFC Ann Arbor for 2022 Season

By Ryan Makuch

AFC Ann Arbor is excited to announce the return of Bella Petrock to The Mighty Oak for the 2022 season. Petrock joins Emily Eitzman as returnees from the 2019 season, and also brings a significant amount of experience both from the club level as well as a collegian. 

With The Mighty Oak in 2019, Petrock cemented herself as an important player in the midfield within the starting eleven. Starting the majority of UWS matches for AFCAA over the course of the season, she provided the side with a boost both in attack and defense, providing quality and strength in the center of the park. 

“I would describe myself as a gritty, defensive-minded, visionary player who is not afraid to take a chance on any play,” Petrock said, on her playstyle. 

Speaking also about her growth as a player since that season, Petrock would say, “Since the 2019 season, I have gained a lot of experience and confidence playing at the collegiate level and learned how to best apply my strengths to the game. I would also say my soccer mindset has grown in that I’ve learned the importance of team cohesion over anything.”

Petrock also completed her senior season at Ashland University, where she excelled for a superb Eagles team. Ashland won at least ten games three of Petrock’s four seasons, the outlier being a shortened spring 2021 season where the side went 8-2-1. As a senior, Petrock logged over 1,200 minutes played for the third time in her career. She has made 70 appearances over her career, logging 63 starts, and notching eight goals in purple and yellow. 

About her return, Petrock was highly enthused, saying, “I couldn’t be more excited to come back and play with girls from the past season and to meet all of the new talented players.” She continued, “I’m looking forward to working hard, having fun, improving my game, and making a statement in our season!” 

Not just a star on the field, Petrock is valued off the pitch by all involved with the club, but one person in particular. Petrock explained, “Boyzzz being named head coach was a huge encouragement for me to return to AFC, since he coached me from a young age and has been a longtime supporter for me.” 

Khumalo had rave reviews about Petrock, saying about the midfielder, “Bella is a player that I’ve known since her youth days. She’s a good person, first of all, and she’s a good player.” Khumalo coached Petrock while with Saline FC, and Petrock stood out immediately as one of the top players on the side. For that inaugural 2019 team, Petrock was picked out by her old coach and Knox Cameron, Co-Owner to AFCAA and former Director of Coaching for Saline FC while Petrock was there. 

With a personal connection to the club, and an alluring atmosphere (Petrock would say, “The AFC community atmosphere is unlike any I’ve ever known — it drew me in since day one!”) it seems only right that Petrock is set to return for The Mighty Oak’s return to the pitch.

Talking about her desires for the season, Petrock would say, “This upcoming season, I hope to build strong relationships with my teammates, the AFC staff, and fans!” She would also discuss some desires for the summer on the pitch, saying, “I look forward to learning from my teammates and coaches, strengthening my areas for improvement, and hopefully scoring my first goal as a Mighty Oak!”

AFC Ann Arbor would once again like to welcome Bella Petrock back to the club, and the club looks forward to welcoming her back to Washtenaw County.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014, and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!

Brazil Youth International Stefane Rosa Joins AFC Ann Arbor

By Jinseong Kim

AFC Ann Arbor are excited to announce the signing of Stefane Pereira Rosa for the 2022 USL W-League season. Rosa, who plays goalkeeper, is expected to add wisdom and experience to team’s defense. 

Rosa, born and raised in Rio De Janeiro, was part of the youth squads of Flamengo and Internacional prior to committing to Monroe College in 2019. She played 15 games in her first season and recorded 71 saves over the entire season. Her performances were enough for her to be on the 2019 NJCAA Division 1 All-American team. 

A year after, the Brazilian continued her career at Iranduba and 3B da Amazonia as the entire NJCAA season got cancelled. She appeared in six Brasileiro Feminino A1 (first tier) matches at Iranduba and nine A2 (second tier) games at 3B da Amazonia. Her contribution was vital for 3B da Amazonia to reach the round of 16.

Last year, she returned to the United States and continued her sophomore season. She played 12 games throughout the season and only recorded one loss against No.1 ranked national powerhouse Tyler Junior College in the NJCAA Championships. Notching 49 saves, Rosa was named in the 2021 NJCAA All-American team for the second consecutive season. 

