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North Carolina FC forward Hadji Barry left his family at age 13 to pursue an education and play football in the United States. The Conakry, Guinea native reconstructs his journey and the challenges that he had to overcome to achieve his lifetime dream of becoming a professional footballer.

Hadji Barry was about to turn 14 when his parents put him on a one-way flight from Guinea, West Africa to New York in September of 2006. That day, Conakry International Airport saw Barry heartbreakingly leave behind his mother, Mariame, brother, Ibrahima, and sister, Djenabou, to begin a new life in the United States.

“I remember crying before saying goodbye,” said Barry. “Back then, I didn’t know it would take 10 years to see them again.”

North Carolina FC forward Hadji Barry left his family at age 13 to pursue an education and play football in the United States. The Conakry, Guinea native reconstructs his journey and the challenges that he had to overcome to achieve his lifetime dream of becoming a professional footballer.

Hadji Barry was about to turn 14 when his parents put him on a one-way flight from Guinea, West Africa to New York in September of 2006. That day, Conakry International Airport saw Barry heartbreakingly leave behind his mother, Mariame, brother, Ibrahima, and sister, Djenabou, to begin a new life in the United States.

“I remember crying before saying goodbye,” said Barry. “Back then, I didn’t know it would take 10 years to see them again.”

A lanyard around Barry’s neck carried an “unaccompanied minor” tag, which allowed the airport personnel to escort him through security and to the departure gate. Unable to speak a word of English, he remembers the time in the air going by very slowly.

“I was sitting by myself the whole time on the plane,” he said. “I couldn’t talk to anyone.”

Twenty hours later, Barry landed on the other side of the world. His mother’s friend, Djariou, picked him up at John F. Kennedy International Airport and drove him to Rochester, a city located 330 miles northwest of New York City. Here, his uncle, Amadou, and aunt, Ramatoulaye, assumed legal custody of him.

“I had the luck of being with my uncle and aunt who treated me like a child,” he said.

From that day on, Barry used international prepaid calling cards to communicate with his family in Guinea. But he was never able to say much to his mother during these calls, as he could not keep himself from sobbing every time he heard her voice on the other end of the phone.

“If you asked me how I did it all today, I don’t know,” he said.

A lanyard around Barry’s neck carried an “unaccompanied minor” tag, which allowed the airport personnel to escort him through security and to the departure gate. Unable to speak a word of English, he remembers the time in the air going by very slowly.

“I was sitting by myself the whole time on the plane,” he said. “I couldn’t talk to anyone.”

Twenty hours later, Barry landed on the other side of the world. His mother’s friend, Djariou, picked him up at John F. Kennedy International Airport and drove him to Rochester, a city located 330 miles northwest of New York City. Here, his uncle, Amadou, and aunt, Ramatoulaye, assumed legal custody of him.

“I had the luck of being with my uncle and aunt who treated me like a child,” he said.

From that day on, Barry used international prepaid calling cards to communicate with his family in Guinea. But he was never able to say much to his mother during these calls, as he could not keep himself from sobbing every time he heard her voice on the other end of the phone.

“If you asked me how I did it all today, I don’t know,” he said.

The following 10 years featured several academic and sporting accomplishments for Barry. He graduated from Rochester’s Greece Olympia High School in 2011 and completed an associate degree in Business from Monroe Community College two years later. His footballing talent eventually earned him a scholarship at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, where he became an NCAA Division I student-athlete.

However, it was not until January 14, 2016, that Barry was able to see a decade of sacrifices suddenly materialize before his eyes.

That day, the city of Baltimore hosted the 17th edition of the MLS SuperDraft. Barry, who feared going undrafted, decided not to attend the ceremony in person and instead streamed the event on YouTube from his house in Rochester.

“I was nervous,” he said. “I didn't want to go (to the draft ceremony) and maybe not get picked. It would have been embarrassing.”

The anticipation in the room increased when DC United, who had the draft’s 13th pick, called a timeout to negotiate a trade with Orlando City SC, a club that knew Barry very well from his performances with the Under-23 team.

It was during that timeout that Barry’s phone began buzzing.

“I felt the phone ringing but I didn’t want to look at it,” he said.

Unable to unglue his eyes from the television screen, Barry was now giving his undivided attention to MLS commissioner Don Garber, who eventually grabbed the microphone.

“With the 13th pick at the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, Orlando City SC selects from the University of Central Florida forward Hadji Barry,” Garber said.

Barry sprang from the couch and burst into tears. But as he was hugging his aunt and uncle in excitement, his first thought inevitably went to his parents. He realized that a professional contract was going to give him the chance to purchase a ticket to Guinea and finally reunite with his family.

In December 2016, more than a decade after his departure from Conakry, Barry returned home. To this day, he still struggles to put into words the emotions that overwhelmed him during that moment.

