 SAN FRANCISCO, CA (JANUARY 21, 2021) - San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) has hired U.S. Beach Soccer National Team Player of the Year, Ali Hall. Hall will be joining the girls coaching staff at SFEA.
SFEA is committed to hiring Women in head coaching positions. When asked about the importance of female representation as Head coaches in youth soccer Hall replied, "It's important to have female representation as head coaches because diversity all around is a great thing to have. To have different voices, auras, and faces around so that players can relate and learn from a variety of coaches. Specifically for the female players, to have a coach they can relate to and look up to as another female athlete, has significance. I look forward to bringing some representation to the female coaching side at SFEA." Ali Hall joins the club with a great resume at hand. Born and raised in Chicago, Hall began her soccer career at one of the top clubs in the nation, Eclipse Select, where she competed for three national championships. Hall then continued on and played Division 1 college soccer at the University of Tennessee where she was named the 2012 NCAA Division I All-South Region Player of the Year and was 2012 All-SEC 2nd Team. After Tennessee, Hall took a short break from the game and started her coaching career at MVLA Soccer Club, where she coached for 7 years. During this time she began playing beach soccer, which she is still pursuing while coaching. Hall currently plays for Cali Beach Soccer Club, a beach soccer club based in the Bay Area and the United States Women's Beach National Team. Hall was awarded the U.S. Beach Player of the Year in 2021. Hall says "It was a huge honor and I feel very humbled and excited for the future of beach soccer." When asked what drew her to coach at SF Elite, Hall said, "What drew me to the SFEA was the conversations that I has with the leaders of the club and the pursuit of excellence of high level, quality soccer. Creating opportunities for players who live in the city to play at the highest level is a clear objective of the club. I believe that SFEA is on the upward trajectory and I feel excited to be part of that growth with the players and coaching staff." San Francisco, CA- SFEA families, meet former player and current University of San Francisco Women's Soccer Player Fatima Waldo. Fatima is one of the many success stories to have come out of SFEA.
Fatima's family roots are from Puebla, Mexico but have made South San Francisco home since her birth in 2003. Fatima is proud to be from South San Francisco, stating that she may have grown up differently than a typical City kid but she loved her childhood. She grew up on a small street with a great view of the famous South San Francisco sign and was always seen kicking the soccer ball around the neighborhood. Fatima first came to SFEA in 2019, leaving her previous club San Bruno Lowen 83FC. She states that it was, "a great decision to make the move since college recruitment was coming soon." Fatima and her family were made part of the SFEA family immediately. Fatima says, "I had a great experience at SFEA and was able to meet amazing coaches and further my skills which prepared [me] for the new journey that was ahead." Fatima is one of the 70+ players that are now playing at the collegiate level post club play at SFEA. She says playing for University San Francisco was one of the easiest decisions she has had to make. Since she played at Negoesco Stadium for her club team, playing for the University of San Francisco feels like home. Family is an essential part of Fatima's life. She credits her parents for the club switch and her success thus far in being recruited to a D1 program. "I wouldn't be the person or player I am today without them." University of San Francisco Women's coaches were thrilled to recruit their former player. Assistant Coach Pinder Nijjar states, "Fatima has been an unbelievable asset to this team so far this season. She has come into the squad and has adjusted very well to the NCAA Division I college level. We are so excited to see what Fatima can achieve as a Don in the future." "In so many ways Fatima's story embodies so many of our values: Respect, excellence, perseverance, community & collaboration. Fatima is realizing her opportunities through her own self driven hard work, dedication to her sport, perseverance through injury & she will achieve excellence due in part because of the self confidence the game has given her." said Joe Dugan, President & Executive Director at SFEA. Fatima is proud of her roots and is celebrating Hispanic Heritage month with her family by getting together on the weekends for family dinners and playing some family pick-up soccer games when she is not traveling with the team. "I am proud of where my family comes from and I am thrilled to continue to represent my culture through the game of soccer." When asked what she would say to young Latina girls who want to play collegiate soccer like her, Fatima says “Always work hard and strive to be better every day since I have learned that hard work always pays off."  SAN FRANCISCO, CA. September 17th, 2021—San Francisco Elite Academy hires former youth player as new Girls Coach. Bianca Coad, former SFEA player and University of San Francisco Women's Soccer Captain joins our Coaching Staff of talented and diverse professionals.