“My thoughts are of victory [with AFC Ann Arbor], arriving to add and help in whatever I can so that we can go far in the championship.”  Rosa said, on her commitment. “I've only heard of great things about the club that it's a strong club, I believe that together we can achieve great things.”

Flamengo and Internacional, where Rosa spent her early days, are the two greatest and oldest clubs in Brazilian soccer. Being part of these teams with rich history benefitted her to be a better player. “Playing for these big clubs was great and I certainly gained a lot of experience. This only made me grow more and evolve as an athlete and a person.”

Rosa was part of the Brazilian youth national team along with Luana Grabias, her Monroe teammate who recently committed to AFC Ann Arbor. She participated in two World Cups in the year of 2016:  FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan and FIFA U-20 World Cup in Papua New Guinea. Rosa highlighted how these experiences benefitted her. “It was one of the most incredible sensations to have been part of the group, to compete with the best teams in the world is something remarkable.”

On her strengths as a player, Rosa would say, “I am a dedicated person and focused on my goals, and I always try to help and guide in the best way.” She continued, “I have that character both as a person and as an athlete.  I am very calm, and I always try to reassure the team regardless of the result.”

Boyzzz Khumalo, Women’s Head Coach, emphasized how the expectations on goalkeepers have changed, and how Rosa would fit into the new standards. “As for goalkeepers the no.1 thing would be somebody that makes saves for us. But the game has changed so much. We are looking for goalkeepers who can also use their feet, meaning they can play out of the back, connect passes, both short and long. That’s all we are looking for out of the goalkeeper.”

Rosa is looking forward to a great summer season with AFCAA. She expressed her eager to help the team reach the highest possible. “For the season, my goals are to win and be able to play the best football to reach the finals.  I believe that if we are all in one goal, things will work out.”

We, once again, welcome Stefane to the AFCAA Family!

Luana Grabias Joins AFCAA Ahead of 2022 Campaign

By Ryan Makuch

AFC Ann Arbor are excited to announce the joining of Luana Grabias to the 2022 iteration of The Mighty Oak’s women’s team. The Brazilian completed her sophomore season at Monroe College where she starred with one of the top junior college programs in the country in both her seasons within the program.

Grabias is coming off an excellent sophomore season, as she played a crucial role in helping her side to a #8 national seed in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. Grabias led her team in goals, assists, total points, shots, and shots on target, ultimately ending the season with 11 goals and four assists. 

As a freshman, Grabias helped the Mustangs to the NJCAA National Final, and her numbers even outshone those of this season. Grabias scored a whopping 25 goals and added nine assists over the 15 games of the season. She opened her collegiate campaign with five consecutive games of at least two goals, with a pair of hat tricks among those five. She finished the season with four games of three goals, and she’s expanded on her multi-goal game tally as a sophomore with four games of the type.

“I'm looking forward to my first summer season in America,” said Grabias. “I chose Ann Arbor because I believe in the project and the structure that the club offers to athletes. I'm looking for a place where I feel good to reproduce my best performance, and I feel that Ann Arbor is that place.” 

What is very apparent in speaking with Grabias is that she grasps the sport on a high level and understands her own abilities on the pitch. Describing her game, she would say, “I consider myself a smart athlete. I like to have the ball at my feet and then make my decision.” She would then talk a bit about being unpredictable on the pitch, saying, “I also believe in the quick way I make decisions, with or without the ball, my movement without the ball ends up confusing opponents as I don't usually do something predictable and make it easy for them to catch me. I think my extreme desire to win sets me apart from other athletes.”

Grabias is a high-level athlete with experience in the Brazilian game, having capped her nation at the U20 level in 2019. Grabias notices some differences in the sport from one country to another, with teaching structure being a key reason. She would elaborate, saying, “I think the biggest difference between playing here and in Brazil is that in America it is better taught, for example, the Brazilian player plays in a light and happy way, they don’t care what people say about them, in America the player will do exactly what they told and taught him to do.” 

She would continue, saying, “Of course he also has the freedom to do what he wants to do, but that ends up being the second option when he will choose, since the first option is to do exactly what the coach told him to do.” Grabias also returned to her discussion on predictability, noting that here in the U.S., the game can often be more predictable, as players in Brazil have more liberty to work their improvised magic than here. However, Grabias sees that as both good and bad, as the predictable can also be more effective given the repetition of the actions, and the structure of the gameplan in the U.S. only makes her own ability to be unpredictable on the ball more dangerous.