“As soon as I saw my family, I was in tears of joy,” he said. “My mom cried too, which made me cry even more.”

The following 10 years featured several academic and sporting accomplishments for Barry. He graduated from Rochester’s Greece Olympia High School in 2011 and completed an associate degree in Business from Monroe Community College two years later. His footballing talent eventually earned him a scholarship at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, where he became an NCAA Division I student-athlete.

However, it was not until January 14, 2016, that Barry was able to see a decade of sacrifices suddenly materialize before his eyes.

That day, the city of Baltimore hosted the 17th edition of the MLS SuperDraft. Barry, who feared going undrafted, decided not to attend the ceremony in person and instead streamed the event on YouTube from his house in Rochester.

“I was nervous,” he said. “I didn’t want to go (to the draft ceremony) and maybe not get picked. It would have been embarrassing.”

The anticipation in the room increased when DC United, who had the draft’s 13th pick, called a timeout to negotiate a trade with Orlando City SC, a club that knew Barry very well from his performances with the Under-23 team.

It was during that timeout that Barry’s phone began buzzing.

“I felt the phone ringing but I didn’t want to look at it,” he said.

Unable to unglue his eyes from the television screen, Barry was now giving his undivided attention to MLS commissioner Don Garber, who eventually grabbed the microphone.

“With the 13th pick at the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, Orlando City SC selects from the University of Central Florida forward Hadji Barry,” Garber said.

Barry sprang from the couch and burst into tears. But as he was hugging his aunt and uncle in excitement, his first thought inevitably went to his parents. He realized that a professional contract was going to give him the chance to purchase a ticket to Guinea and finally reunite with his family.

In December 2016, more than a decade after his departure from Conakry, Barry returned home. To this day, he still struggles to put into words the emotions that overwhelmed him during that moment.

“As soon as I saw my family, I was in tears of joy,” he said. “My mom cried too, which made me cry even more.”

Barry has been diligently observing the Ramadan fasting practices over the past three weeks of quarantine. Every evening, from his apartment in Cary, N.C., he waits for the sun to set to break his 16-hour abstinence from food and water. After an entire day without eating or drinking, he explains, even a simple plate of rice and chicken tastes delicious.

North Carolina FC’s style of play is one of the biggest reasons why he decided to come to Raleigh. A versatile attacking footballer, Barry can play both as a “9” and a winger in coach Dave Sarachan’s 4-1-4-1 formation. This year, Barry plans to score 20 goals and beat his personal record of 17, which he set during the 2018 USL season with Swope Park Rangers.

Most importantly, he wants his goals to carry NCFC to the USL Championship final.

“I want us to make a deeper run (in the playoffs),” he said. “And, hopefully, that leads to winning the chip.”

After all the challenges he has overcome, Barry will not let anything, not even a pandemic, get in the way of achieving his goals.

Barry has been diligently observing the Ramadan fasting practices over the past three weeks of quarantine. Every evening, from his apartment in Cary, N.C., he waits for the sun to set to break his 16-hour abstinence from food and water. After an entire day without eating or drinking, he explains, even a simple plate of rice and chicken tastes delicious.

North Carolina FC’s style of play is one of the biggest reasons why he decided to come to Raleigh. A versatile attacking footballer, Barry can play both as a “9” and a winger in coach Dave Sarachan’s 4-1-4-1 formation. This year, Barry plans to score 20 goals and beat his personal record of 17, which he set during the 2018 USL season with Swope Park Rangers.

Most importantly, he wants his goals to carry NCFC to the USL Championship final.

“I want us to make a deeper run (in the playoffs),” he said. “And, hopefully, that leads to winning the chip.”

After all the challenges he has overcome, Barry will not let anything, not even a pandemic, get in the way of achieving his goals.

Cary, NC (May 18, 2020)- Players of North Carolina FC pull into spread out parking spots before training and wait for the heavy rain to cease. The team is about to begin their second week of small group training, where they can train in groups of four on team fields for the first time since March. The rain slowed up and eventually stopped right before the start of training. Players grabbed their gear from their cars and hit the wet pitch. 

COVID-19 forced NCFC to halt their season after just one match on March 7. Since then players have only been able to participate in individual training.

North Carolina FC’s players have been making the most of their time off the field by hosting Zoom calls with NCFC Youth Academy teams. Each player had a call with a different age group, sharing tips with the youth players and answering their questions. Most players were asked about the topic of returning to play. The answer was always unknown, but now the team and the league are taking a step in the right direction.

The players have patiently waited for the day they could train again, but now that the time has come, they have another challenge ahead as Tropical Storm Arthur sends rain North Carolina’s way.

In a typical North Carolina FC fashion, the team remains positive despite the challenges. The group’s positivity radiates during training like the sun peeking through the storm clouds. DJ Taylor, Dre Fortune, and Akeem Ward keep their teammates’ spirits up and help motivate them by blasting music from a large speaker that can be heard from four fields away.

