NSN Announces 2026 Chattanooga Challenge Soccer Tournament Benefiting Local Charities

Chattanooga, TN — The National Soccer Network (NSN) has announced the NSN Chattanooga Challenge 2026, a men’s soccer tournament bringing together top regional clubs while supporting charitable organizations in the Chattanooga area. The tournament will take place in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with a portion of proceeds benefiting local soccer-focused nonprofits.

You can read more details of the event here on the National Soccer Network website. The Southeast Soccer Report is currently in the process of onboarding writers and moving content to the NSN website after the announced merger on January 1. More information on how readers and free subscribers will be affected by the transition will be released in the coming weeks.

CLEVELAND, TN —- Late last October, Cleveland United announced the appointment of Adam Christensen as the first Head Coach in club history. It represented a key milestone in the history of the new club, due to kick-off in UPSL Georgia Division One this Spring. As co-founder Albert Murza explained last year, brining Christensen on board meant that “every meeting isn’t just about logistics anymore—it’s about vision”. And vision may indeed be the most important attribute for a Head Coach looking to build a first roster in club history.

I sat down with Coach Christensen in Cleveland over the MLK Day weekend to chat about his journey in the game, his approach to his new job, and his vision for Cleveland United on the field.

Adam, thanks so much for chatting with us and congratulations on the new role. Can you tell us about how the position with CUFC came about?

Yeah, I saw a link on Indeed saying they were looking for a coach. I love coaching in college, but I also enjoy being a head coach—running a sustainable program. I was looking for a Head Coach role I could do in addition to assistant coaching at the college level [with Lee University in Cleveland]. I had never been involved in the club game, except with club teams at the University of Florida and time with Brooke House FC in USL U20 and an assistant in USL W. That was fun—I enjoyed it.

I was also thinking about getting into USL and UPSL and increasing my coaching levels. I saw the ad pop up, applied, and hoped they’d respond. I sat down with Albert [Murza, co-Founder], we were supposed to talk for 20 minutes, but it turned into 2 hours. After that, I met all the owners for a second meeting. They shared their vision—they are "community first" so they knew what the community wants. We discussed how to build that from a soccer perspective, particularly recruiting and assembling a roster. They offered me the job after that conversation.

Can you tell us about your personal journey in soccer?

Well, I was a four‑sport athlete, playing a different sport every season. As a soccer player, I played anywhere up top—wherever they needed someone fast. Mostly striker or winger. When I got to college, I went to Lee my freshman year and ran track and cross country—two very different sports. Then I transferred to Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, where I played soccer and ran track. I ended up in Hampden-Sydney in Virginia my last two years, playing soccer.

I moved to Florida where I started my first company. I figured I needed a life, to not be in the office all day and night—I did two different things, I got a puppy, and started coaching. At the University of Florida, I coached the club teams—men’s assistant my first year, women’s head coach my second. I moved into high school coaching, won a state championship with a Florida program, went 16‑0 in my first season. Eventually I became a college assistant, still coaching high school in the winters.

I progressed from there—Head Coach at the DII level in West Virginia on the women’s side, assistant for both men and women. I’ve coached in Conference Carolinas, at Trine University in Indiana (where we had the best season in school history—a conference championship), and in the Gulf South with Lee.

We moved here to Cleveland in October 2024. My wife works at Lee, so I connected with the soccer coach there and took on the Assistant Coach role. I went to Lee for one year running track and cross country, so I had some connections already. I’d always wanted to play for them, so to coach them and be a part of the program, its awesome.

Was there a particular part of your journey that really shaped you approach to soccer?

The high school I went to was very competitive with high expectations. I didn’t play until my senior year. In college I had seven head coaches in six semesters because of transfers and multiple sports. So I’ve seen the good, bad, ugly, and everything in between.

My Lee track coach was great. In soccer, Ian McMichael at Hampden‑Sydney—eventually at Barton—was the first person who gave me a break in college coaching. He didn’t play me much, ironically. I didn’t always agree with him, but he was a great mentor.

I learned what to do—and what not to do—as a coach from a lot of the coaches I’ve had. I learned that you’re not supposed to be the players’ friend, but they need to trust and respect you. The goal is to make players better every single day—not just yell at them. My philosophy: it’s nice if people like each other, but they *must* trust each other.

Do you plan to stay on as Lee’s assistant while being Head Coach at CUFC?

Yes, I’ll still do it. We have guys from Lee who will be on the Cleveland United team. So it’s a good transition—finishing their college careers while still playing at a high level. Many players get lost in the gap between college and the pros. The more bridges you create, the better. With players from nearby Lee, Bryant, Tennessee Wesleyan, and others, you get guys in the prime of their careers in one place.

So, how have the first few months been?

It’s gone well. We’ve had two tryout dates so far, about 30 guys at each one. I’m very happy with the turnout—lots of guys want a place to play in a professional environment. No matter the level, you want to create that environment. Every day, players and staff should get a little better.

Most of the guys are local, with a few from Lee and Tennessee Wesleyan, and many from Chattanooga. They have big clubs there, so it’s great they came out. We don’t have an academy yet, underlying clubs to hold things up. It’s unique. I’m happy with the quality—we’ll have a decent squad. Playing in UPSL Division 1 initially is good as it gives us a clear baseline and hopefully a path to the Premier Division.

We hope to start training in about a week and a half.

I’d read that in your time at Trine University, you specialized in player acquisition and ID. How does that experience help now?

Recruiting—college or semi‑pro—is about knowing the type of player your program attracts. Colleges often cast the widest net possible, but the best models develop a niche and target players who fit it.

You need a bedrock type of player and student. Don’t waste time on people who don’t fit your identity. That’s something I learned.

Do you have a preferred playing style? Or will it depend on available players?

I do have a preferred style. Coaches always do. If its simple that’s one thing, if it’s complicated, it takes a long time to teach. Over the last few years, I’ve developed a system that has evolved.

I like giving players freedom in the attacking third. I love the ideas of total football. Not in the sense of players running around wherever they want, but in using triangles and diamonds so players can move the ball more freely and be more creative, instead of rigid box‑shaped play that doesn’t fit with natural body movement. Box angles are 90 degrees which are hard to automatically play from. Triangles offer 120 degree movement and play.

In possession, I prefer three at the back, a single pivot, and wingers providing depth—more of a 3‑4‑3. In defense, it transitions into a 4‑4‑2 or 4‑2‑3‑1. We’ll look different in and out of possession. I want us to bait presses, create artificial transitions, attack quickly, and get in behind.

Unlike some other UPSL sides that more like Academy outlets, Cleveland United is a community club that is targeting fan presence. Fans expect to be entertained. Does that influence your style?

Soccer is supposed to be a game. Soccer is supposed to be fun. So why would we play scared? I don’t want a mentality of fear. We’ll chase the game—whether it’s the best or worst team in the conference. We’ll impose our identity.

If it’s not beautiful or fun, why would anyone watch? A community‑based team should be entertaining. Drama matters. There’s a quote I like [from Gian Piero Gasperini]; “if you win without danger, there's no glory to your triumph”.

I’d rather high‑press—and if the opponent beats us with skill, fine, they were the better team. But we won’t sit back.

Thoughts on the UPSL Division One you’ll be playing in?

We went to some games in the fall to see the competition level. The level is strong, but from what I’ve seen, I believe we can put a competitive team on the field. There’s no “team to beat”—just a goal to get the most points and push for first place.

We prepare for each opponent with a clean slate—what do they do well, what are their weaknesses? I’m excited. I think we’ll surprise people in our first year.

Do you have a message for the community in Cleveland? Why should they come support this team this Spring?

This is a team *from* the community, *of* the community, and *for* the community. You should be proud of the people you live with and the community you build. College towns let you choose your people—football clubs extend that.

Its like how football started in England—local players and communities. We’ll have players from all over, but the foundation is local talent. You’ve got to be proud of your community.

My thanks to Coach Christensen and to Cleveland United FC for taking the time to speak with the Southeast Soccer Report. You can follow the club’s journey by visiting their website or following them on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

Georgia-side Kalonji Pro-Profile’s run in the UPSL Southeast Region came to an end Saturday afternoon as Miami United FC edged past the Georgia side 1-0 in the Regional Final, booking their place in the National Quarterfinals.

Played under cool temperatures, light rain, and a heavy sense of occasion, the match carried added weight for Kalonji Pro-Profile, who entered the final as Georgia’s lone representative. Miami United, finalists at this stage a year ago, arrived with experience and confidence, and ultimately relied on their control of possession and game management to see out the result.

The opening half was tense and evenly contested. Kalonji were handed an early opportunity from the penalty spot, but the Miami goalkeeper Franco Acerbi produced a double save to keep the match scoreless. The miss set the tone for a half defined by narrow margins, with chances appearing at both ends but no clear breakthrough.

Miami enjoyed more of the ball through the first 45 minutes, frequently building from the back and stretching Kalonji wide, while KSA relied on defensive discipline and moments of physicality to disrupt the rhythm. Kalonji’s goalkeeper was called into action several times and delivered a composed performance to ensure the sides entered halftime level.

After the break, Kalonji Pro-Profile emerged with renewed energy and pressed higher up the field. However, Miami remained patient, resetting through their back line and continuing to dictate tempo. As the second half wore on, Miami’s comfort in possession began to tell.

The decisive moment arrived in the 76th minute when Sony Norde found space and finished clinically to give Miami United the lead. From there, Miami managed the match expertly, limiting Kalonji’s ability to settle the ball and build sustained attacks.

While the scoreline remained close, Miami’s control in the latter stages reflected their experience at this level. Kalonji struggled to regain momentum, often forced into direct play that Miami defended comfortably.

Despite the disappointment, Kalonji Pro-Profile’s run to the Southeast Regional Final stands as a significant achievement. The Lawrenceville-based side once again carried Georgia’s banner deep into the postseason, reinforcing the growing strength and visibility of the state’s soccer community.

Miami United advance to the UPSL National Quarterfinals, while Kalonji exit with their heads held high after another strong regional campaign.

Kalonji Pro-Profile have booked their ticket to the UPSL National Quarterfinals, by defeating South Carolina United Heat in the Round-of-16. It was a physical and challenging match, and both teams showed excellent composure. Kalonji Pro-Profile will face the Florida Round-of-16 winner of FC America Spurs vs. Miami United FC.


First Half:

Both teams opened this match with intensity, trading blows with strong challenges and aerial duels. This physicality would remain for the rest of the match. Tactically, Kalonji looked to pass the ball overhead to their wingers for opportunities. SCU showed dangerous moments with runs that weaved through the Kalonji defense.