Boyzzz Khumalo noted that, like Ellie Ferguson, Grabias was also recommended by former AFCAA men’s player Rafa Simoes. “I think this is a good opportunity for us to add to our diverse team, to have players like [Grabias] come to AFCAA and not only showcase their talent, but it’s also a way for her to promote themselves,” Khumalo would say. “The women’s game is growing and there’s a lot of players trying to go professional, so it’s good for them to get some touches in the summer and showcase their talent. Luana is a very skillful player and I think she’ll do well in our league, and I’m looking forward to working with her.”

“My expectations are always to be champions,” said Grabias, in discussing expectations. “I believe that regardless of the team you're playing for, you always have to aim for the top, so I'm going with the expectation of being champion along with Ann Arbor.” With a championship mentality and top-tier skills, AFCAA are once again thrilled to announce the signing of Luana Grabias, and the club looks forward to welcoming her and the rest of the men’s and women’s squads to Ann Arbor this summer.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014, and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!

AFCAA Welcomes Lance McGrane to Men's Roster for 2022 Season

By Ryan Makuch

AFC Ann Arbor are pleased to announce the signing of Lance McGrane ahead of the 2022 men’s campaign. The goalkeeper from Kingston, Pennsylvania, is coming off his freshman season at Michigan State University. 

As a freshman in East Lansing, McGrane made seven appearances for the Big Ten team, racking up over 500 minutes of action in the net. He made 15 saves over the course of the season, including a pair in arguably his biggest match to date – minding the net in the 4-3 MSU victory over eventual NCAA National Semifinalists Notre Dame. McGrane also minded the net in a 1-0 clean sheet victory over Ohio State, the Spartans' lone shutout of Big Ten play and an active game for McGrane who made six saves.

“I’m very excited; I know I’m coming into a high-quality environment that I know I can add to,” said McGrane about the upcoming summer. “Hearing what AFC Ann Arbor is about, I know it’s going to be a summer of hard work and improvements and I’m all for it.” In talking about expectations, McGrane would say, “My expectations are to grow as much as I possibly can as a player and person, and more importantly help AFC Ann Arbor in any way I can in my time here.”

The name ‘McGrane’ is certainly familiar to fans of The Mighty Oak, and there is indeed family ties here and not just coincidence. Lance is the younger brother of Ian McGrane, a member of the 2019 men’s team and one of that side’s standouts, earning national buzz and helping AFCAA to what was their fourth consecutive trip to the NPSL playoffs. 

It only makes sense that younger brother conferred with older about joining AFCAA. “Of course, [Ian] loved it here and grew so much as a player which got him to the next level, so he had nothing but praise for the club,” said Lance about the thoughts of his brother. “He basically told me it’s a club that brings in a lot of talent but more than that they demand hard work and dedication to the sport.” 

Lance is now blazing his own trail, and that is aided by starring at one of the highest-level soccer programs in the state at Michigan State. The AFCAA/MSU ties run deep and are prominent in net, with AFCAA alum Hunter Morse having just completed his fifth season as a Spartan, and Nick Barry serving as Volunteer Assistant Coach within the program.

On how he landed in East Lansing, McGrane said, “I was originally not looking at MSU and other high-quality soccer programs simply because I didn’t feel I had the right exposure to have a chance at these places. However, my athletic director at my high school helped me tremendously and sent out emails to top-level programs. Thankfully the staff at MSU reached back out and instantly there was a connection.” 

Moving is never easy, but Lance has found quick comfort in his new environment. “The decision in the end was easier than it would seem. I had a certain feeling when talking with [the Michigan State men’s soccer coaching staff] that I just never got with other programs and without a doubt I made the right choice,” he would say. “Living in Michigan is pretty close to the same as Pennsylvania, maybe just a little colder but other than that it feels the same and it definitely helps when you leave your actual family to come into a brand new one that treats you just the same.”

AFC Ann Arbor are thrilled to welcome Lance McGrane into the side ahead of the 2022 league campaign and look forward to welcoming him, and the rest of the men and women donning the blue of The Mighty Oak, to Ann Arbor this summer. 

About AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014, and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!