Alex Comsia, Daniele Proch, and Manny Perez challenge themselves to see how many juggles they can get in before training begins. Each group challenges themselves to similar tasks, coaching each other and pushing each other to get better with each touch taken on the ball.

“It’s been great to see the guys and get some touches on the ball,” said NCFC defender Caleb Duvernay who has been working a full-time job on the side when he’s not playing soccer.

At one point during the session, Robby Kristo missed the net and accidentally sent a hard-driven ball right into the back of Duvernay who was collecting the group’s soccer balls. The two had a good laugh and joked that Duvernay would likely have a “ball mark tattoo” for several days. Similar interactions happened in several groups as everyone was very excited to be with one another.

“We are all excited that we can take some steps forward to get on the field and out of the house,” said Steven Miller. “There is so much uncertainty right now so any positive steps we can take is refreshing and makes this a little bit easier mentally.”

Like the rose bushes that surrounded the practice field, North Carolina FC provided some color on a dreary day, as the team continues to keep their hopes up and look to the future. A little rain can’t stop 22 players that are eager to get back to the game they love.

Cary, NC (May 18, 2020)- Players of North Carolina FC pull into spread out parking spots before training and wait for the heavy rain to cease. The team is about to begin their second week of small group training, where they can train in groups of four on team fields for the first time since March. The rain slowed up and eventually stopped right before the start of training. Players grabbed their gear from their cars and hit the wet pitch. 

COVID-19 forced NCFC to halt their season after just one match on March 7. Since then players have only been able to participate in individual training.

North Carolina FC’s players have been making the most of their time off the field by hosting Zoom calls with NCFC Youth Academy teams. Each player had a call with a different age group, sharing tips with the youth players and answering their questions. Most players were asked about the topic of returning to play. The answer was always unknown, but now the team and the league are taking a step in the right direction.

The players have patiently waited for the day they could train again, but now that the time has come, they have another challenge ahead as Tropical Storm Arthur sends rain North Carolina’s way.

In a typical North Carolina FC fashion, the team remains positive despite the challenges. The group’s positivity radiates during training like the sun peeking through the storm clouds. DJ Taylor, Dre Fortune, and Akeem Ward keep their teammates’ spirits up and help motivate them by blasting music from a large speaker that can be heard from four fields away.

Alex Comsia, Daniele Proch, and Manny Perez challenge themselves to see how many juggles they can get in before training begins. Each group challenges themselves to similar tasks, coaching each other and pushing each other to get better with each touch taken on the ball.

“It’s been great to see the guys and get some touches on the ball,” said NCFC defender Caleb Duvernay who has been working a full-time job on the side when he’s not playing soccer.

At one point during the session, Robby Kristo missed the net and accidentally sent a hard-driven ball right into the back of Duvernay who was collecting the group’s soccer balls. The two had a good laugh and joked that Duvernay would likely have a “ball mark tattoo” for several days. Similar interactions happened in several groups as everyone was very excited to be with one another.

“We are all excited that we can take some steps forward to get on the field and out of the house,” said Steven Miller. “There is so much uncertainty right now so any positive steps we can take is refreshing and makes this a little bit easier mentally.”

Like the rose bushes that surrounded the practice field, North Carolina FC provided some color on a dreary day, as the team continues to keep their hopes up and look to the future. A little rain can’t stop 22 players that are eager to get back to the game they love.

Did you know that North Carolina Courage's two-time MVP Denise O’Sullivan developed most of her footballing skills playing pick-up games near her house? 

The Knocknaheeny, Ireland native speaks about the lessons that she learned during her street football days, including how that experience turned her into the resilient midfielder that we admire today.

Did you know that North Carolina Courage’s two-time MVP Denise O’Sullivan developed most of her footballing skills playing pick-up games near her house? 

The Knocknaheeny, Ireland native speaks about the lessons that she learned during her street football days, including how that experience turned her into the resilient midfielder that we admire today.

The field where 6-year-old O’Sullivan kicked her first football shares nothing with the seamless turf of WakeMed Soccer Park. A triangular stretch of uneven grass sitting in the middle of Knocknaheeny’s colorful detached houses, Courtown Park was not designed for kids to play football.

“It was bumpy, with tall trees in the middle that we had to play around,” O’Sullivan remembers. 

The park lacked all the essential elements of a football pitch, including goals and sidelines to help determine whether the ball rolled out of bounds.  

“We would use sweaters as goal posts,” she said. “And we would play until the ball would go off the field and onto the concrete.”

The conditions of the grass were irrelevant for O’Sullivan and her older brothers, John Paul, Mark, and David, who never turned down a chance to join the crowd of kids playing pick-up football after school. The games were particularly intense when the O’Sullivans were split into opposing teams.