Early on, Kalonji generated several promising crosses into the box, but couldn’t deliver. At the other end, SCU created two clear changes through skillful dribbling, but similarly didn’t change the score. In the 21st minute, a rough challenge granted SCU a dangerous free kick outside the box. Luis Molina took the kick, clipping the top of the crossbar and narrowly missing an opener.

SCU struck first just before halftime. In the 40th minute, Seth Hanson delivered a long cross that found Matias Daniel in the box, who netted it to give SCU the lead going into the break.

KPP 0 - 1 SCU
SCU Heat (40’) - Matias Daniel
(Timestamped Video)

My Half Time Takeaways:
”Both teams are looking very competitive. I’m curious to see if Kalonji’s momentum will be stifled by that goal right before the half. In their last match here in Shiloh Stadium, they looked like a completely different team in the second half (in a good way!). This match could go in either direction.”

Second Half:

Kalonji wasted no time after the restart, equalizing after a sensational overhead shot was made by defender Kymani Irving. This long-range cross connected to Owanja Medard, who dished it to Kalan Kalonji. He powerfully struck the ball to equalize, and shutting down SCU’s momentum.

KPP 1 - 1 SCU
Kalonji Pro-Profile (48’) - Kalan Kalonji
(Timestamped Video)

As the half progressed, Kalonji found their rhythm, showering the SCU goal with shots and forcing multiple defensive interventions. A key moment came from a free kick just outside the box, taken by forward Karim Tmimi. His strike deflected off the wall, bounced upwards, and cruised into the goal to double Kalonji’s lead.

KPP 2 - 1 SCU
Kalonji Pro-Profile (67’) - Karim Tmimi
(Timestamped Video)

SCU Heat didn’t go down without a fight. Five minutes later, forward Seth Hanson took an absolute screamer of a shot from distance to equalize for the South Carolinian representatives.

KPP 2 - 2 SCU
SCU Heat (72’) - Seth Hanson
(Timestamped Video)

With both teams tied at two points each, both rosters fought tirelessly to acquire possession and create opportunities. Luck would be on the home side’s favor when Kalonji’s Owanja Medard took a shot on goal. The shot would ricochet off an SCU player and bounce in the goal to finalize Kalonji’s lead.

KPP 3 - 2 SCU
Kalonji Pro-Profile (84’) - Owanja Medard
(Timestamped Video)

In the final moments of the match, five minutes of stoppage time were granted. At this point, all hell broke loose with SCU valiantly trying to collect another goal. To finalize the Kalonji victory, they would find break behind the defense to easily slot home another goal to end the match 4 - 2.

KPP 4 - 2 SCU
Kalonji Pro-Profile (90+4’) - Zain Hylton
(Timestamped Video)

Final Score:
Kalonji Pro-Profile: 4
South Carolina United Heat: 2

My Full Time Takeaways:
”This match was absolutely electric and reminds me why I love the UPSL so much. While there were some tactical and macro-level errors, both teams gave it their all. We were treated to some amazing goals as well. Kalonji did a phenomenal job shutting down the powerful SCU attack. I can’t wait to see how they’ll fare in the next round.”

A Brief Conversation with Kalonji’s Lead Goalscorer, Karim Tmimi:

Karim Tmimi, who scored Kalonji’s go-ahead goal, said the team never panicked despite trailing at halftime. “It’s how you finish at the end. That’s the most important thing,” Tmimi said. “We make adjustments and have to trust our quality.” He attributed much of this win to Kalonji’s reserve players stating, “I don’t call them bench players, I call them game changers. When they come on, they give extra on the field.”

Tmimi and his roster will face the winner of FC America Spurs and Miami United FC on Saturday, January 17th.

The UPSL Premier Division Playoffs continue into the Round of 16, bringing an anticipated matchup to Snellville, Georgia. Tomorrow at 1PM EST, Kalonji Pro-Profile will face off against SCU Heat at Shiloh High School. The winner of this match will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the Florida bracket.

Kalonji Pro-Profile:

The Georgia representatives have fought hard to get where they are. In a hotly contested Georgia region, Kalonji pulled off various upsets against opponents with better records. To finish the playoffs, they defeated Georgia Revolution FC to win the Georgia Region Finals. In the round of 32, they defeated Tennessee Tempo, the 2025 UPSL Spring National Champions. That match against the Tempo resulted in a narrow 1-1 finish, with Kalonji advancing on penalty kicks, 6-5.

Kalonji Pro-Profile needs to connect to key goal contributors such as Karim Tmimi and Akanye Samuel-Francis. Their defensive strength will be tested against the Mid-Atlantic representatives.

South Carolina United Heat:

SCU Heat is living up to their name, taking over the Mid-Atlantic league on a hot streak. SCU convincingly won the Mid-Atlantic league with a 7-1 finish over Charleston United SC. In the next round against the Virginia North representatives, Arlington SA, SCU won 2-1.

Having scored 27 goals in their last 7 matches, their attacking power is one of the best in the Southeast. SCU Heat needs to keep their momentum and up the firepower in this away match.


Tune into the live broadcast of this match at 1:00pm EST on the Atlantic Soccer Media Group YouTube channel.

Kalonji now advances to the Round-of-32 of the UPSL National Championship. They have a hard task ahead of them, being seeded against Tennessee Tempo FC, the 2025 UPSL Spring National Champions and representatives of the KY-TN conference.

Match Recap:

The opening half belonged mostly to the Revs, who controlled possession early playing along the left side. Striker Gustavo Attencio and left-forward Alexis Iturria linked for various opening chances, but couldn’t get past Kalonji’s keeper Ashon Maynard.

In the eighth minute, the Revs earned a dangerous free kick outside the box near the penalty area. Midfielder Jermaine Hue struck it quickly, forcing a pair of crucial saves from Maynard. This first half was defined by fluid and dangerous passes from the Revs. Despite this pressure, Kalonji began growing into the game.

Just before halftime, the flow of the match turned. After a rare missed pass from Revs standout Jermaine Hue, Kalonji forward Karim Tmimi collected the ball, surged past a defender, and unleashed a curling low strike from outside the box that tucked perfectly into the bottom-right corner. It was a world-class strike that would completely change the momentum of the match.

Halftime: Kalonji Pro Profile 1 - 0 Georgia Revolution FC

The second half opened with Kalonji asserting greater control, pressing higher up the pitch and disrupting the Revs’ rhythm. The Revs struggled to recreate the fluid passing that defined their first-half performance. Kalonji created several close chances leading into the hour mark, but were unable to further their lead.

Frustration grew as the match neared its close. Yellow cards were given to members of both teams as the Revs desperately searched for an equalizer. Inaccurate passes and errors in their defensive third prevented any shifting of momentum.

In the end, Tmimi’s curling strike sealed the deal for the Lawrenceville side, sending them to the national playoffs. Kalonji showed great discipline against the highly technical Revs side, especially in such brutal conditions.

Final Score: Kalonji Pro-Profile 1 - 0 Georgia Revolution FC

MVP: Kalonji Pro-Profile #9, Karim Tmimi

Tune into Kalonji Pro-Profile vs. Tennessee Tempo FC on Saturday,
December 20th, 2025. The time and venue are still to be determined.

SNELLVILLE, Ga. — Kalonji Pro-Profile progressed to the UPSL Georgia Conference Semi-Finals on Sunday night but were made to work for their victory by an impressive Scenic City. After a smashing first half display that saw the away side go 3-0 up, four goals from Kalonji’s Karim Tmimi would ultimately be the difference on a night when both teams went hell for leather in their quest for glory.

Kalonji had ended their regular season first in Georgia Zone 1 and an 8-1-1 record. They scored 38 and allowed 14. Visitors Scenic City, meanwhile, finished fourth in Georgia Zone 2, earning a 5-1-4 record. They scored 23 and conceded 19.

It took ten minutes for the first of the night’s 12 to fly in. A Scenic City corner, floated in by Brian Jimenez, was punched away by Ashon Maynard only as far as Marcus Odeny who swept a one-touch, side-footed, half volley straight into the goal to make it 1-0 for the visitors. A moment to forget for Maynard who gave the ball straight to Odeny, who was unmarked on the edge of the box.

Six minutes later, they had their second. A long ball by full-back Ben Horchak found Clay Gallant who beat off the challenge of Kalonji’s Grant Carr to feed a low cross into the box. The ball bounced off the post, then off defender Ben Davies before Scenic City’s Jack Conrad tapped in. 2-0 to the visitors.

Kalonji were trying to get back into the game, but Scenic City were ruthlessly making the most of their forays into the opposition half. On 35 minutes, they grabbed a third. Sam Conrad now played a creative role, excellently finding space in an advanced position and feeding a delightful pass into the box for his brother Jack to take on. After a good, controlling first touch, his shot looked to take a slight deflection off Davies that left Maynard helpless as Scenic City went 3-0 up and into dreamland.

The start of the second half was simply bonkers, as within four minutes Kalonji had got two back. Kalan Kalonji began the comeback, heading in a cross only 51 seconds into the half. Less than a minute later, Karim Tmimi brought the score to 3-2, firing in a shot from just outside the box.

Scenic City, however, were also in the mood for a goal. Just inside the 49th minute, Sam Conrad brushed off Toni Tiente to find space in the middle of the park. He fed a pass wide to Gallant on the right who somehow found himself unmarked charging into the box. With his second touch, Gallant popped it over substitute goalkeeper Henry Pleitez. 4-2, three goals in less than four minutes.

The game settled for a period before Kalonji Pro-Profile were awarded a strange penalty just after the hour mark. A ball sent into the box found attacker Owanja Medard. He had a seemingly innocuous clash with Jimenez. The ball was passed around between Thierry Jules and Kalan Kalonji who failed to beat a Scenic City defender. All of a sudden, Medard slowly went down and referee Ben Abrams pointed to the spot. It was weird, as there didn’t seem to be any contact, and Medard went down a long time after the challenge from Jimenez. Did Abrams blow the whistle for something else? Had he started pointing to the spot before Medard went down? Don’t know, it remains very unclear. Certainly, I couldn’t make out anything a Scenic City player had done wrong. In any case, Tmimi converted the spot kick to make it 4-3.

A second, less controversial penalty made it 4-4. On 77 minutes, during a Kalonji attack the ball was bouncing around the box. A Scenic City player (possibly Jimenez or Joselli Castillo) was on the ground and might have handled the ball, leading Abrams to point to the spot yet again. And yet again, Tmimi converted his hattrick and we entered the 80th minute on eight goals, amazingly with another four still to be netted. Neither side could break the deadlock and so the game entered extra time.