Artist, Activist and Athlete Impacts Youth Across Washtenaw County

By Ryan Makuch

An active involvee in the Washtenaw County for much of his life, and especially while living in the area, Jamall Bufford plays a key role by serving his community in a myriad of ways. Whether with Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK) as their Project Specialist or with CLR Academy, Bufford is an active presence with a vast array of life experiences to impart wisdom from. 

Bufford’s journey does not begin in Michigan, but rather in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was born. He would move with his family at the age of three to Michigan, but his roots in Atlanta have remained vital, shaping his sports (as an Atlanta Hawks, and Dominique Wilkins, fan in his youth) and music (without hesitation Bufford offered Outkast as his favorite musical artist when asked).

At Scarlett Middle School in Ann Arbor is when another key moment in Bufford’s life happened – he would pick up rapping. Music remains important to Bufford through to this day, “I try and incorporate music in everything I do. When we do our CLR Academy sports activities, I’m always playing music. I just think music is like the connector of people in so many different ways.”

Bufford would know a thing or two about that, having been a full-time rapper at one point in his life. He would form the ‘Athletic Mic League’ with a group of his friends while he was at Huron High School. Initially attending the University of Michigan, and eventually a graduate from there, Bufford would drop out in 1999 to move to New York with his group and pursue the passion full-time. Bufford would move back home to pursue his degree on a part-time basis while traveling on the weekends, carefully balancing travel to Chicago, New York, and Minneapolis, among other cities, with his course work. 

As is the case with many independent artists, financial issues are always a possibility, and unfortunately for Bufford, he encountered these issues while in Los Angeles. Moving out there in 2008 for a couple of years, he would return home to pursue other passions, and Bufford’s story only picks up from here.

Bufford’s passion and love of music was a key jumping point into community service, as he served as the MC Program Coordinator upon his return to Michigan at the Neutral Zone, the teen center located in Ann Arbor. He would eventually ascend to Music Coordinator at the Neutral Zone, and these experiences would really help shape an important project in his WMBK career, Formula 734.

A documentary and an album, Formula 734 is an intriguing blend of art forms on the exterior, and an effective way to reach young people and have meaningful conversations and interactions on the interior. He got the idea for the project while at the Neutral Zone, saying, “We were working with some young, court-involved, individuals at the Neutral Zone and instead of them doing community service, they could come to the Neutral Zone and do some artistic workshops.” As luck would have it, a documentary film was already in the works by the time Bufford joined WMBK, with whom the Formula 734 project is being done. Bufford took the existing material and tweaked it to his vision, adding the music component to make it exactly what he’d hoped for. The film is not out yet, however, it has already taken home a pair of Best Documentary honors from film festivals in Detroit and Austin, Texas, and Bufford and WMBK continue to shop it around the festival scene before giving it a more widely-available release. 

Bufford’s other passion, aside from music, is sport. Describing basketball as his “first love” as a kid and a valuable connecting tool as an adult, Bufford says he wants to use sport and music in a similar way and in combination with one another. He explains, “I try and use sports and music in connecting with young people, but while not letting that be the whole of the experience.” With music or sport as the hook, Bufford wants to build bridges and allow for better academic, personal, or emotional support through topics that traverse boundaries of all types. 

In discussing AFC Ann Arbor, Bufford feels the work being done at an organizational level is huge, both by supporting community leaders and empowering them with programming, and making an active, anti-racist, stance. Especially, as Bufford notes, in a region with such stark economic segregation like Washtenaw County. 

The topic of income inequality and economic equity surfaced several times in AFCAA’s conversation with Bufford, and it’s a deeply difficult question to solve with no one person having the right answers. Bufford offered a few of his own personal suggestions, including investing in public transportation to allow better ease of accessibility for opportunities for employment, and investing in sectors that more and more young people are finding interest in. “Whether it be the arts or sports or tech, social media, whatever it may be, investing in opportunities to get involved and be paid to do it I think would be huge,” Bufford would say. 

Bufford would also note the intentionality of the work being done. “It’s all very intentional work,” he said. “[We are] trying to provide resources to support and begin trying to shine a light on the inequities and disparities and using some of the network connections that we have to potentially bridge that work.”

Growing up in Ann Arbor and currently residing in Ypsilanti, Jamall Bufford is an absolute staple of his community. With active involvement in several community-oriented projects, he has been a huge factor in aiding in the operation of CLR Academy, while also doing important and valuable work through WMBK. Bufford’s road has been one less traveled, but it has provided him with valuable life experiences and opportunities to teach the youth. He has been and continues to be, a cherished member of the Washtenaw County community, and his understanding of, and willingness to listen to, his community aid in making him an excellent leader.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014, and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!