“It was always really competitive (with my brothers),” she said. “Sometimes they would shout at me and I would get mad and shout back at them.”

The afternoon at the park always went by too quickly for O’Sullivan, who could run up and down that bumpy field for hours without getting tired. She recalls catching her breath only when the white ice-cream van circled around the block.

“We would take a break, eat ice cream, and go back to playing,” she said.

The day at the field ended when her mother, Nuala, opened the front door and gave her and her brothers a shout, telling them to come inside to eat dinner. By then, the sky over Courtown Park had gotten so dark that the kids could barely see the football. 

Growing up, O’Sullivan carried the stigma of the girl who played what was widely considered a sport for men. To this day, she can still hear the Knocknaheeny boys grumbling any time she asked to join a pick-up game.

“Come on, she really can’t play football,” they used to say about her.

Such stereotypes fueled O’Sullivan’s desire to show off her talent. With her elusive dribbling, the blonde girl in white-and-silver Nike “Total 90” boots regularly caused the crowd of boys to fall silent.

“I used to always surprise them [the boys],” she said. “They were stronger and faster, but I was technically better than them.”

Competing against boys taught O’Sullivan several skills that she employs nowadays as a holding midfielder in the North Carolina Courage’s 4-4-2 formation. Her toughness, she explains, comes from those days at Courtown Park, when it was usual for strong challenges on her to go unpunished.

“I would be always falling playing against the boys,” she said laughing. “Sometimes they would knock me over [and] I would have scratches all over my knees.”

O’Sullivan’s ball distribution also benefited from playing against faster and physically stronger kids. She learned that spending little time on the ball is key for a midfielder that wants to avoid attracting pressure from the opponents.

“[Back then] you’d only have one or two touches and there would be a boy smashing you,” she said. “So, you'd have to let the ball go fast.”

Now 26 and in her fifth season as a professional footballer, O’Sullivan is one of the highest-ranked midfielders in the world. She has hoisted two National Women’s Soccer League championship trophies and is the number 10 for the Republic of Ireland national team, which is currently sitting atop group “I” of the 2022 UEFA European Women's Championship qualifying stage. 

Despite having achieved global recognition as a footballer, O’Sullivan still looks back nostalgically at those days at Courtown Park. She admits that seeing the younger generations abandon the pick-up football tradition is painful.

“Kids nowadays play more PlayStation, or they have their phones,” she said. “It can distract them from going out and playing street soccer.”

Once the quarantine is over, O’Sullivan strongly advises young footballers to get outdoors and rediscover the beauty of playing pick-up games in streets or parks. In her view, there is no better place for footballers to build resilience and unleash creativity.

Who knows, perhaps that mentality will create another future MVP of the Courage.

The field where 6-year-old O’Sullivan kicked her first football shares nothing with the seamless turf of WakeMed Soccer Park. A triangular stretch of uneven grass sitting in the middle of Knocknaheeny’s colorful detached houses, Courtown Park was not designed for kids to play football.

“It was bumpy, with tall trees in the middle that we had to play around,” O’Sullivan remembers. 

The park lacked all the essential elements of a football pitch, including goals and sidelines to help determine whether the ball rolled out of bounds.  

“We would use sweaters as goal posts,” she said. “And we would play until the ball would go off the field and onto the concrete.”

The conditions of the grass were irrelevant for O’Sullivan and her older brothers, John Paul, Mark, and David, who never turned down a chance to join the crowd of kids playing pick-up football after school. The games were particularly intense when the O’Sullivans were split into opposing teams.

“It was always really competitive (with my brothers),” she said. “Sometimes they would shout at me and I would get mad and shout back at them.”

The afternoon at the park always went by too quickly for O’Sullivan, who could run up and down that bumpy field for hours without getting tired. She recalls catching her breath only when the white ice-cream van circled around the block.

“We would take a break, eat ice cream, and go back to playing,” she said.

The day at the field ended when her mother, Nuala, opened the front door and gave her and her brothers a shout, telling them to come inside to eat dinner. By then, the sky over Courtown Park had gotten so dark that the kids could barely see the football. 

Growing up, O’Sullivan carried the stigma of the girl who played what was widely considered a sport for men. To this day, she can still hear the Knocknaheeny boys grumbling any time she asked to join a pick-up game.

“Come on, she really can’t play football,” they used to say about her.

Such stereotypes fueled O’Sullivan’s desire to show off her talent. With her elusive dribbling, the blonde girl in white-and-silver Nike “Total 90” boots regularly caused the crowd of boys to fall silent.

“I used to always surprise them [the boys],” she said. “They were stronger and faster, but I was technically better than them.”

Competing against boys taught O’Sullivan several skills that she employs nowadays as a holding midfielder in the North Carolina Courage’s 4-4-2 formation. Her toughness, she explains, comes from those days at Courtown Park, when it was usual for strong challenges on her to go unpunished.