Kalonji finally took the lead on 99 minutes. Tiente swung in a freekick from the left that was headed in by captain Kymani Irving. They then pulled ahead further through Medard. On 112 minutes he swept a shot past Myers after a good through play header from Tmimi. Tmimi then put the tie to bed, sending his fourth goal past a tired looking Scenic City defense and the game was 7-4.

Scenic City may have given up two leads, including a 3-0 cushion, but they deserve credit at this point for not wilting and continuing to fight against their much fancied hosts. Sam Conrad made it 7-5 in the 119th minute. It was too late but another great solo effort from Conrad who took the ball on wide on the right and dribbled past some Kalonji defenders, who, like their opponents, were also looking tired.

A stunning comeback for Kalonji, they now advance to face Atlanta United’s Academy side in the Semi-Final.

For Scenic City its a first-half performance to be proud of, as was the season as a whole. They’ll be disappointed to have squandered a 3-0 lead, but kept fighting. Only recently promoted after triumphing in the Spring Division 1 season, they have enjoyed a tremendous campaign, especially in-light of their conveyor belt of injury problems. They’ll look forward to a spring season when this side can really lay on a challenge for silverware.

Box Score

Kalonji Pro-Profile v Scenic City SC

UPSL Premier Division Georgia Conference - Fall Playoff Semi-Final

Sunday 30th November, 2025

Venue: Charlie Jordan Field | Snellville, GA

Final Score: Kalonji 7-5 Scenic City

Referee: Ben Abrams

Scoring Summary:

11’: M. Odeny (SCE)
17’: J. Conrad (SCE)
35’: J. Conrad (SCE)
46’: K. Kalonji (KPP)
47’: K. Tmini (KPP)
49’: C G.allant (SCE)
64’: K. Tmini (KPP) penalty
77’: K. Tmini (KPP) penalty
99’: K. Irving (KPP)
112’: O. Medard (KPP)
118’: K. Tmini (KPP)

Starting line-ups:

Kalonji Pro Profile: Ashon Maynard, Grant Carr, Kymani Irving, Eldjero De Mees, Ben Davies, Sam Povolotsky, Toni Tiente, Kalan Kalonji, Owanja Medard, Karim Tmimi, Thierry Jules Head Coach: Max Povolotsky

Scenic City SC: JD Myers, Marcus Odeny, Stiven Galicia, Ben Horchak, Taeylor Fisch, Brian Jimenez, Joselli Castillo, Adin Castle, Sam Conrad, Jack Conrad, Clay Gallant Head Coach: Josh Luff

A couple hundred fans packed into Shiloh High School in Snellville, Georgia playing salsa music, banging bleachers, and showing home support for first time Open Cup qualifying Kalonji Pro-Profile in a 1-0 win over UPSL rivals Potros FC.

After 11 chaotic opening minutes, with possion mostly controlled by Potros, Kalonji had the game’s first scoring opportunity. Former Atlanta United 2 standout Karim Tmimi played a low ball from the left wing straight to an open Thierry Joules in the box, but Cameron Verona came up huge in goal for Potros with a kick-save to stop the effort from point-blank range.

In the 17th minute, Kalonji’s Owanja Medard ran centrally from the right wing, controlled the through ball with his chest, and was running towards goal before a light shove from a Potros defender sent him into the turf. It was a tough decision to make, but the referee did not give a penalty.

Thirteen minutes later, Potros had their first big chance on goal. A cross into the box from the left side found the head of #9 Nazario Mbomio, but he headed it just wide of the right post.

The away side’s biggest chance would shortly follow in the 33rd minute when a cross from the left by Pedro Valenzuela fell towards Sebi Morrello. While moving and facing away from goal, Morrello flicked the ball with his back heel towards the top left corner. Goalkeeper Ashon Maynard of Kalonji dove rapidly to his right and made a ridiculous save, pushing the ball with one hand onto the crossbar.

“That’s a youngster. That’s a 2007”, said Pro-Profile Head Coach Bruno Kalonji, “an amazing keeper, as you can see.”

With just 5 minutes to go in the first half, Potros’ Benjamin Uranga picked up a yellow card. The ensuing free kick dipped considerably late into the 6 yard box, causing Uranga to head the ball backwards as he attempted to clear the danger. Cameron Verona was there to save the day again in goal just like the previous round, jumping up to push the ball over the crossbar. Verona and his backline would see off the remaining danger to keep things level at halftime.

Nine minutes into the second half, Kalonji won a corner and rocketed a shot back towards goal from 30 yards out. It was blocked by Potros, and then the ref confidently pointed to the spot for a handball! From the stands and on replay, it was impossible to tell how correct the decision was with the pace on the shot, but the home side would not miss out on their chance to take the lead. Left back Grant Carr would step up and slot the ball home in the bottom right corner, and young Kalonji fans would invade the pitch to celebrate.

“We have a lot of experience on the field in the mix with the younger guys, you know, so we knew that we were going to score a goal eventually”, said Coach Kalonji. “Whether in the PK, whether a regular goal, we knew we were going to score, so the tactics was to defend, defend, defend, to hold the game.”

And defend they did. Potros could not come close to replicating their ball movement and chance creation from the first half, and they could not play as well late as they did the round before against Atletico Buford. Kalonji Pro-Profile held on to the 1-0 lead for the remaining 38 minutes and earned their first ever Open Cup qualification in club history.

Post Match Interview with Kalonji Pro-Profile Head Coach Bruno Kalonji

Congrats. Your team has made it for the first time to the US. Open Cup. You showed unbelievable grit at the end defensively, so what do you have to say about your back line?

Coach Kalonji: The back line is an unbelievable backline, players that won the national title in the youth area, so youth national championships. A lot of experienced players, a lot of younger players, they’re ready to do the job.

How do you handle a game like this where it’s so back and forth, chaotic, and the only time you had a goal scoring breakthrough was with the penalty? What was the tactical outlook to try and break down Potros?

Listen, man, we have guys like Karim Tmini used to play for Atlanta United. We have guys like Tony Tiente. So, we have a lot of experience on the field in the mix with the younger guys, you know, so we knew that we were going to score a goal eventually. Whether in the PK, whether a regular goal, we knew we were going to score, so the tactics was to defend, defend, defend, to hold the game.

It was an unbelievable performance from Ashon Maynard, so please speak on your goalkeeper.

That’s a youngster. That’s a 2007, a youngster guy that is an upcoming guy. So, it’s an amazing keeper, as you can see. 18 years old, so we’re introducing the younger guys in our team.

You are now going to go on to play a professional side in the Southeast area in the first round of the Open Cup. What do you think about your chances?

Well, you know what, man? We’re used to it. We used to scrimmage USL teams, so we’re kind of used to it. We used to scrimmage Atlanta United. We’ve done a lot of scrimmages like that in the past, so we’re ready for it. We’re looking forward to it. Obviously, this is the first time in a real game, not a scrimmage game, but we’ll be ready for it. Plus, we have time, so as they’re doing preseason, we’ll be doing preseason.

CHATTANOOGA, Tn. — Spectators in attendance at the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts were treated to nine goals on a balmy night last Saturday. Scenic City SC defeated visitors North Georgia United 6-3 in an exciting game that featured plenty of skill and talent on show, as well as the many goals.

The star of the show was undoubtedly the home side’s Sam Conrad. While he didn’t score himself, the 5-9 striker from nearby Lookout Mountain produced a masterclass in attacking play, exhibiting exceptional skill, tenacity, and physicality.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring, and early on too. Exciting forward Maximo Juarez, who enjoyed a fine battle with Scenic City’s Adin Castle throughout, set the game’s early pace. With just five minutes on the clock, he collected the ball in his own half and solo-ran a fine counterattacking move that took Scenic City’s scrambling defense by surprise before launching a shot that Maro Mendez in the home goal could do nothing about.

Scenic City didn’t sit about though, and within a minute Conrad had hit the post as they immediately went in search of an equalizer. It came after only seven minutes and involved the other Conrad on the field, Sam’s brother Jack. Sam’s work into and in the box, resulted in a pulled back pass that his brother was able to slam home from close range and past North Georgia goalkeeper Caleb Pete. A fine goal capping a fine, hard worked assist. There would be more of these.

Sadly for Jack, that would be his last major involvement in the game. Just shy of the half-hour mark, Head Coach Josh Luff took him off due to a lingering illness. He was replaced by Preston Munroe who immediately set about putting his side ahead. His shot with his first touch was pawed but not saved by Pete, and Scenic City were 2-1 ahead. Munroe would get another five minutes later, only for it to be called offside.

The second half began as the first ended, with the hosts on the attack. Sam Conrad was moved out to the right side of the attack to make way for the introduction of Adrick Hall as center-forward. Out on the right, Conrad’s blistering pace, quick tempo passing, and eye for intercepting balls, caused utter havoc to the left-side of North Georgia’s defense. Five minutes into the half, Scenic City had their third. It began as an intercept from Conrad who stole the ball and cascaded into the box. Not being greedy when he could have shot himself, he pulled the ball back to the onrushing Hall who made it 3-1.

North Georgia forward Ronald Maradiaga made things interesting with a goal three minutes later as we entered the final thirty minutes of play at 3-2. Pete had a tough night, but played well in spite of the six goals conceded. He made a few good saves, including an excellent mid-air stop just after the hour to deny Conrad. Only a few minutes later though, he could do nothing to stop the header from Michael Clow from going in, off a corner by Brian Jimenez. 4-2.

Fans who left CSLA early may have missed a deluge of goals late on. There were three in the last ten minutes alone. On the 82nd minute, Obinna Okoronkwo scored a fine volley for North Georgia, yet another excellent strike for the watching crowd to savor. Six minutes later, Sam Conrad repeated the same trick again, dribbling into the box and pulling the ball back into the middle. Again, Hall was present to smash it past Pete and at 5-3 on 88 minutes, it looked over.

Jimenez wasn’t finished though, and he would provide the coup de grâce on these spirited North Georgia visitors with an absolute beauty of a strike right at the death, from the outside of the box. His left footed effort, sailed past a diving Pete and into the net. The highlight of the game, and a goal fit for any occasion. You only wish there were cameras present to record it, but the small band of support there won’t forget it any time soon.

I spoke with Head Coach Luff after the game and he expressed delight at his side finishing the regular season in fourth, after just winning promotion from Division One in the spring. This, in spite of dealing with a seeming conveyor belt of injuries that robbed the side of many of its regular starters. He also reflected on the personal growth of his players, the injection of youth from the likes of Conrad but also the leadership from the likes of Clow and [Tayleor] Fisch, and his hopes for the continued growth of the game in the region with the likes of fellow Chattanooga-based UPSL outfit Kaistorms FC [in the KY-TN conference] and the emergence of Cleveland United [set to begin play in Spring 2026] nearby.

