Soccer’s impact extends well beyond the pitch. It brings communities together. It creates friendships. Through the game and the work that goes into it, players can form important bonds with each other. For young footballers Jaeden Vang, Ethan Xiong, Jacob Thao and Christopher Vang, joining the MNUFC Development Academy has given them a chance to not only compete at a higher level, but become part of something bigger than just the game.
Not that the transition to the Academy was without its own challenges.
“The biggest challenge coming to the Academy was not knowing a ton of the players here after coming from a small club,” said Xiong.