“I would be always falling playing against the boys,” she said laughing. “Sometimes they would knock me over [and] I would have scratches all over my knees.”

O’Sullivan’s ball distribution also benefited from playing against faster and physically stronger kids. She learned that spending little time on the ball is key for a midfielder that wants to avoid attracting pressure from the opponents.

“[Back then] you’d only have one or two touches and there would be a boy smashing you,” she said. “So, you’d have to let the ball go fast.”

Now 26 and in her fifth season as a professional footballer, O’Sullivan is one of the highest-ranked midfielders in the world. She has hoisted two National Women’s Soccer League championship trophies and is the number 10 for the Republic of Ireland national team, which is currently sitting atop group “I” of the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Championship qualifying stage. 

Despite having achieved global recognition as a footballer, O’Sullivan still looks back nostalgically at those days at Courtown Park. She admits that seeing the younger generations abandon the pick-up football tradition is painful.

“Kids nowadays play more PlayStation, or they have their phones,” she said. “It can distract them from going out and playing street soccer.”

Once the quarantine is over, O’Sullivan strongly advises young footballers to get outdoors and rediscover the beauty of playing pick-up games in streets or parks. In her view, there is no better place for footballers to build resilience and unleash creativity.

Who knows, perhaps that mentality will create another future MVP of the Courage.

We miss our fans! Our players, coaches, and staff look forward to the day we can all spend time at WakeMed Soccer Park again. Until then, we would like to invite you to join us for an episode of our "At Home With" series, a virtual reunion of fans with their favorite players.

This series, hosted by Dean Linke, will feature a different NCFC player each week, with the specific player being revealed on the day of each episode! An interview will be conducted with each player giving you further insight into the player’s lives, how they’re managing the delay of the season, and fun stories from their quarantines. Fans will also be able to submit questions throughout the episode for the player to answer live.

Each episode has a capacity, so we request that you only sign up for the episode that best suits your schedule. 

Please select a time below and secure your spot by using the registration link:

Thursday, May 14- 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20- 5:30 p.m.
Friday, May 29- 6:00 p.m.

Registration Link: https://www.northcarolinafc.com/athome

All registered fans will receive a unique link via email the day before the episode. We look forward to having you join us and as always, thank you for your support.

We miss our fans! Our players, coaches, and staff look forward to the day we can all spend time at WakeMed Soccer Park again. Until then, we would like to invite you to join us for an episode of our “At Home With” series, a virtual reunion of fans with their favorite players.

This series, hosted by Dean Linke, will feature a different NCFC player each week, with the specific player being revealed on the day of each episode! An interview will be conducted with each player giving you further insight into the player’s lives, how they’re managing the delay of the season, and fun stories from their quarantines. Fans will also be able to submit questions throughout the episode for the player to answer live.

Each episode has a capacity, so we request that you only sign up for the episode that best suits your schedule. 

Please select a time below and secure your spot by using the registration link:

Thursday, May 14- 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20- 5:30 p.m.
Friday, May 29- 6:00 p.m.

Registration Link: https://www.northcarolinafc.com/athome

All registered fans will receive a unique link via email the day before the episode. We look forward to having you join us and as always, thank you for your support.

TAMPA, Fla. – Operating under the guidance of local and state health authorities, the United Soccer League today announced a modification to the previously announced training moratorium that will allow Championship and League One clubs, at their option, to open outdoor fields for non-contact training in small groups as well as training rooms for player treatment.

Small group settings will be limited to up to four players, with no more than one athletic trainer and one member of a club’s technical staff allowed on each field during a session. Teams in areas where local and state recommendations for stay-at-home orders have not been lifted should not train or allow treatment that is prohibited by their jurisdiction. In addition, all clubs will notify the league of their plans to return to the team’s training facility prior to re-opening and training is voluntary for players.

The USL previously extended its training moratorium through May 15 for all of its professional clubs.

TAMPA, Fla. – Operating under the guidance of local and state health authorities, the United Soccer League today announced a modification to the previously announced training moratorium that will allow Championship and League One clubs, at their option, to open outdoor fields for non-contact training in small groups as well as training rooms for player treatment.

Small group settings will be limited to up to four players, with no more than one athletic trainer and one member of a club’s technical staff allowed on each field during a session. Teams in areas where local and state recommendations for stay-at-home orders have not been lifted should not train or allow treatment that is prohibited by their jurisdiction. In addition, all clubs will notify the league of their plans to return to the team’s training facility prior to re-opening and training is voluntary for players.

The USL previously extended its training moratorium through May 15 for all of its professional clubs.

If he is not running up and down the right flank of WakeMed Soccer Park, North Carolina FC winger Manny Perez can be found at his family farm in Garner, where he tends 200 chickens, seven horses, and a new baby goat that he plans to name “Messi.”