Scenic City look ahead now to a playoff match against either Atletico Buford or Kalonji Pro-Profile of Georgia Zone 1 [unknown at the time of writing] and a bonus run into the post-season in their first campaign in the top flight. North Georgia have some talented players but ultimately will settle for eighth and last place in Zone 2.

Box Score

Scenic City SC v North Georgia United

UPSL Premier Division - Georgia Zone 2

Saturday 15th November, 2025

Venue: CSLA | Chattanooga, TN

Final Score: Scenic City 6-3 North Georgia

Scoring Summary:

5’: M. Juarez (NGU)
13’: J. Conrad (SCE)
39’: P. Munroe (SCE)
50’: A. Hall (SCE)
53’: R. Maradiaga (NGU)
65’: M. Clow (SCE)
82’: O. Okoronkwo (NGU)
88’: A. Hall (SCE)
39’: B. Jimenez (SCE)

Man of the Match: Sam Conrad (SCE) - didn’t get a goal himself but nabbed several assists and was always SCSC’s most potent offensive threat. Caused havoc for the North Georgia defense especially after being deployed out wide in the second half. Seemed to be the first to every ball, showed physical fight to win it in challenges and had multiple intercepts. His footwork and quick passing really make him stand out. A real talent.

Starting line-ups:

Scenic City: Maro Mendez; Joseli Castilla, Stiven Galicia, Michael Clow (C), Ben Horchak, Adin Castle; Tayleor Fisch, Brian Jimenez; Clay Gallant, Jack Conrad; Sam Conrad Head Coach: Josh Luff

North Georgia: Caleb Pete; Lakin Dancause, Ivan Orellana (C), Jose Garcia; Max Ramos, Gonzalo Lemus, Alfonso Vega, Yeibert Vargas; Obinna Okoronkwo, Maximo Juarez, Ronald Maradiaga Head Coach: Kennet Fosuhene

Marietta, GA - Potros FC goalkeeper Cameron Verona made three 1v1 saves in a rain-delayed second half, and a late penalty from star Marc Bineau gave the home side a 2-1 win over Atletico Buford last week in an Open Cup matchup of UPSL Georgia heavyweights.

The first chance came in the 17th minute after a bad challenge resulted in a yellow card for Potros left back Sebastian Lopez and a free kick. The dangerous cross into the 6-yard box forced goalkeeper Cameron Verona to dive full stretch and punch the ball away.

In the 24th minute, Buford forward Cristian Suazo received a cross from Eder Cruz on the right wing. With some space afforded in the 18, his half volley attempt was skied over the bar. The ensuing goal kick was flicked on towards Potros right winger Marc Bineau (called Dadynho), who cut back from pressure and, even though he and the ball were moving the opposite direction, turned his hips and played a forward through ball to Pedro Lima. Lima would score to the goalie’s right for the 1-0 lead.

Just nine minutes later, the away side responded. Buford’s Cristian Suazo was played through under pressure from two defenders, forcing him to cut back. When he did, he passed into space on the right flank, where defender Nicolas Salazar was making a rapid run to meet the ball. His shot hit the left side netting, and the game was square at 1-1.

The game would stay level through halftime and for three minutes into the second half. At that time, a lightning delay was called that lasted for over half an hour. When players returned to the rainy, cold conditions, what had once been an evenly matched affair turned strongly in favor of Buford.

In the 56th minute, Cristian Suazo was again involved, taking a strong touch past a defender to go through on goal from the left flank. That gave Potros goalkeeper Verona enough time to slide out and get his arm behind the low shot. Just a minute later, Buford #6’s Martinez ripped a half volley from 45 yards out that dipped towards the top right corner, hitting the bottom of the American football crossbar. Only two minutes after that, #18 Guerra played through Carlos Chavarria, and he managed to beat a defender, seemingly control the ball with his right arm (the handball call was missed), and get off a shot. However, Verona was there again, sticking out a strong left arm to save his team.

It was not one, not two, but three 1v1 saves made by Verona. In the 65th minute, Cristian Suazo was through on goal for the second time after defender Omar Barrow whiffed an attempt to stop a pass. This time, Verona’s right arm was the one that valiantly shot upward and sent the ball over the net.

With only six minutes to play, Potros won a corner that was whipped toward the back post and met by Barrow. His header back towards goal was blocked by the extended arm of a Buford player, and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Dadynho, who sent the keeper left as he went down the middle, and Potros would see out a gritty 2-1 victory.

For the 4th and final qualifying round of the US Open Cup, Potros will travel to face Kalonji Pro-Profile on November 23 at 7:00pm EST. The Southeast Soccer Report will be present and cover the match.

Post-Game Interview with Coach Frankie Ruiz:

You were on the back foot for the majority of the second half after a really heavily contested first half and the lightning delay. How did you just manage to get it done there at the end?

So, what we’ve been focus on this entire year is our culture of the team when it comes to depth. Everybody on the bench are starters. Everybody that starts are starters. So when it came down to it, we’re looking at the holes, we tried to figure out who’s having an off night, whatnot. So the adjustment that we did today is we took that six and moved him out to the left back position. Once we got him out there with that energy and we replaced the six with a more holding six, I think it solidified our back line a little bit, and once it started getting the solidification of that, we were able to get forward and create opportunities. And one thing this team will do is finish opportunities.

Talk about your defense tonight, because I think both teams in the weather conditions were definitely more spaced out in the back during the first half, but then you really locked down the formation, the shape, and you had an unbelievable goalkeeping performance.

Yeah, honestly, it’s a hats off to Cameron on that one. They definitely should have put three on us, and we did get caught in our counters; our center backs were a little too high. We are notorious of playing a high line, and when that happens every now and then, boys will miss look at their shape and get separated too much. And again, like I say, Cam stepped up with his veteran self that he is and just make some fantastic saves tonight.

You are one win away from being in the U.S. Open Cup first round, potentially playing a professional club. How does it feel, and do you think you can do it?

I know we can do it. I’m confident we can do it, but I’m not gonna lie if I got butterflies as butterflies, because I know we can do it.

Interview with Man of the Match, Potros GK Cameron Verona:

So, coming out of the lightning delay, Potros was mainly on the back foot. Buford’s counter attack was working really well against your high line. So, you had to make 3 one-on-one saves in all sorts of directions here at the end to keep the team in the game. So just go through the mentality coming out for all those saves in the clutch?

So, we have so many good defenders on this team, and often we don’t really play squads that can challenge us and break us apart like that in good runs of play. Often, it’s from our own mistakes. And I mean, I’ll have to look at the film again to see if it was us or if they just beat us, but they were all very different. So the first one, I saw it, and I realized I had time to make a play and read it, and my timing was good enough to throw my foot and get in the way. But the second one, I got a bit lucky. I think that was off of number 10, and we were talking about him before the game. He’s played for his national team before. He’s a high profile player. I got a bit lucky. He probably could have beat me if he lifted it a little bit higher, but I got big enough.

The one that I really liked the most was the last one because it’s just three different situations where you’re getting yourself big, but there’s so many finer details in those situations; but for me, finally an opportunity to get to make an impact on the game in a positive way. When it was the first one, I felt good. The second one, I felt lucky, and the third one, I felt assured of myself, so it was a really good, good day today.

Talk about your defensive line and the effort to really shut down the attack, especially in the second half.

We got so many big boys, man, and guys who have played at all kinds of levels. Kwesi Paul, my right center back, played for his national team as well, and my left center back, Omar, both absolute rock solid guys. Just to shout out as well, Benjamin Uranga, who wasn’t rostered today, because he had a bit of an injury: all just class defenders.

Guys who just never stop talking, guys who will yell at you like crazy, even if you do something wrong and you just can’t get mad at it because they know what they’re doing. That’s the biggest thing that carries us through games like this is we just yell and yell and yell and yell and talk and talk. You can’t stop talking. Our wingbacks, Eric and Caden today and a bit Sebastian Lopez, just all guys who can bomb forward, bomb backwards, and read the game so well, but their pace and their decision making is typically outmatched. So, we thrive a lot on our rock solid center backs connected with our six and our outside backs, who can generate a lot of attack from the sides.

You are a one win away from qualifying for the US. Open Cup first round, likely against another UPSL opponent, potentially Kalonji Pro-Profile or Mint Hill. You’re gonna have a tough game front of you, no matter what. How do you feel about your chances?

I feel good, man. We talked about it in the classroom, when we had the lightning delay. We’re a second half team anyway, it feels like sometimes. We came out, we felt like we were firing, and then we had the lightning delay and came back out and just, I mean, we played blue collar football, man. Our coach, Frankie Ruiz, we call it Frankie Ball: it’s just work rate, work rate, work rate. You got to be fit, you got to be strong. We hit the absolute hell out of each other in training to get ready for games like this, so we’re ready for the moment for sure, and to have the opportunity to be able to do this on this scale is huge, so we’re all very excited.

CHATTANOOGA, Tn. — Potros FC made it six wins from six in this fall’s UPSL Premier Division Georgia Zone 2. It wasn’t plain sailing for them, however, as they were made to work hard by an inspired performance from Scenic City SC at CSLA on Wednesday evening. The two goals Potros conceded marked their leakiest defensive performance this season, while the goal difference (+1) was their narrowest win yet.

Scenic City SC will take great heart from imposing these records on Potros, even if they were left empty-handed at full-time. Coming into the game with a spate of injuries, they faced an uphill task against the Spring champions, who arrived in Chattanooga with five wins from five, having scored 23 goals and conceded only six. Scenic City likely deserved at least a draw for their efforts but were undone by small mistakes and a rather baffling refereeing decision.

The visitors started blisteringly, applying immediate pressure on Scenic City with quick passing and impressive technical acuity right from the off. This early dominance paid off after just 11 minutes. A throw-in from right wing-back Caden Macias bounced in the middle of Scenic City’s box and wasn’t dealt with by several of their onlooking defenders. Potros’ long-serving forward and record goalscorer Dadynho was there, reacting quickly to perform a sweet overhead kick that sent the ball into the net past a helpless Maro Mendez. 1–0 to Potros. With their own goalkeeper having little to do, it looked like they would win easily. Scenic City had other plans.

After a number of further close calls for Potros, it was the hosts who began stamping their authority on the game.

After 22 minutes, Scenic City were applying pressure of their own on Potros’ box. The visitors failed to take control of the ball or execute an effective clearance. Scenic City winger Jack Conrad was on hand to collect the ball on the edge of the box for another attempt. His arching ball found the head of forward Adrick Hall. The young man from Chattanooga Prep showed fine composure and strength, glancing a header into the net despite the physical challenge from both Potros’ goalkeeper Cameron Verona and defender Erek Graham. The goal tied the game and meant that Potros, for all their ruthless goalscoring, had still failed to keep a clean sheet this season.

