Opportunity.

A word often associated with others such as luck or chance. For some reason that word comes with a lot of mixed feelings, for it can pertain to something positive or negative.

What happens when you miss one? What happens if you are lucky enough to get one? Well depending on what that said opportunity is it could potentially change your life.

Some opportunities are given others are created through hard work and effort. There are circumstances in life however that opportunities are not obtainable through no fault of our own. Everyone hopes to follow their dreams and reach their utmost potential, but obstacles get in the way and make it that much more difficult to pursue one’s passion.

A sad reality that most athletes face.

While youth sports are growing rapidly, it should be then observed that not all who want to play and follow their dreams of becoming professionals are going to actually be able to.

Why?

Because although there are multiple institutions available throughout the country for aspiring athletes to join, they are not always accessible when it comes to money.

In soccer for example are multiple leagues in the United States from professional all the way down to pick-up leagues. You hear news about homegrown players signing with professional teams in their state, but what were their journeys like? Most Major League Soccer teams for example have their established youth academies tied to their club or professional team, meaning that through that preparation they are coached at taught to strive to one day make it on the professional team. Those academies however are very expensive. Now it can be argued that they are offering top-tier knowledge and training in order to produce such level players, but where does that leave the others? Where do the players who can’t afford thousands of dollars’ worth of fees end up?

It would be easy to say that they end up in smaller local academies, where it is perhaps more accessible to them with regards to money, but that’s not necessarily true either. The average fees for the Southern Soccer Academy in Georgia range from $650-$1,410, this is an academy system that is considered to be one of the main youth development academies in Georgia. While those figures are lower than the average $3000 that Major League Soccer academies charge for fees, they are still quite pricey.

It is reasons such as this that Potros FC, a team in the United Premier Soccer League, are basing their team on the foundation that they want to offer a competitive level of play, without a huge price tag. Upon joining the UPSL in the Fall 2020 season, Potros FC became a part of a semi-professional league, that has the opportunity to reach a higher quality of competition, player development and growth.

Before starting their 2020 Fall season, Potros FC announced through social media that they were holding tryouts on a given afternoon. They hosted a single afternoon tryout on July 19, 2020, where over 50 potential candidates showed up ready to prove themselves. The try-outs consisted of potential candidates being split into smaller groups and were involved in warm-ups, and took turns going 11-v-11 in front of club Co-founders Christopher and Benjamin Uranga.

Since over 50 applicants showed up for try-outs the process took over three hours, which gave the Co-founders pride that so many people took interest and time to come out and try out for their team.

            “It’s really great that so many people came out, if this is what it’s like now I can’t wait to see what it will be like season after season,” said Co-founder and defender Benjamin Uranga.

After seeing a not so great UPSL debut season, Potros FC ended up last in the Division I standings with only eight points. But are optimistic about the upcoming 2021 Spring season.

Potros FC is implementing a new system for scouting new potential candidates.

The team will no longer hold a single try-out day, due to the large amount of inquiries and applications they’ve received. Since December 2020, Potros FC has received over 70 applications from all over the state and even some coming from outside of the country. They are however only considering applicants who can seriously attend all practices and matches, meaning that they would have to be living in the Metro-Atlanta area.

Their updates vetting system includes an app where applicants can submit their information, and can even include highlight reels of their best moments. Since Potros FC is adamant on maintaining their low-cost and high-level of competition proposition, they are only requiring a monthly $50 membership fee. Now while month-to-month for a whole year adds up to $600, it also stands to point out that this fee, is only paid if a player is actually playing. Meaning that if a player gets injured and is out for an entire month, then they are not required to pay the fee until they return. Everyone who pays their monthly membership fee is invited and eligible to play for the team, but their disciple and skill will determine on which group they play with.

Potros FC is also expanding their team into two groups. A group that will be part of the first team which will play in UPSL matches, and a group that is a second team that will compete in exhibition matches and in the Liga de Naciones matches.

            “We are splitting the team up into groups, because we want to have the most talent available, but we also want to give everyone on the team an opportunity to play,” said Co-founder and Team Manager Christopher Uranga. “We want everyone on the team to put in their best effort so that they make the first group which will play in UPSL matches, but those playing in Liga de Naciones matches will have the chance to better themselves and keep themselves conditioned too.”

The idea is that both groups will be playing at the same time, and this will allow players in the second to keep their physical condition ready if they get called up to play in the first group.

“This is also going to be a good way to measure their level of discipline,” said Christopher. “Friday’s training is mandatory for those who want to be on the first team, because we rent the field to practice. However, just because you go it doesn’t always mean you’ll make the first team.”

Potros FC has participated in a couple of matches in the Liga de Naciones, and are coming off of their 3^rd straight win. They have also participated in some pre-season friendlies in order to try-out a set potential 18-player roster for the UPSL season which starts mid-March. They just defeated current UPSL Division I champions Ginga Atlanta FC 2-0.