FC Edmonton expands Academy, adds U-16 program

Jeff Paulus

According to owner Tom Fath, FC Edmonton won’t break even until Clarke Stadium is expanded and the team is drawing an average of 8,500 fans a game.

Since an expansion of the stadium isn’t in the cards yet — and the team has broken the 4,000-ticket mark just twice this season — the fact that the NASL club continues to grow is a testament to the Fath family’s commitment to the game in Canada.

On Wednesday, the club announced it is expanding its Academy program. It is adding a program for U-16s. So, next season the team will have both a U-18 wing and a U-16 section to develop local soccer talent.

“The addition of a U-16 program is another positive step in the growth of the FCE Academy,” said assistant coach and FCE Academy supervisor Jeff Paulus in a release issued by the club. “Not only is this positive step froward for the future goals of FC Edmonton, but it also cements FCE as an important member of the Canadian Soccer Associations player development pathway.”



The club announced the rosters for the U-16 and U-18 teams for the coming season:

U-18

Thomas Shores 1997 FCE Academy

Shamit Shome 1997 FCE Academy

Matt King 1997 FCE Academy

Noah Cunningham 1997 FCE Academy

Cole Kramer 1997 FCE Academy

Vladimir Tadic 1997 FCE Academy

Christian Kaiswatum 1997 FCE Academy

John Andrew Koe-Kulig 1997 FCE Academy

Armin Binder 1997 FCE Academy

Zach Rochat 1998 FCE Academy

Yusuph Kalenga 1998 FCE Academy

Amer Halilic 1998 Inter

Morgan Graham 1998 Inter

Gabriel Milo 1999 Astra Academy

Tyrell Leslie 1999 Inter

Abush Shiribu 1999 North Extreme

Johnathan Holbein 1999 Strikers

Nathan Klapstein 1999 Sherwood Park

Oscar Miranda 1999 Strikers

U-16

Alejandro Suarez 1999 Inter

Scott Hornbeck 1999 Scottish

Henry Jeong 1999 Southwest

Riju Roy 1999 Southwest

Logan Williams 1999 Southwest

Jean Pierre (JP) Jaera 1999 Drillers

Wren Henley 1999 Inter

Sheldon Prassad 1999 Inter

Anthony Carecas 2000 Juventus 00

Austin Couture 2000 Juventus 00

Jose Hernandez 2000 Juventus 00

Stefan Gajic 2000 North Extreme

Abraham Dukuly 2000 North Extreme

Jefferson Alade 2000 North Extreme

David Doe 2000 St. Albert Impact

Nathan Caroca 2000 Juventus 00

T-Boy Fayia 2001 Sherwood Park

Prince Amanda 2001 Sherwood Park

Abraham Jones 2001 Sherwood Park

Ivan Hirankunda 2002 Strikers