Now it was Scenic City who looked the more dominant side and began playing with a level of composure and confidence that had Potros on the back foot for large chunks of the game. Verona was called upon to make two important saves in the first half, keeping the scoreline from getting away from his team.

He could do nothing to stop the hosts from taking the lead on 26 minutes, however. A well-worked set piece that looked straight from the training ground saw an Adin Castle corner find Conrad at the near post. With one touch, he whipped a shot past Verona to put his side ahead. The crowd at CSLA, braving the frigid evening air, erupted in joy at seeing this largely unexpected lead.

As the first half came to a close, the hosts went in search of a third. Some good passing between Castle, Conrad, Hall, and Clay Gallant almost delivered the prize, only for Verona to deny them. Mendez, in Scenic City’s goal, would make the save of the game on 58 minutes when he showed great reflexes to tip an awkward deflection from his own defender over the bar, following a dangerous run and cross from Potros’ Sebi Morrello.

Elsewhere, there were a number of entertaining battles taking place. Scenic City’s Marcus Odeny demonstrated great strength and intelligent positioning, breaking down several Potros attacks in the middle of the park. Over on one wing, Potros’ Macias—whose throw-in led to the opening goal—was engaged in a well-fought game of chess with both Conrad and Castle.

The second half saw Potros come out with intent, looking to equalize and then win. It is to their credit—and their coach’s—that they showed the resilience to come back and beat this talented Scenic City team. They executed a patient, gradual game plan that saw them climb back into the match. On 69 minutes, Dadynho floated a corner into the box that again was allowed to bounce in front of goal. Untouched by a Potros player, it was unfortunately put into the net by a Scenic City player, likely Clay Gallant. A bitterly disappointing way to concede an equalizer, especially after such a long period of ascendancy.

If the equalizer was disappointing, the winner was pure frustration—and some confusion. An 82nd-minute free kick from Potros substitute Amadou Danfa was parried by Mendez after bouncing awkwardly in front of him. Dadynho collected the loose ball first, firing a low cross into the box that was tapped in by Macias. The linesman raised his flag for offside, and a lengthy consultation between him and the referee followed. In the end, and much to the disappointment of the home fans, the referee appeared to overrule his assistant, awarding the goal. From a look at the goal—albeit with only one camera angle—it appears Macias was played onside by a Scenic City defender, but the linesman surely had the best view.

So, a win for Potros: 3–2. Both sides were impressive—the home team for taking the game to their much-fancied opponents and putting on a battling and committed display that, were it not for superb goalkeeping by Verona, might have yielded a third or fourth goal to settle matters. The visitors deserve credit not just for their win, which was lucky in some ways, but for showing grit and resilience to come back. Championships aren’t just built on dominant, easy wins, but are borne of overcoming challenges and winning even when you aren’t the best team. An entertaining game that should be an advertisement for what UPSL has to offer.

The two teams will meet again this Saturday in Marietta.

SCSC Coach Josh Luff expressed happiness with his team’s battling performance, despite the loss:

“I was very proud of the boys in general for this game against a very talented Potros team. The group as a whole played very well as a unit, executed the plan very well and made the game interesting. A few unfortunate moments caused our own undoing, but considering how many injuries we have with starters, guys playing new positions, and yet to hold on that well for that much of the game, I was happy to see. I loved that they were not complacent or just on the field but were mentally focused, and if we can practice and continue to build with that level of engagement, I am very excited about the future.”

Box Score

Scenic City SC v Potros FC

UPSL Premier Division - Georgia Zone 2

Wednesday 5th November, 2025

Venue: CSLA | Chattanooga, TN

Final Score: Scenic City 2-3 Potros

Scoring Summary:

11’: Dadynho (POT)
22’: A. Hall (SCE)
26’: K. Conrad (SCE)
69’: C. Gallant (SCE) own goal
82’: C. Mesias (POT)

Discipline:

33’: P. Lima (POT) - foul, yellow
44’: S. Galicia (SCE) - foul, yellow
51’: C. Macias (POT) - foul, yellow
58’: D. Moreira (POT) - poor sportsmanship, yellow
71’: G. Castle (SCE) - dissent, yellow

Man of the Match: Dadynho (POT) - quiet for large parts of the game, but had a hand in all three Potros goals, scoring one bicycle kick and engineering the other two. Notable mention to young Jack Conrad (SCE), who also had a goal and an assist to his name.

Starting line-ups:

Scenic City: Maro Mendez, Ben Horchak, Michael Clow (C), Stiven Galicia, Adin Castle, Joselli Castilla, Marcus Odeny, Taeylor Fisch, Jack Conrad, Clay Gallant, Adrick Hall. Head Coach: Joshua Luff

Potros: Cameron Verona, Erek Graham, Danny Moreira, Caden Macias, Pedro Lima, Sebi Morrello, Kevin Ruiz, Pedro Valenzuela, Josiah Blanton, Marc ‘Dadynho’ Bineau (C), Sean McKeever. Head Coach: Frankie Ruiz

Next Game

November 9th: Potros FC v Scenic City SC, Marietta High School, Marietta, GA (UPSL)

Earlier this month, it was announced that a new club, Cleveland United FC, would join the United Premier Soccer League’s (UPSL) Georgia Division. Starting play in spring 2026, Cleveland United will be the first ever semi-pro soccer team in the Tennessee city.

Recently, I spoke with the club’s Co-Founder, Albert Murza, about Cleveland United’s founding and his vision for the club.

First off, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

“I’m originally from Russia and lived there until I was 18. Then I moved to Germany for university—that’s actually where I met my wife, who’s from Alabama. She was on a mission trip, and later went to Lee University. We’ve been in Cleveland for about nine years now and never left.

Soccer’s always been a huge part of my life. Growing up in Europe, it’s just part of the culture. I’ve always loved the game—Germany, Brazil, the infamous 7–1 match... unforgettable. Chelsea became my club, mostly because of the connection to Abramovich. I saw the headlines and just got drawn in. It’s always been a fun, unique sport for me.

When I first came to Cleveland, there was definitely a period of adjustment. I found myself asking, ‘What’s going on here?’ I wasn’t really aware of how things worked in smaller towns. MLS was the only soccer I was watching at the time, but I wanted something more local—something we could really connect with.

About four years ago, I discovered Chattanooga FC. I Googled what teams were nearby and saw they were in the NISA playoffs. So I went to a game... and I fell in love with the club. I’ve been a season ticket holder ever since and try to make it to every match. That experience really shaped my connection to the sport here—not as a player, but as a supporter and someone who’s done a bit of coaching.”

Why did you decide to start a semi-pro soccer club?

“For me, it really came down to the cultural and community aspect—something I think soccer in the U.S. often misses, and honestly, maybe all American sports. What Chattanooga FC gave me was that deeper connection. Sports should be about people. That’s very much the European style—connecting with the community, not just throwing money around. That’s what I love about CFC.

Cleveland has its own identity. When I brought people to CFC games, most didn’t come back. That mountain on the freeway kind of separates us. But After the Open Cup [game against the Red Wolves], someone asked, ‘Why not Cleveland?’ That sparked something. It started a narrative—like, yeah, it would be nice to have something here. Of course, the first thought is, ‘We’d need money,’ and it felt like a long shot.

But I’m a bit of a nerd, so I started researching. I looked into NPSL, UPSL, The League for Clubs, NISA Nation—just trying to understand what’s out there. I talked to several people, including Seldon Grizzle [Chattanooga FC Co-Founder]. My wife had worked with him, so I asked if he’d be okay with me picking his brain. I just wanted to know if this idea was too crazy or totally delusional. He was super helpful and pointed us in the right direction.

We’re not trying to be a semi-pro club that only focuses on players—nothing against that, but our focus is the community. We’re 99.99% sure we’ll never be a professional club, and that’s okay. The question became: what can we do to make this semi-pro experience meaningful? Saturday evenings, something people can be proud of. A place to bring folks together. A way to show love for our town.

I think we stumbled onto something no one else saw. I know Cleveland’s a small town, but if Chattanooga can have two pro soccer clubs, a baseball team, UTC, and a pais of UPSL teams—why not us? We’ve got over 2,000 people showing up to high school games. There’s clearly passion here.”

Who are the people involved? Apart from yourself?

“Right now, it’s a small but passionate team. My wife, Kristen Murza, is one of the co-founders. Honestly, I was kind of hoping she’d tell me ‘no’ when I brought up the idea—but for some reason, she said yes! She’s mostly focused on operations.

We also have Carimet Sidney, who’s deeply involved in the community. Kristen and Carimet are the other co-founders alongside me. Then there’s Steven Hodge, who’s our brand manager, and our new head coach, Adam Christensen. We might have more people join us down the line, but that’s the core team for now.

We’ve also had amazing support from local leaders. Tammy Randolph, Director of Investor Development at the Cleveland Chamber, Joe Fivas, the city manager, and Jonathan Jobe, the city engineer, have all taken time out of their busy schedules to help us build a plan for the community. And Milan Patel, the owner of DosBros, has been incredibly supportive as well.”

What made you chose the UPSL over other options?

“One of the biggest reasons was the structure of the season. With NPSL, you play for about four months and then you’re off for eight. UPSL was more appealing because it offers two seasons a year. That means we can guarantee at least 10 games annually, and if we plan things right—like adding a couple of preseason matches, maybe four additional games, and if playoffs go well—we could be looking at 15 to 20 home games a year. That’s a lot closer to a professional setup, like what you’d see in Division III.

The U.S. Open Cup is also a big deal for us. We want to participate and give our town that experience. The dream is to one day host a professional club here.

Another factor was geography. NPSL teams are pretty far—mostly in places like Knoxville and North Carolina. UPSL teams are much closer, which makes travel and logistics easier. Of course, UPSL has its own challenges, like the season starting early in April. But we’re not mainly targeting college players, so that works for us.

Cleveland has a unique love for soccer. For a town of around 55,000 people, it’s surprisingly popular. There’s a local academy here with around 700 members across recreational and travel programs. That alone gives us great perspective. There are talented local players who want to play but can’t always make it to Chattanooga. We even know players who travel to Dalton just to get opportunities.”

You’re joining UPSL’s Georgia Division. Do you know yet or can you share yet if you’ll be joining the Premier Division or starting in Division 1?

“They’ve told us we’ll be starting in Division 1 for now, and then a decision will be made later about moving up. Honestly, we’re just excited to get going. It’ll be fun to play against Chattanooga’s second team and see the level of competition UPSL brings.