When his family moved to Garner, NC in 2010, a young Perez had no choice but to quickly learn how to help his parents run the 20-acre farmland. The duties at the farm, he explains, are simple:

1 – Please feed your animals.

2 – Please clean your animals.

Equipped with a shovel and a rack, Perez begins his day collecting the waste dropped overnight by the horses and chickens.

“They poop a lot, man,” Perez said with a smile.

His expertise on poultry farming tells him which eggs he should pick up from the nesting boxes and which ones he should leave intact for the hens to brood.

“You evaluate how the hens act,” he explained. “If they get nervous when you get close to the egg, it means that they want to hatch it.”

The highlight of Perez’s day at the farm comes around 4 p.m., when he can finally enjoy some outdoor activity with the horses. There is one black-and-white leather saddle that Perez especially likes to sit in.

“My favorite horse to take on trail rides is Principe, or ‘Prince,’ in English,” he said. 

An all-black gelding except for his white hooves, Prince is six years old and the biggest of seven horses on the farm. From the ground to the highest point on his withers, he measures 16 hands, or 5 feet and 4 inches, and weighs about a ton.

“He is a beast,” said a proud Perez.

If he is not running up and down the right flank of WakeMed Soccer Park, North Carolina FC winger Manny Perez can be found at his family farm in Garner, where he tends 200 chickens, seven horses, and a new baby goat that he plans to name “Messi.”

When his family moved to Garner, NC in 2010, a young Perez had no choice but to quickly learn how to help his parents run the 20-acre farmland. The duties at the farm, he explains, are simple:

1 – Please feed your animals.

2 – Please clean your animals.

Equipped with a shovel and a rack, Perez begins his day collecting the waste dropped overnight by the horses and chickens.

“They poop a lot, man,” Perez said with a smile.

His expertise on poultry farming tells him which eggs he should pick up from the nesting boxes and which ones he should leave intact for the hens to brood.

“You evaluate how the hens act,” he explained. “If they get nervous when you get close to the egg, it means that they want to hatch it.”

The highlight of Perez’s day at the farm comes around 4 p.m., when he can finally enjoy some outdoor activity with the horses. There is one black-and-white leather saddle that Perez especially likes to sit in.

“My favorite horse to take on trail rides is Principe, or ‘Prince,’ in English,” he said. 

An all-black gelding except for his white hooves, Prince is six years old and the biggest of seven horses on the farm. From the ground to the highest point on his withers, he measures 16 hands, or 5 feet and 4 inches, and weighs about a ton.

“He is a beast,” said a proud Perez.

When the sun is about to set, Perez feeds the animals one final time. He drops cracked corn in the chicken coops and hay in the horse barns, before shutting the farm down until the following morning. 

Last week, the farm welcomed a new member, as Perez’s uncle, Alejandro, surprised everyone by showing up with an 11-month-old white goat. 

“(The goat) doesn’t have a name yet,” Perez said.

He then added that he is seriously thinking of calling it “Messi,” whom he considers the greatest footballer of all time.

The farm played a key role in forming Perez during his teenage years. It particularly taught him the importance of being disciplined, a value that he deems essential for his current job as a professional footballer. 

“Feeding the horses every day at the same time is like arriving on time for training every morning,” he said.

The day before an NCFC game, Perez enjoys sitting on a wooden bench that overlooks the farm’s large pond. There, he stares into the water and reflects on the upcoming game, carefully visualizing the movements that he will make on the right side of WakeMed Soccer Park.

“As a right-winger, I think about how the opponent left-back or left-winger plays, and what I can do to beat him in a 1v1 (situation),” he said.

He lists scissors and body faints as his top-two dribbling moves. These skills often allow him to get to the end line, a position from which his service proved lethal throughout the 2019 USL campaign.

“Once I pick out a guy in the box, I focus on my delivery having good form and power,” he said.

When the sun is about to set, Perez feeds the animals one final time. He drops cracked corn in the chicken coops and hay in the horse barns, before shutting the farm down until the following morning. 

Last week, the farm welcomed a new member, as Perez’s uncle, Alejandro, surprised everyone by showing up with an 11-month-old white goat. 

“(The goat) doesn’t have a name yet,” Perez said.

He then added that he is seriously thinking of calling it “Messi,” whom he considers the greatest footballer of all time.

The farm played a key role in forming Perez during his teenage years. It particularly taught him the importance of being disciplined, a value that he deems essential for his current job as a professional footballer. 

“Feeding the horses every day at the same time is like arriving on time for training every morning,” he said.

The day before an NCFC game, Perez enjoys sitting on a wooden bench that overlooks the farm’s large pond. There, he stares into the water and reflects on the upcoming game, carefully visualizing the movements that he will make on the right side of WakeMed Soccer Park.

