Brad Friedel stretches with campers last Thursday at his Premier Soccer Academy in Lorain. The former Bay and UCLA star, who still plays professionally, has transformed an old golf course into a world-class soccer training facility. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Friedel’s dream becomes reality
By Jim Horvath
Sports
Published June 25, 2008

There was a time when Brad Friedel’s Premier Soccer Academy was simply a vision. Now that his vision is a reality, he’s providing an opportunity for young soccer players to realize visions of their own success.

Friedel, a native of Bay Village and a 17-year professional soccer goalie in the English Premier League, took that vision to nearby Lorain. An outdated golf course has been magically transformed into PSA’s headquarters and first location in the United States.

The sprawling facility, which includes living quarters for players and coaches, outdoors fields and a massive fieldhouse, opened last August. Recently, PSA began to build its identity with the local soccer scene by bringing in its first non-resident class of young players from the area.

Matt Foldesy of North Olmsted and Brendan Cash of Westlake were the two Westshore area players chosen for the Academy’s first non-resident class. The other three were Andy Souders of Amherst, Zach Martin of Avon Lake and Vlad Lekareva of Strongsville. They will attend their local schools (Martin will attend St. Ignatius), but commute to PSA and train with its coaching staff.

In August, PSA will celebrate its first year with an eight-team World Youth Tournament. Eight Under 16 teams will compete for eight days at the facility’s stadium beginning Sunday, August 10. Group A consists of Chivas of Mexico, the Nigerian National Team, Rush Select XI from the western United States and the Venezuelan National Team. Group B has the PSA squad, Blackburn Rovers Academy from the United Kingdom, the Chile National Team and Club America from Mexico.

All of this activity comes under the watchful eye of PSA’s Chief Operating Officer Craig Umland, a former executive with IMG in Cleveland.

“Brad’s very, very commited to this project. Not too many professional athletes would do what he’s doing while still playing,” said Umland as he observed Friedel and a number of PSA and local coaches run a summer soccer camp. “And he wanted to make sure to integrate Northeast Ohio players into our program. This is his home, and he really wants to give back to the community.”

The first group of non-resident players at Premier Soccer Academy in Lorain are, left to right, Andrew Souders of Amherst, Vlad Lekareva of Strongsville, Brendan Cash of Westlake, Zach Martin of Avon Lake and Matt Foldesy of North Olmsted. (Photo courtesy of Beth Cash)

The international players are housed at the complex and live in the dormitory upstairs. There are four coaches who actually live at the facility as well, along with a house family who help give a family-type atmosphere to players who are far from home. There is a full kitchen and dining area downstairs, along with a laundry facility for the players’ practice and game uniforms.

The players, however, are responsible for their own personal laundry, as well as keeping their rooms, lounge area and learning center clean, said Umland.

“We’re not about raising prima donnas here. We teach them to be responsible,” he said.

Security is tight, with combination entries and security cameras everywhere. It’s all about providing a safe atmosphere for the players and staff, he said. “These kids are thousands of miles away from home,” said Umland. “We’re responsible for them, and parents want to know their kids are safe here.

“These players come from a variety of backgrounds,” said Umland. “You get some of them who came from zero. They’ve been playing the game on a dirt field in Africa with no shoes. They come here and it makes a pretty big impression on them. Word is spreading about what we have going here, and that is to provide top-notch training for the serious soccer player who wants to move on to a higher level, whether that be professional or getting a scholarship to play at the collegiate level.”

Players are recruited based on ability and skill level, not the parents’ ability to pay. They sign on for a one-year scholarship, which can be revoked at any time by PSA, according to Umland. “It happened once last September,” he said. “We had one young man, one of our better players, who had a number of problems. He didn’t do his school work and had a run-in with one of our younger players.

“We tried to work with him, but after a point we said enough is enough, and he was sent home,” he added.

All the players, whether living on campus or commuting, receive the same training, said Umland. The local players are not permitted to play sports for their local high schools during the time they are training with PSA.

The growth of the complex since its opening has people taking notice, he added, estimating that over 23,000 people have come through the facility since last August.

“I think people were skeptical at first that this would actually get built,” said Umland. “When we were looking for a spot to build, the price of land here was more reasonable than, say, in Bay Village. With Route 2, Route 58 and the Turnpike, we’re pretty easy to get to. And with the local economy hurting and many manufacturing jobs leaving here, we’re able to fill a void.

“We feel we’re a positive thing for the community. People around the country and the world see a brochure about PSA or visit our Web site and see this beautiful $10 million facility, then see ‘Lorain, Ohio.’ I think we’re bringing in a new breath of fresh air to the area,” he said.

And more people. The facility has been rented to several groups, including high school soccer and football teams. Ticket sales for the August tournament have been brisk, according to Umland. Tickets are $7 per day for two matches, with a price of $12 being charged for the final matches on Aug. 17. A PSA season ticket is also available for purchase for $55, which gets spectators into all matches.

Tickets can be purchased by calling PSA at (440) 282-2007 or by mailing in a completed ticket order form. That form is available by logging on to www.gopsa.com and clicking on the PSA World Youth Tournament menu tab.