Shion Soga Becomes the First Men's Team Signing for '22

AFC Ann Arbor are delighted to announce the signing of Shion Soga ahead of the 2022 USL League Two campaign. Soga, born in Japan, is the first player, as well as the first fresh face, to be added to the men’s squad.

Soga was part of the u18 squad of the J1 League side Nagoya Grampus, before moving to the United States in 2019. He played high school soccer at Novi High School and Michigan Jaguars. He reached the USYS National Championships with the 2002 Jaguars team and was a 2020 MHSAA First Team All-State and 2020 MHSAA Dream Team selection. 

After committing to the University of South Florida, Soga has become a regular member of the Bulls. In his freshman year, the Japanese started nine out of ten USF matches and logged two goals. A year later, he was selected to the 2021 AAC All-Conference First Team by appearing in all 14 games and creating 3 goals and 4 assists in his sophomore season.

“The major reason that I decided to join AFC Ann Arbor is because I like how they play. Also, AFC Ann Arbor plays at a very high league level, and that is another key reason in joining this team.” Soga said, on his decision of joining AFCAA. Soga would also highlight the technical characteristics that the team has, and how these playing characteristics could fit well with his style. 

As mentioned above, Soga describes himself as a player with strength and creativity. “Strength is my best attribute. I am a central attacking midfielder, so I can make chances, score goals, also settle the game.”

Soga shares the same nationality with former AFCAA women’s team midfielders Mami Yamaguchi and Suzuho Yamasaki, who played vital roles during the women’s team’s inaugural season. He pledged to extend and maintain the legacy up and beyond. “I'm honored that I’m able to become part of the Japanese legacy that players [like Mami and Suzu] have helped successfully create. It gives me a little bit of pressure, but I'm so excited to play for AFC Ann Arbor.”

Rod Asllani, newly appointed men’s head coach for the 2022 season, is impressed by Soga’s agility and techniques. “Shion is an incredibly hard-working player that has great field vision. As a midfielder, he possesses the ability to unbalance the opposing team on the dribble. He’s also a consistent attacking threat to break into the final third and score.” 

Not only the attacking attributes, but Asllani also emphasized Soga’s defensive skills. “He’s very creative with and without the ball. As a defender, he is able to high-pressure attackers within any moment of the game.”

AFCAA gives a warm welcome to Shion and we look forward to successful 2022 season this summer. 

About AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014, and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!

Ellie Ferguson Joins AFCAA for Full Season Experience

By Ryan Makuch

AFC Ann Arbor are excited to announce the signing of Ellie Ferguson ahead of the 2022 USL W-League season. Ferguson was set to play with The Mighty Oak for the canceled 2020 season, and this season will mark an ‘official’ joining of the club for the Irish youth international.

Prior to her experiences at Ohio, Ferguson was an excellent youth performer in Ireland on both the club and international levels. At the club level, Ferguson spent 2014-19 with Shelbourne FC, a side that earned a league title in 2018 as she was part of the youth sides at the club. Internationally, Ferguson has served as the captain for the Irish women’s national team at the U15, U16, and U17 levels, and took part in qualifying for UEFA’s U17 European Championship in both 2018 and 2019. 

Ultimately, though, Ferguson made the decision to further her education and playing career in the U.S. at the Ohio University. Ferguson made eight appearances as a sophomore in the shortened spring 2021 season, starting in two of those matches. As a junior, Ferguson remained a key piece of the puzzle making 11 appearances off the bench for an ever-improving Ohio side that lept from 3-7 in 2020-21 to 11-5-3 in fall 2021.

A return to Ann Arbor, for real, this time, is something that Ferguson has pondered for a while, now. “I think deciding to come to play for this summer season is just something I’ve always had in the back of my head as something I would like to do,” she would say. Ferguson previously noted the high standards of player care and appreciation that the club has for all who join as a key reason to join the side, and with a season just months in the horizon, this is her chance to experience exactly that.