For our region, I think UPSL is doing a fantastic job. It’s growing, it’s organized, and it’s giving small towns like ours a real chance to be part of something bigger.”

Are there any lessons from teams in nearby cities like Knoxville or Chattanooga that you want to take on when setting out with Cleveland United?

“There’s a phrase we use in Russia: ‘Only a bad soldier doesn’t dream of becoming a general.’ The idea is, if you don’t dream big, you won’t work hard or hold yourself to high standards. Sure, I’d love to see a pro team in Cleveland one day—but realistically, that probably won’t happen. And maybe that’s not even the goal. Maybe it’s more about representation and what we can build for the community.

That’s what we admire about Chattanooga FC. They were successful before and after turning pro because of their community-first approach. They had to learn a lot along the way, and they’ve built something really special. Knoxville also has a great system they’re working with. When you look at the three pro clubs in the region, it’s a reminder to a wider audience that soccer is thriving in the South.

People used to say soccer wouldn’t work here. Even NFL owners said Atlanta United would fail—and now it’s one of the biggest success stories in MLS. Soccer is huge in the South. I’m constantly amazed by how popular it is, especially in places where you’re told it’s all about college football.

At the end of the day, it’s not about titles. It’s about making sure the people in our community feel proud. That this club represents our values and our town.”

Are you happy with how season ticket deposits have gone?

“Yeah! We ran a tiered promotion, and 27 people signed up. What’s exciting is that over 75% of them chose the highest tier—and most of them weren’t even close friends or family. These were people we met at events who got genuinely excited about what we’re building.

Looking back, we probably should’ve expected this. The local academy’s been around since 1995, so there’s clearly been a need for something like this in the community.

We’ll be at the Fall Market during the Halloween Block Party—most people in town don’t go trick-or-treating, they head downtown. So we’ll be there pushing ticket options and deposits. We’re also planning early tryouts in mid-November to get a sense of what we can expect for preseason.

On social media, we’ve already passed 900 followers across LinkedIn, Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram—and we haven’t even played a single game yet. Compared to other UPSL teams, those numbers are phenomenal. It’s really encouraging. We’re not here to make money—we’re here because the city needed this. The goal was always to build something meaningful.”

You’ll start playing in spring 2026. What is the main thing you’re working on right now?

“The biggest priority right now is finalizing our home field. We’re looking at several locations, but we really want to stay within the city limits as much as possible. It’s important to us that the team feels rooted in Cleveland—not just in name, but in presence. We want people to feel like this is their club, right in their backyard.”

What can fans attending a home game expect?

“We’re really focused on creating an experience—not just a soccer match. Think about what pro teams do: they build an environment where people want to show up early, not just because their friend is playing, but because it’s fun.

We’re planning things like food trucks, games for kids, and entertainment that makes it a full evening out. One of our inspirations is the Savannah Bananas. As much as it’s about the sport, people go because it’s entertaining. That’s what we want to offer—music, social media content, player announcements, photos, ads—something that feels alive.

We’re even putting players’ names on jerseys because we want fans to feel connected to them. Whether a player stays for a season or heads off to college, we want them to be more than just a number—they’re part of the club.

We’d love to have a supporters’ group like the Chattahooligans, with drums and chants. But that kind of thing has to grow naturally. Sheldon from CFC told us their group just started with a few guys showing up. We’ve already seen signs of that here—someone started a fan page on Facebook completely independently and just asked people to follow us. That’s the kind of organic support we love.

Of course, we want to win on the field—who doesn’t? We want to go as far as we can in competitions. But if we build something the community is proud of, we’ll consider that a win.”

You’ve got some quality merch up on the website. Is there more coming?

“Everything we have right now is up on the site. I guess as we get closer to the spring season, adding jerseys will be the next thing. We’ll see how things hold up after the summer.

We knew from the start that we had to do merch. There’s something special about seeing a sticker on a car window or a flag waving—and it’s not someone you know personally. That’s when you realize the club is starting to mean something to people.

If people have ideas for merch they’d like to see, we’re totally open to that. We want the community to help shape this.”

You recently announced the hiring of your first ever Head Coach, Adam Christensen. How did you find him?

“I started doing research back in June to see who we had locally. I came across Adam’s name and really wanted to get in touch as I thought he’d be a great fit for what we’re doing—but I couldn’t find a way to reach him. Then, after we launched the club on September 4th, he applied. So I guess I didn’t need to worry!

He’s got experience with several startups—not soccer-related—so he understands how startups work, which is huge for us. He came in with clear expectations, not demands, just thoughtful suggestions like, ‘Think about this, and we’ll figure out the rest together.’

Honestly, my biggest concern early on was securing a field. I always assumed coaching would come together eventually. I’m working on getting my own coaching licenses, and our head coach is doing the same—pursuing higher-level certifications even though he already has solid experience. That says a lot about his commitment.

The rest of the team kept bringing up the need for a Head Coach, and now that he’s here, it’s made a big difference. Every meeting isn’t just about logistics anymore—it’s about vision. We’re aligned on how to reach players and what kind of talent we can attract. Adam even had a website focused on dribbling and skills development, which shows how invested he is in helping players grow.

We’ve got talent in town. They just need the right support to reach the next level.”

Finally, is there any message for soccer fans in Cleveland that you’d like to share?

“This is your club. That’s why our hashtag is #WeAreCUFC—it’s not us, it’s we. We want to give back to the community, and the goal for 2026 to partner with three nonprofits to create volunteer opportunities.. The goal is to build something great for Cleveland—not just soccer-related, but something that reflects who we are as a town.

We don’t know exactly what it’ll look like yet, but we’re already seeing it take shape. For example, after our launch event, City Fields, a local NGO, invited us to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new football field. They called us up and said, ‘Hey, do you want to come over, help out, and spread the word?’ We had our event on September 4th, and theirs was on September 8th. That kind of collaboration is what this is all about.

This club is for Cleveland, Tennessee—not Cleveland, Ohio, haha. We want to start something that can help put our Cleveland on the map. We have big dreams, but we know we can’t make them happen without the community. We want people to feel proud of this team, to feel like it represents their values and their town.

My thanks to Albert and to Cleveland United FC for taking the time to speak with the Southeast Soccer Report. You can follow the club’s journey by visiting their website or following them on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

It was a Camren Laris penalty kick that provided the lone goal on Sunday afternoon as Angelus slipped past the Augusta Arsenal Soccer Team 1-0 in USPL D1 Georgia South action.

The loss was the first setback for Augusta this season, who now hold a 3W-1L-1T (10 points) record in second place in the conference as Angelus moves to the top spot with a 3W-1L-2T (11 points) record.

It was a game of missed chances for Augusta and counter-attacking soccer for Angelus over the 90 minutes under cloudy skies and windy conditions at the Augusta Soccer Park.

The match looked to be heading to the break scoreless but a foul in the 35^th minute inside the Augusta area sent Camren Laris to the spot where he converted the chance low to the left corner after a shuffling, stutter-stepping approach to the ball to smash it home.

Augusta dialed up the pressure in the second half and earned a penalty in the 85^th minute looking to level the match, but the ensuing spot kick ran wide of the target glancing off the left post keeping Angelus in the advantage.

Angelus will next host Atlanta City FC on Saturday, October 25 at 7 PM. The match will be played at the Macon Soccer Club complex.

Augusta will be on the road at Lagrange as they travel on Sunday, October 26 to play UMA FC II at Russell County HS. Kickoff is set for 4 PM.

It was a match up of first-place Augusta versus last-place Middle Georgia Sunday afternoon at the Augusta Soccer Park in a match rescheduled from Saturday due to heavy rains.

The Augusta Arsenal Soccer Team saw five different players score a goal in the 5-0 shutout win as the short-handed Middle Georgia FC squad faced an uphill climb the entire match as they only traveled with nine players for the match.

Augusta opened the match with a cautious, but controlled approach to their attack as they exploited the open spaces and numerical advantages created by Middle Georgia playing with only nine players.

The hosts didn’t have to wait long before scoring a goal when Kaynan Ibrahim collected a through ball in the 7^th minute and then proceeded to rip a shot high into the back post for the 1-0 Augusta lead. A free kick at the goal line just at the edge of the penalty box provided the second goal in the 30^th minute as the ball was served into the near post where Augusta’s Mathias Baladi was first to rise and drive the ball into the net with a powerful header. With the score 2-0 to Augusta, the hosts added a third goal in the 33^rd minute as Austin Bryant was there to clean up a loose ball in the goal mouth after the initial shot had rebounded off the far post right to the feet of Bryant.

Middle Georgia despite the challenges of playing with just nine players had a few attacking moments on the counter as well as few dangerous free kicks to keep Augusta honest. Middle Georgia made it a game and all credit to them for traveling with limited numbers and still putting in a spirited effort in the match.

The second half saw wholesale changes to the Augusta lineup and Augusta stayed on the front foot finding a fourth goal in the 71^st minute as Eduard Lopez connected on a long-range shot from the midfield as Middle Georgia was too slow to pressure the shot. A final goal came via the penalty spot as James Lee placed the ball low to the keeper’s left after a trip in the box sent Augusta to the spot. Final score 5-0.

Adelphe Amehon went all 90 minutes in the Augusta net coming up with several key collections and two saves to preserve the shutout.

When asked about the state of the program, Augusta Coach and founder Merquiades McLellan has been pleased with the growth of the program from season one to season two.

“There was a lot more growth than we were anticipating (from season one to season two),” said McLellan. “So, when we did tryouts we had enough people for two teams, so we’ve actually started a reserve team. The goal to have this team also go UPSL Division 1 because there is that much talent here in Augusta. Another big thing is, of course Dallas (Dickerson) now that he is fully “on” …he’s a much better coach than I am, I’m not actually a coach but a player that just tried his best. The other growth area has been Traci (Hilton) our director of operations, she’s really good at what she does with networking, getting sponsors, and all that kind of stuff. These were key things that were added on from last season from me being just a one-man band.”

With the win Augusta moves to 3W-0L-0T on the season and still has not allowed a goal this season. The next match will be at FC Atlanta on October 11 at 7:30 PM.

In their second match of the UPSL Premier Georgia Zone 1 season, Atlético Buford FC topped Filial Pachuca Georgia 2–1 in an emotionally charged showdown on Sunday evening. The win extends Buford’s unbeaten start while Pachuca continues to search for their first victory.

Coming off a statement 8–3 rout of Kalonji Pro Profile, Buford entered Sunday’s match with confidence. Their performance may have been less explosive this time, but it was no less assertive. Pachuca meanwhile had drawn 0–0 with Georgia Impact in their opener and looked eager to make an impression against a formidable opponent.

