2020-2021 Season Overview
Our program had to adapt significantly during the 2020-2021 season due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. We began preseason in August in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, training at the facilities of Club Med. For one month, we held daily training sessions under the guidance of Rodolfo Rodriguez, now a valued member of our current coaching staff—each week concluded with sand training at the beach, followed by ocean recovery sessions to relax and rejuvenate.
In October 2020, we relocated to Belgrade, Serbia, for the first time. We stayed in a hotel in the city center with a short commute to our training fields at Ada Park. Our coach, a former player and coach of Red Star Belgrade, helped our team acclimate to the European style of play and intensity. By late November and early December, our performances against Division 1 professional academies began attracting attention from local scouts and agents. In January 2021, five of our players were invited to trial with Red Star Belgrade's U19 Pro Academy, competing against some of Europe's top youth talents—part of Red Star's renowned "Golden Generation."
Our players held their own and gained invaluable experience at the club. Although two players were selected to join the academy, they could not sign only the transfer deadline due to the extensive paperwork required for international transfers to Serbian clubs.
In February 2021, we resumed the season in Cali, Colombia, as COVID-19 restrictions had tightened, preventing us from traveling to Serbia. Colombia, known for its rich football culture, provided the ideal environment for our program to continue. Our players had an unforgettable experience both on and off the field. Despite the pandemic, we organized several cultural excursions while adhering to safety protocols. We competed weekly, and sometimes twice a week, against top academy teams, including America de Cali and Deportivo Cali—Division 1 professional academies renowned for producing some of Colombia's finest football talent.
In October We moved to Belgrade, Serbia for the first time. We lived in a hotel in the city center and had a short commute to our fields in Ada Park, Belgrade. Our Coach was a former Red Star player and coach. In our first few months, our team started to adapt to the European style of play and intensity. In the end of November and Early December are performances against 1st Division Pro academies were garnering attention from local scouts and agents. In January 2021, 5 players were selected for Red Star Belgrade’s u19 Pro academy for a 1–2-month tryout. The 2002-2003 age group at the time had some of Europe’s biggest youth talents; titled Red Stars’s golden generation. Our players held their own and had a extremely valuable experience at the club. Two players were selected to join, however due to the large amount of transfer paperwork needed for international players to be accepted into Serbian clubs. Our players were not able to sign before the transfer deadline.
Our 4 players are on a 30-day trial with the biggest club in Eastern Europe
Arrival in Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is a city where history meets modern life. The city center is filled with a mix of old and new buildings, from grand Austro-Hungarian architecture to bold Yugoslav designs. One of the most famous landmarks is the Temple of Saint Sava, a massive Orthodox church that is one of the largest in the world. Its bright white walls and large green dome make it a key part of the city’s skyline. Nearby, Knez Mihailova Street is a lively pedestrian area with shops, cafes, and cultural spots, offering a taste of Belgrade’s vibrant daily life.
Close to the center is Skadarlija, Belgrade’s bohemian quarter, which gives a glimpse into the city’s artistic side. This charming street is known for its traditional restaurants, or kafanas, many of which have live folk music. Skadarlija has a unique old-world charm, recalling the city’s rich cultural past. Belgrade’s culture blends Serbian traditions, Orthodox Christianity, and influences from both Eastern and Western Europe, making it a city full of history, art, and creativity.
Training/Game Facility
Our academy made great use of the football facilities at Ada Ciganlija for both training and games. The well-maintained fields provided an ideal environment for our players to develop their skills, offering plenty of space for individual drills as well as full-team practices. The peaceful, green surroundings of Ada helped create a focused and calm setting where our players could work on their technique, fitness, and teamwork in a relaxed yet productive atmosphere.
We also held competitive games at Ada, where the fields served as the perfect venue for matches against other teams from the region. The high-quality playing surface and ample space for spectators made it a great place for hosting exciting games. The lively, sporty atmosphere of Ada added to the experience, allowing our players to enjoy football in a dynamic environment that encouraged both enjoyment and growth in their development.
Friendly Match vs Vozdovac Serbian Super League Club U19 Pro Academy
We Resumed the 2020-2021 season in February in Cali, Colombia. Covid-19 had gotten more serious at its height, and we were unable to get Americans into Serbia. Colombia was one of the few countries that was available and had a strong Football culture. Our Players had a fantastic experience on and off the field. We had as many cultural trips as we could manage with Covid-19 in mind. We played some of the top Academy teams in Colombia every week sometimes twice. Some to name, America de Cali and Deportivo Cali, Div 1 Pro academies that produce some of Colombia’s biggest talents.