Plenty has changed since 2020, and Ferguson is well aware of that on a personal and professional level. “Definitely since 2020 I’ve grown a lot as a person. I was freshman, and now I’ll be going into my senior season, so I definitely think that there was a lot of maturing.” She also took note of the improvements of her game, a game that impressed Women’s Head Coach Boyzzz Khumalo when he first saw game footage of her in 2020. 

Rafa Simoes, a former player for AFC Ann Arbor during the 2016 and 2017 men’s campaigns, currently serves as an assistant coach for Ohio’s women’s team, and he was the first to make the connection between Khumalo and Ferguson. Once Khumalo mentioned to Simoes that he would be coaching the women’s side, Simoes sprung into action and assisted in the player recommendation process. Ellie Ferguson happened to be one of those players he spoke most highly of. As Khumalo recalled, “According to him, she’s a team leader, very good in the air, very good with her feet, and he sent some video of her and we said, ‘yeah, that’s someone we want at AFC Ann Arbor’.” An excellent and versatile defender, Ferguson adds a real element of quality to the squad no matter how Khumalo plans on deploying her in the line-up. 

In talking about hopes for the season, Ferguson is straightforward in her hopes. She would say, “My goals for the summer season are to enjoy it and play as well as I can for the club!” She’d go on to add, “Hopefully, we can win a lot of games, and I’ll give everything I’ve got.”

With a desire to play in the blue of The Mighty Oak despite having her initial opportunity to play for the club fall through, and a willingness to leave it all on the pitch, Ferguson figures to have the exact mentality needed to perform at a high level for the club. 

We once again would like to extend a warm welcome to Ellie Ferguson into the AFCAA Family!

Shakira O'Malley Becomes Latest AFCAA Signee

AFC Ann Arbor are excited to announce the latest signing ahead of the 2022 campaign, Shakira O’Malley. The rising junior completed her sophomore season at University of Northwestern Ohio and hails from South Africa, the same country as new head coach Boyzzz Khumalo.

O’Malley is coming off an excellent sophomore campaign, where she earned First Team All-WHAC honors after a selection to the All-Newcomer Team as a freshman. As a sophomore, she appeared in 20 of the 21 matches for a Racers side that earned a bid to the NAIA Tournament and an appearance in the WHAC Championship Final. 

Over her career, O’Malley has been a regular and consistent force in the defense as an underclassman. She has logged a goal, but she excels as a defensive player, which she takes pride in. On her skills, O’Malley would say, “I am a very defensive player who enjoys playing out the back. I am hardworking, confident, and I excel in 1v1 defending.” 

She also would highlight her on-pitch leading capability, saying, “I am very vocal, offering leadership out of the backline as a center back.” It is, perhaps unsurprising, who she styles her game after, as she would say, “One of the players I model myself off is Virgil Van Djik because I enjoy watching him play, he is very composed and plays very simple yet he is effective.” Confident and composed is exactly what AFCAA fans can hope from for a defender.

O’Malley’s journey to the United States has been an adventure, as universities in the U.S. quickly took notice of her skills and several, including UNOH, offered her scholarships to help make her dream of taking her game to the next level a reality. O’Malley is an excellent student that plans on studying law, and her continued development as a player has made her a staple in the back line for a strong collegiate side.

On the summer to come, O’Malley said, “I am looking forward to the experience to be able to play with girls from different schools, and to be able to get a feel of what the summer league is like.” O’Malley revealed that she picked AFCAA because she believes that it allow her to develop as a player while stepping out of her comfort zone. 

As for expectations, O’Malley would say, “My hopes for the summer season are to gain experience and to learn and excel and offer my leadership abilities to the team.” A player that is always looking to get better and improve upon her skills, O’Malley is a stable and secure presence in the back line and a new, very welcome, member of The Mighty Oak. 

O’Malley shares a nationality with new AFC Ann Arbor Women’s Head Coach Boyzzz Khumalo. Khumalo emphasized the fact that he is excited to help every player that is brought in, regardless of their continent of origin. However, Khumalo knows that he may be able to leverage his lived experiences into teaching moments. “I know I can relate to some of the players simply because I’m African, and I think I can help them not just in the beautiful game but as people,” he would say. 

He continued, “Like I always say, the beautiful game brings us together. We’re coming together for a reason. At the end of the day, it’s about us enjoying the summer and learning from one another.”

We, again, welcome Shakira to the AFCAA Family and we look forward to welcoming her to Ann Arbor this summer.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014, and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!