They didn’t waste time trying. Just two minutes in, Buford’s Cristian Suazo took advantage of an advantage call and slotted a low clinical finish across goal, stunning the defense and energizing the bench. The opening stretch saw breakneck pace, corner kicks, and end to end action as both teams pressed with urgency.

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Buford controlled possession through much of the first half, carving out chances with slick through balls and vertical play. Their fast fearless wingers stretched the field effectively. Pachuca however responded with wide attacks and high tempo, though they struggled to generate a consistent presence through the middle.

Their best chance came in the 40th minute, when a penalty was awarded following a reckless challenge in the box. But Buford’s goalkeeper came up big, diving to make a confident stop. “Feels good,” he said post match. “Just giving that confidence to the team you know?”

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The second half opened with rising tension and more drama. Just after the restart, a contentious foul sparked arguments between players and referees. Yellow cards were issued to a Pachuca player and both head coach Ricardo Montoya and assistant Raul M., who were cautioned for dissent.

Buford then struck again in the 52nd minute, with Suazo bagging his second goal of the night, this time finishing a rapid counterattack with a cheeky chip over the onrushing keeper. The clinical finish silenced the opposition momentarily and emphasized Buford’s composure under pressure.

But the game only got chippier from there. Physical fouls, escalating arguments, and off ball incidents turned the match into a gritty war of attrition. Yellow cards stacked up. In total six were shown, three to each team. Pachuca managed to convert a second penalty in the 90+3’ minute, with Brandon Arevalo calmly slotting it home. But any momentum was fleeting.

The contest culminated in a red card for Buford goalkeeper Angel Centeno in stoppage time, dismissed for serious foul play, for endangering the Pachuca player, after a collision just outside the box, about 25 yards from goal. Buford immediately pressed forward and the final whistle came shortly after a halted Pachuca free kick.

After the match Coach Montoya spoke candidly about his young squad. “We made two mistakes and they punished us,” he said. “That’s the difference against experienced teams. Sometimes we dictate the game, sometimes we match the game but little details like that always affect the result.” He added “We’re probably the youngest team in the league… We’ve got a bunch of 2006 and 2007s. And that’s costing us results. But we believe in it and learn from it.”

Despite the loss Pachuca’s grit and flashes of attacking quality signal a team with promise. But for Atlético Buford the win solidifies their standing as early contenders and shows they can win with flair or fire.

Final Score

Atlético Buford — 2 — Cristian Suazo (2’ 52’)

Filial Pachuca Georgia — 1 — Brandon Arevalo (90+3’ PK)

After a tumultuous start following a 3-0 deficit in the first half of their first UPSL Fall game on the road in Columbus, the Georgia Revolution FC rebounded by scoring four unanswered goals to claim all three points against FC Columbus Elite. This win was capped off by scoring efforts from longtime Revolution forwards Alain Skerritt and Lennox Dixon, as well as the 2025 Spring Season’s MVP, Gustavo Atencio, who scored a brace in the second half to lift the Revs into the win column.

Revolution forward Alain Skerritt opened up the scoring for the Revolution right before the end of the first half, which kept the game competitive at a 3-1 scoreline going into the second half, where adjustments helped the Revs gain the confidence and form they needed to bounce back with three second-half goals from Atencio (2) and Dixon. Gustavo’s goal marks his 10th goal in his Georgia Revolution FC career, which now makes the striker tied for fourth place in the All-Time Scoring with former Rev and current GV Suns FC striker Callum Schorah. The Georgia Revolution FC also had debut appearances for midfielder Austin Anderson, defender Raymond Alleyne, and former Jamaican International player Jermaine Hue.

The Revolution now welcomes Snellville’s Kalonji Pro-Profile into Old Warhawk Stadium as they host their season opener right off the downtown of McDonough, Georgia. Kalonji Pro-Profile enters the match with two games played, having won their previous game 6-2 against Georgia Athletic SC at home, and holds a 1-0-1 record early in the season.

Admission is free for all to attend this Saturday’s regular season opener at Old Warhawk Stadium (401 Tomlinson St., McDonough, Georgia), and kickoff is slated for 7 pm EST. The game will also be broadcast live on the Georgia Revolution FC YouTube channel.

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The Augusta Arsenal Soccer Team rolled to a convincing 6-0 win over a scrappy Atlanta City FC Saturday afternoon at the Augusta Soccer Park.

The new season saw Augusta welcome numerous new faces in the lineup, a new Head Coach Dallas Dickerson, a new professional affiliation with the Augusta Arsenal youth soccer club, and their first competitive match since getting bounced out of the UPSL Georgia Division One playoffs last spring.

Despite all the changes, the same community-focused, soccer brotherhood of players, getting a chance to continue to play the game they love, was evident in all areas of the team’s performance today.

Augusta wasted little time in pinning the youthful Atlanta City side in their own end and this pressure paid off in the 10^th minute as Augusta’s #4 Kaynan Ibrahim ripped a thunderous shot through the Atlanta City’s goalkeeper’s arms for the 1-0 advantage.

A well-worked free kick from the edge of the penalty box bounced neatly far post for a crashing #29 Matthias Baladi to sweep into the net for the 2-0 Augusta lead in the 26^th minute. Augusta tacked on a third goal in the 37^th minute as #21 Alejandro Gonzalez torched the high Atlanta City defensive backline with a timely run to slot in the ball and send the game to the half with Augusta holding a comfortable 3-0 cushion.

The City fouls increased in the second half mostly on late challenges and desperate sliding tackles and Augusta used one of the moments to play a quick free kick from the midfield to catch the Atlanta City defense flat footed for their fourth goal. Augusta’s #4 Kaynan Ibrahim collected the quick pass forward and finished the play slotting the ball into the net despite the onrushing City goalkeeper for his brace.

Another goal from beating the high Atlanta City line came in the 86^th minute as #3 Austin Bryant slotted home a square ball neatly into the empty net after drawing the keeper out of position and despite the scrambling efforts of the recovering City defenders.

The final goal of the match was created in the 89^th minute off a corner kick as the ensuing scramble in the goalmouth rattled around for several touches until it was misplayed across the line as an Atlanta City own goal from the failed clearance.

Final Score 6-0 Augusta.

Adalphe Amehon went all 90 minutes in the Augusta nets earning the shutout with two very important saves during the second half. Both saves displayed his quick reaction skills to smother the low, driven shots without giving up any rebounds.

“The overall impression is that we have an idea (style of play) and we just need to trust the process,” said Augusta Head Coach Dallas Dickerson. “There were a lot of moments that could have been way better, but the first game, a brand-new team, creating that chemistry again…overall I’m happy with it.

When asked about any standout players Coach Dickerson said “All of them, I could say one or two, but this team is a brotherhood with all of them doing what I’m asking…I love it.”

Up next is a road match on September 21 in Columbus to play the Knight Eagles. Kickoff is at 6 PM at Russell County HS.

The match at Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts featured two teams with opposite identities: Scenic City, a possession-first developmental club on the rise; and FC Birmingham, a gritty counterattacking side back in the top flight after narrowly avoiding relegation.

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Fast Start, Quick Response

Scenic City wasted no time establishing their possession game, with both teams showing signs that neither side would go down easily. The opening goal came in the 27th minute, when a wide-swinging cross curved dangerously into Birmingham’s box. Goalkeeper Cosmas Uzoaru came off his line and collided with Scenic City striker Mattia Balzano at full pace. The ball was headed straight into the net.

Despite immediate appeals from the Scenic sideline and deliberation on the field, the goal stood. The referee ruled no foul, and replays confirmed the collision came just milliseconds after contact with the ball. The delay was brief, but tense, and Balzano exited the match with a lower leg injury.

Birmingham responded by abandoning the midfield battle entirely. Rather than attempt to match Scenic City’s composure on the ball, they pushed play wide and attacked vertically, forcing uncomfortable decisions from Scenic City’s back line.

The equalizer came in the 41st minute. A swift counterattack, launched from Birmingham’s own third, caught Scenic City’s defenders in transition. Tyrell Price made a sharp cut and buried a clean finish to level the score. Scenic City had dominated possession, but Birmingham drew even with a fraction of the time on the ball.

Second-Half Chess Match

The second half played out like a tactical duel between ideologies. Scenic City calmly moved the ball through the thirds, switching fields and probing the flanks, but too often their attacks stalled at the edge of the penalty area.

Birmingham, meanwhile, waited for the turnover and when it came, they struck. In the 60th minute, a speculative long ball turned into a scramble and a goal. Price scored his second of the night, giving Birmingham a 2-1 lead and marking their second goal from open play despite minimal possession during that stretch.

Scenic City again found themselves chasing a result. To their credit, they kept their heads. A relentless wave of possession finally broke through deep into stoppage time, when Adrick Hall found the equalizer in the 90th + 2 minute. With momentum swinging again, the hosts nearly found a winner on a stoppage-time free kick at the edge of the box, but Birmingham held firm.

Watch the equalizing goal here!

A Division Defined by Contrast

Saturday’s draw embodied the central tension of the UPSL Premier Division: What matters more — control or chaos?

Scenic City controlled the ball, tempo and territory for most of the night. But Birmingham made the most of what little they had, executing a game plan built not to dictate, but to disrupt.

The contrast was clear in the numbers, but also in the eye test. Scenic City’s players moved with chemistry, patience and youth. Birmingham moved with urgency and instinct.

Both clubs left with a point.

What Comes Next?

For Scenic City, the performance reinforced the promise of their system, but also its risk. Possession without end product can be punished quickly in a league where transition play is king.

For Birmingham, the result confirmed they are not just back in the division, they are back with purpose. They do not need to control the game to win it.

As the UPSL Georgia slate unfolds, expect more clashes between control and chaos, patience and pressure, possession and punch. If Saturday’s match was any indication, the line between these philosophies may be the most exciting battleground of all.

Scenic City SC kicks off its 2025 UPSL Fall season this Saturday when Birmingham FC visits Chattanooga. The game will kick off at 7pm at the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts field. The hosts come into the season on a high off a successful Spring campaign in which they won the UPSL Georgia Division One and earned promotion to the Premier Division. They’ll play this Fall in Georgia Zone 2.

I recently chatted with their co-founder, Joshua Luff, to talk about the club’s mission (on and off the field) and their hopes for the season.

We began talking a little about Joshua’s own journey in soccer.

Joshua: I grew up playing in the Chicagoland area and played soccer for some big clubs. As a kid of the 80s and 90s, I got a lot of exposure to top level youth and indoor professional soccer. That was what was available in those days. I was trained by some top level coaches especially playing Division 1 college soccer. There were no professional opportunities outside of the indoor game, and this wasn’t a life I wanted long-term. I had teammates go to Northwestern, Indiana, Navy, Cal State, Bowling Green and those guys were fully capable of Division 1 soccer.