“As a right-winger, I think about how the opponent left-back or left-winger plays, and what I can do to beat him in a 1v1 (situation),” he said.

He lists scissors and body faints as his top-two dribbling moves. These skills often allow him to get to the end line, a position from which his service proved lethal throughout the 2019 USL campaign.

“Once I pick out a guy in the box, I focus on my delivery having good form and power,” he said.

Perez does not know what the summer has in store for him. Celtic FC, the Glasgow-based club that signed him in January 2019, will invite him to their Scottish Premiership preseason camp in July. After the camp, they will either keep him on their roster or send him back to Raleigh to complete his season with NCFC.

Should Perez go play football in Scotland, he admits that he will miss home and the unique sense of peacefulness that he gets from spending time at his farm.

“The farm is the only place other than the soccer field where I can be in my own thoughts,” he said.

He is afraid that he will not be able to replicate that special feeling overseas. On the other hand, he recognizes that Celtic FC represents his best chance to pursue his lifetime dream of playing in the Champions League, the tournament that features the best footballers in the world, including Messi.

Perez shivered at the thought that he might find himself face-to-face with the football “GOAT.”

Perez does not know what the summer has in store for him. Celtic FC, the Glasgow-based club that signed him in January 2019, will invite him to their Scottish Premiership preseason camp in July. After the camp, they will either keep him on their roster or send him back to Raleigh to complete his season with NCFC.

Should Perez go play football in Scotland, he admits that he will miss home and the unique sense of peacefulness that he gets from spending time at his farm.

“The farm is the only place other than the soccer field where I can be in my own thoughts,” he said.

He is afraid that he will not be able to replicate that special feeling overseas. On the other hand, he recognizes that Celtic FC represents his best chance to pursue his lifetime dream of playing in the Champions League, the tournament that features the best footballers in the world, including Messi.

Perez shivered at the thought that he might find himself face-to-face with the football “GOAT.”

Please keep emailing socialmedia@https://www.northcarolinafc.com with blog post suggestions!

Stay safe.

#WeAreNC

Please keep emailing socialmedia@https://www.northcarolinafc.com with blog post suggestions!

Stay safe.

#WeAreNC

TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League provided additional updates today on how the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is affecting the 2020 USL Championship and League One seasons.

With approval of the Championship and League One Board of Governors, the USL has extended its temporary suspension of the 2020 Championship and League One seasons. The previous suspension ran through May 10, but with that timeline no longer tenable, the USL will await further guidance and clarity from local, state and national health authorities before announcing a new earliest return to play date. Both leagues have also extended their respective team training moratoriums through May 15. However, USL is also exploring scenarios that would allow for players to return to training facilities to conduct individual or small group work prior to May 15. Any re-opening of club facilities will be done in accordance with local and state guidelines, and with all involved adhering to strict players social distancing protocols.

As things stand today, the USL is still in a position to reschedule all matches in both leagues affected by the COVID-19 crisis to date, and will continue to receive guidance from public health experts, as well as a national medical task force comprised of other professional sports leagues and organizations from around the country. While a complete season remains the preferred outcome of any return to play scenario, a variety of alternative competitive formats in both the Championship and League One are also being explored as the USL continues to prioritize the health and wellness of everyone involved.

TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League provided additional updates today on how the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is affecting the 2020 USL Championship and League One seasons.

With approval of the Championship and League One Board of Governors, the USL has extended its temporary suspension of the 2020 Championship and League One seasons. The previous suspension ran through May 10, but with that timeline no longer tenable, the USL will await further guidance and clarity from local, state and national health authorities before announcing a new earliest return to play date. Both leagues have also extended their respective team training moratoriums through May 15. However, USL is also exploring scenarios that would allow for players to return to training facilities to conduct individual or small group work prior to May 15. Any re-opening of club facilities will be done in accordance with local and state guidelines, and with all involved adhering to strict players social distancing protocols.

As things stand today, the USL is still in a position to reschedule all matches in both leagues affected by the COVID-19 crisis to date, and will continue to receive guidance from public health experts, as well as a national medical task force comprised of other professional sports leagues and organizations from around the country. While a complete season remains the preferred outcome of any return to play scenario, a variety of alternative competitive formats in both the Championship and League One are also being explored as the USL continues to prioritize the health and wellness of everyone involved.

Cary, NC (April 3, 2020)- USL League Two announced Thursday the cancelation of its 2020 season, which usually runs from May through July. The announcement affects the North Carolina FC U23 team, a development team that has been a member of the USL League Two (formerly PDL) since 2017.

“As disappointing as it is to not get onto the pitch and compete this coming season, the health and safety of our players, staff and all the workers on the front line, is far more important,” said NCFC U23 head coach, Tom Harris. “We completely understand the league's decision and fully support it.”