When asked about her thoughts and emotions on being a Coach for the club she grew up playing for, Coach Bianca said, “I am so excited to be coaching with SF Elite this season! As a Coach I am looking for players who are dedicated to their own personal development, excited to deepen their knowledge of the game, and who have an undeniable love for soccer. As an Alumni of the club it is so awesome to see how much the club has grown and I am looking forward to helping the club continue to develop and produce high class players.” Coach Bianca Coad brings unique experience to the club by playing at the D1 college level at University of San Francisco, something our players may aspire to do in the future. She will be an overall mentor for the teams she works with. Join us in welcoming Coach Bianca Coad, we are thrilled to have you Coach Bianca and are inspired by your passion to give back to the next generation. For more stories on San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA), please subscribe to our Newsletter via our website and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @sfeliteacademy. About the San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) The San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) is the top college placement youth soccer program in San Francisco, in just six years we have over 70 former players now competing in college soccer. We are developing the next generation of players to the highest standards, ensuring they receive the necessary training and support to successfully represent San Francisco at the highest level of play, our community, and our country. Please visit sfea.org to learn more. “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. "
Nelson Mandela The San Francisco Elite Academy is pleased to announce that Chancelor (Chance) Daniel, has accepted the role of Chief Diversity Officer for our club. In this newly created role, Chance will focus on developing and leading staff education on anti-racism awareness, implementing a process for reporting and addressing any instance of racism and continue to focus on increasing diversity across SFEA. SFEA is committed to ensuring that soccer in San Francisco is accessible to players of all backgrounds and diversity and that our coaches and staff are as diverse as the city we live in. To learn more about Chance and the Chief Diversity Role click here SAN FRANCISCO (June 29th, 2020) - San Francisco Elite Academy is excited to announce that they have entered into a strategic partnership with the Hawai’i Soccer Academy, located in the Aloha State. The Hawai’i Soccer Academy is the elite soccer program in the state, raising the bar in the Hawaii soccer community.
This partnership will enable boys and girls from the Hawai’i Soccer Academy to play with the San Francisco Elite Academy teams in both Showcase Events and league games, allowing for additional exposure to top profession scouts, national team scouts as well as college coaches. San Francisco Elite Academy is a member of the newly formed Major League Soccer (MLS) Youth Development league, the top boy’s platform in the country as well as a founding member of the recently launched Girls Academy League. The clubs have agreed to help further establish Hawai’i Soccer Academy’s vision to provide opportunities outside of the Hawaiian Islands, and with this cooperative business relationship, it will enhance the ability to be even more efficient in the promotion of Hawaii’s soccer players. “Providing a pathway for the kids from Hawai’i is a huge priority of ours, and this wonderful opportunity was something we couldn’t be more excited about,” mentioned James Escobar Sasiadek, President, Hawai'i Soccer Academy. “I have known Joe Dugan, the Founder of S.F. Elite, since early 2015 when we both attended a U.S. Coaching Course together at S.F. State. He and his exceptional staff have built the top club in San Francisco, and have become one of the most recognized clubs in the country. Joe and I have always talked about working together to help Hawai’i kids gain more opportunities and pathways to professional and college teams, and with their clubs recent acceptance to the boys MLS league, and girls GA league, in addition to his clubs outstanding college pathways, we both agreed now was the time to make the dream a reality.” Tom Atencio, Director of Player Development for the San Francisco Elite Academy said “I see great value in joining forces with the Hawai’i Academy as it will help both clubs in terms of player and team development, which has always been a focus and a core value here at S.F. Elite. We are in talks to collaborate on tournaments both in San Francisco and Hawai’i, which would certainly benefit both clubs. Despite the obvious paradise location that an H.S.A. tournament would provide, being able to build a top class tournament that could potentially draw in teams from across the country, and even internationally is something we are excited about.” **About Hawai'i Soccer Academy** Hawai’i Soccer Academy, located on the island of Oahu, serves nearly 300 athletes across the state, and currently has 22 competitive teams, ranging from 2003 to 2014 born, both boys and girls. In addition to a highly recognized youth academy, the club has produced numerous top teams, ODP National, Regional, and State players, USYS State Cup Champions, National Soccer Showcase Champions, and will graduate its first class of college recruits in 2021. One of the fastest growing clubs in the Hawaiian Islands, their dedicated staff of Nationally Licensed coaches help promote the game thru an organized, structured, and age appropriate soccer curriculum for its members. Hawaii Soccer Academy, continues to work tirelessly to provide opportunities within the state, and has now built professional pathways, university and college pathways, and career guidance for all of the H.S.A. athletes, outside of the islands. The Academy is presently in the works to provide top facilities for their athletes to train island wide, with eyes on planning and organizing a future tournament to showcase the talent and quality within the Hawaiian Islands. |
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