I moved down to the Chattanooga area in 2019. My son was born in 2010 and has spent time with the Chattanooga FC Academy and Red Wolves ECNL Academy. I think highly of both clubs. MLS Next is fantastic for CFC and what the Red Wolves are doing with the fist team is very good. But there was a gap in coverage between Academies and first teams. That led myself and Nick Odeny to start up Scenic City. We both have regular full-time jobs but despite our limited resources and time we thought we could still make a difference. Chattanooga should be producing a lot more Division 1 and Pro soccer player. So, we’re trying to help push that along, in the most positive way possible. If you see a need, a way to fix it, go do it. That’s the mantra.

In a nutshell, what is the mission of Scenic City SC?

Joshua: To develop local players. For them to become pros or just go to college, even D3 schools. We want to give young men an avenue to get more battle tested in the game. A lot of colleges don’t recruit because kids in this country don’t have much experience beyond playing at youth levels. So why not fix that? It can’t just be a load of 2010s and 2009s playing grown men, there needs to be a blend of different age group opportunities. So, a solution to this problem is a mixed age group who want to play college and perhaps pro someday to move up the ranks and earn that place. A lot of people think kids become pros at 18 or 19, but most don’t until their 20s. Unfortunately, in the Southeast there’s not a lot of men’s college soccer. Things like the UPSL, NPSL, and USL League 2 help solve that.

What made Scenic City SC choose the UPSL over other options in the semi-pro landscape?

Joshua: NPSL is great, but in this region there’s a lot more travel involved. NISA Nation is also quite disparate right now, I’m hoping it grows. USL 2 is another fantastic league with unbelievable talent. I watched Vermont Green and thought they’re good enough to play USL 1 teams. Great fanbase, love seeing that for the game. But based on demographics and that ‘blended group’ I spoke about, UPSL is the best fit. If you want to get guys who are working a job and trying to play soccer, develop, or stay in good shape, the logistics matter. I was part of the group that was previously Chattanooga United, Nick and I then formed Scenic City. We chose to play in Georgia to reduce travel. Travelling to the likes of Southern Indiana was too much of a burden. High school and college students on their break could do it, but guys who are working couldn’t. So, for us, it became a matter of logistics. In USL 2 in this region the logistics aren’t bad, but they only play in the summer, we want to be year-round. But the presence of all these other leagues is great as we can draw from them to find opponents for friendly games.

We don’t intend to step into the academy scene. We’re never trying to compete with CFC or the Red Wolves. Maybe CFC will close the same gap we’re looking to as they also look at UPSL. Their mission will be different anyway, and that’s great.

The club’s debut campaign was the UPSL Division One Spring season. Having only lost one game, they advanced to the playoffs where Georgia Revolution and Georgia Impact were both vanquished. This culminated in the Georgia Final against Athletico Buford FC in late June. Playing at home, Scenic City won 2-1 and won promotion.

Tell me about your Spring Season. It was hugely successful.

Joshua: We only lost one game. Knowing the guys we had, I can’t say I’m totally surprised. We saw an incredibly overwhelming response from the guys who really bonded together. You know, Nick and I are not doing this for the money. We would run Scenic City as a non-profit if we could. Neither of us takes a coaching salary or pulls money out. It all goes in and back to the players who pay a little, which we try to keep manageable. It’s amazing when you see the guys pull together and you’ve built a true team, a true club where everybody has a role to play. Everybody did something and owned a part of that success. I may be ‘the leader’ and the ‘Head Coach’ but they were the ones to pull together and do it together, and I think it’s incredible. That’s what a team is all about, we carry each other.

We also talk about life skills all the time. I’ve been fortunate enough to be fairly successful in the business world and recently I sent a message to a friend who was a French national team player. I emailed him to thank him for all the things he taught me on the soccer field and how it helped me in life. If you apply lessons from the soccer field, you can be successful off it. Be hard working, dedicated, focused on improving, being honest with yourself. If you’re right footed and not good with your left; work to improve that! I want these guys to become the best they can be.

How has the roster build for Fall been going?

Joshua: We’re fortunate that, outside of several who’ve moved on to play college or do other things, it’s largely the same group as in Spring. Everybody else stayed. We picked up a few new guys who won’t replace them but add more. For Division One [their B team, more on that below] we’ve got a boatload of younger new players. Some will play High School in Spring, some will not and stay on with us.

So, we have 20 guys, and now another 20 new guys with the Division One team. Bringing the new guys in is a new challenge, and we want to overcome it. We have an original core where there’s great trust and a bond. Now we’re trying to integrate 20 people into that. What’s great to see is many of the original guys stepping up and asking, “How can I help?”

You face some tough opponents in your division.

Joshua: There are some great teams, great talent. To prepare for them we’ll continue to build and work together as a unit. We know the results will follow the hard work and prep we put in. If and when we do lose or tie or don’t get the three points we’d hoped to achieve, we’ll use it as an opportunity to learn. We try to find that every single week, regardless. That’s where you can see a team grow, from the losses.

But even in the wins. After we win, I ask them what could we have done better. We know what we did right, but what can we do better? When you lose, you always question everything: what if this, what if that, what about that missed opportunity, that red card, etc. But from a life lessons standpoint, learning from success is as important as learning from failure.

You know, last season everybody took away a lot from that single loss we had. I can live with a loss if people learn life lessons. That really caused people to think we could have controlled this; we could have done better. It’ll be the same mantra for the Fall. We’ll aim to be a lot more focused on controlling what we can control, rather than the things we can’t. I don’t want to put expectations, just as we didn’t last year. We want to go out, control our game and do our jobs. Everyone plays their part, we’ll figure it out together.

Why is Scenic City also launching a B team this Fall?

Joshua: We always wanted to get to the point of having two teams, at some point. In Spring we were fortunate enough to win and get promoted. We’re thankful for that and it was a fun season to be part of. But ultimately the real goal was to have two teams. One team will be more competitive and play for the wins. The other can still be focused on winning games but have a little more focus on development, getting used to our style, and getting some game time.

Both teams train together, that’s an important point. While there will be some separation for little parts, it’s important not just to develop the Division One guys but that they learn how the entire squad works and that they get to know fellas in the Premier Division team so they’re familiar with them when they eventually make the step-up.

Are you hoping to see fans at Scenic City games? Why should they come?

Joshua: Yes, we’re definitely hoping for fans to come out. Last season we had some good turnouts, especially in the Playoffs. We would love to get more community involvement but that’s a struggle since we’re so club oriented and we focus so much on player development. I’ve not done the best job on social media, and we don’t want to spend precious funds on that. The money and time we have we put into the players and the team. We hope the team themselves spread the word. We hope this article helps spread the word. We’ve got some talented high school photographers who come and post on social media. Ultimately, we want the club to be community based and built. While we can’t pay for a lot of things, we can build it together.

It will be $5 for admission at the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts soccer field. Our Division One games will be there also and we’ve a tentative schedule blocked off with CSLA where we’re hoping to have both teams play the same day. CSLA has been really great. We’re also hoping to provide some concessions.

And finally, where do you want to see Scenic City SC in five years?

Joshua: I’d really like for guys to come back five years from now saying they’ve accomplished their goals and their dreams. For them to have played Division 1 college soccer or just got more time in college than they would have done otherwise. We had one player last year that got opportunities to trial with some MLS academies, because they saw he was playing-up in age and he was performing. Our top scorer last season was a 2010. He’s playing for Baylor [High School] now in the Spring, hopefully he’ll have success there because he’s more ready due to having played for us.

I’d like more community involvement. Hopefully more in the way of resources and other things, people to pitch-in any way they can. And from the players’ perspective, not just accolades but being able to say, “I learned a ton from that” and it translates into whatever career they chose.

The Southeast Soccer Report will be providing coverage of Scenic City’s maiden Premier Division season this Fall. The opening game of the regular season kicks off Saturday evening (September 6th) at Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts. The visiting opposition will be FC Birmingham at kick-off will be 7pm (Eastern). Entrance is only $5.

You can follow Scenic City SC’s journey on Instagram (@sceniccitysc) and their website (https://www.sceniccitysc.com/). My thanks to Joshua for his time and to Evan Strand for the banner photo. You can follow Evan on Instagram (@shotsbystrand).

Officially for the Fall 2025 season, the UPSL Georgia Conference (Premier Division) will increase to a total of 16 teams from 14 and will see the return of the Atlanta United Academy.

The Conference will be split into two separate zones of 8. The top 4 teams in each zone will qualify for the playoffs, with the bottom team in each being relegated to Georgia Division 1. The winner of the conference playoffs will enter the first round of the UPSL National Playoffs.

The schedule for the fall season is expected to release soon. Each participating club will play everyone in their zone once and everyone in a designated sub-group twice, home and away, for a total of 10 regular season matches.

The members of each zone are listed below.

Premier Division Zone 1

1. Atletico Buford SC

2. Atlanta Fire United FC

3. FC Columbus Elite

4. Georgia Athletic SC

5. Georgia Impact SC

6. Georgia Revolution FC

7. Kalonji Pro-Profile

8. Pachuca Georgia

Premier Division Zone 2:

1. Atlanta United Academy

2. FC Birmingham

3. Dalton United FC

4. Limeno Georgia

5. North Georgia United FC

6. Potros FC

7. Scenic City FC

8. Soccer Saves Lives FC

You may notice some expected teams missing and surprise inclusions on the list.

Chattanooga FC announced their intention to field their second team in UPSL Georgia, but have decided to start in Division 1 rather than Premier.

Fountain City FC out of Columbus dissolved to merge with spring season finalists UMA FC. UMA requested to skip the fall season in Premier and will only have a Division 1 and women’s team.

FC Birmingham were given the choice to stay in the Premier Division, even though they were set to be relegated, due to the increase in teams. They accepted. The other potential team relegated, Albion SC Atlanta, did not register for the fall season.

Atlanta Fire United earned the first automatic promotion spot by topping Division 1 in the spring regular season. Scenic City FC earned the second by winning the playoff final.

With two extra spots in the top division, Atletico Buford qualified as the playoff runner-up. Finally, Georgia Impact, who finished 4th in the Georgia North Zone behind the 3 promoted clubs, were invited up for the final spot. Middle Georgia United, Champions of the Georgia South Zone, and others did not meet the financial or competitive requirements.

It’s an era of change for UPSL Georgia, and it’s one that favors regionality and rivalries while making the stakes higher than ever before.