Due to COVID-19, there is a lack of traditional competition structure and opportunity to crown a USL League Two Final Champion. The league looks ahead and is excited and focused on supporting clubs as they return in 2021.

“We will use this time to research and discuss new strategies to improve our program and further strengthen our youth to pro pathway,” said Harris.

The cancelation decision was made in close collaboration with member clubs of League Two. The league did announce that they will support clubs that are able to pursue an exhibition schedule.

“At North Carolina FC, our intention would be to continue to provide a training environment for the NCFC 23’s player pool at whatever point is feasible this summer,” said NCFC U23 Technical Director, John Bradford. “We anticipate there being an opportunity for us to provide consistent training sessions, potential intrasquad friendlies, and interaction with our North Carolina FC professional team.”

North Carolina FC’s U23 squad won eight games last season to finish in second place in the South Atlantic Division. Robert Screen led the team with five goals in 13 matches.

The NCFC U23 program has been an instrumental part in developing players at the North Carolina Football Club. Nazmi Albadawi, Trace Alphin, Adam Armour, Alex Comsia, Conor Donovan, Caleb Duvernay, Luke Hille, and Manny Perez all played with the U23 team before becoming a rostered player for NCFC.

Cary, NC (April 3, 2020)- USL League Two announced Thursday the cancelation of its 2020 season, which usually runs from May through July. The announcement affects the North Carolina FC U23 team, a development team that has been a member of the USL League Two (formerly PDL) since 2017.

“As disappointing as it is to not get onto the pitch and compete this coming season, the health and safety of our players, staff and all the workers on the front line, is far more important,” said NCFC U23 head coach, Tom Harris. “We completely understand the league’s decision and fully support it.”

Due to COVID-19, there is a lack of traditional competition structure and opportunity to crown a USL League Two Final Champion. The league looks ahead and is excited and focused on supporting clubs as they return in 2021.

“We will use this time to research and discuss new strategies to improve our program and further strengthen our youth to pro pathway,” said Harris.

The cancelation decision was made in close collaboration with member clubs of League Two. The league did announce that they will support clubs that are able to pursue an exhibition schedule.

“At North Carolina FC, our intention would be to continue to provide a training environment for the NCFC 23’s player pool at whatever point is feasible this summer,” said NCFC U23 Technical Director, John Bradford. “We anticipate there being an opportunity for us to provide consistent training sessions, potential intrasquad friendlies, and interaction with our North Carolina FC professional team.”

North Carolina FC’s U23 squad won eight games last season to finish in second place in the South Atlantic Division. Robert Screen led the team with five goals in 13 matches.

The NCFC U23 program has been an instrumental part in developing players at the North Carolina Football Club. Nazmi Albadawi, Trace Alphin, Adam Armour, Alex Comsia, Conor Donovan, Caleb Duvernay, Luke Hille, and Manny Perez all played with the U23 team before becoming a rostered player for NCFC.

TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League and its clubs are returning to the virtual arena, and this time there’s an added twist to the competition.

The USL announced on Thursday its second esports competition, with the USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition set to feature 32 clubs from across the USL Championship and USL League One compete on the virtual field in a six-week tournament that will feature weekly brackets across three divisions and promotion and relegation at the end of each week.

“We know how much our fans and players enjoy competing in FIFA20 online,” said USL Senior Vice President of Digital Lizzie Seedhouse. “This format will see the cream rise to the top and ensure every game is crucial as teams get the chance to take aim at the overall prize, or earn their way to a higher tier of competition each week.”

EA Sports’ FIFA franchise has been arguably its most successful globally, and over the past decade has been credited with helping build the profile of international and domestic soccer in North America thanks to its accessibility and playability both on consoles and online.

The 32 clubs from the Championship and League One will each be randomly assigned a premier international squad to compete with throughout the tournament. They will then initially square off in Week 1, beginning on May 4, to earn the right to be placed in Division A, Division B or Division C, with an elimination bracket giving every team a chance to secure their place in the top division.

Through this initial bracket, 12 teams will be placed in Division A and Division B with the remaining eight being placed in Division C. Seeding for the divisional brackets that will make up the remainder of the competition will being determined by the previous week of action.

At the end of Week 2, the four teams that advance to the Semifinals in both Division B and Division C will earn promotion to Division A and Division B respectively, while the four teams that are eliminated in the Play-In Round of the bracket in Division A and Division B will be relegated to the division below.

Additionally, points will be earned each week by the clubs that claim victory in their respective brackets. The top eight teams in the opening week’s bracket will earn between 1,000 and 200 points based on their respective finishes. Following that, 1,000 points will to the weekly champion in Division A, 500 points to the winner of Division B and 250 points to the winner of Division C. Each of the top four teams in each Division will receive points toward their overall total, while teams that are relegated will be deducted points in the overall standings.

The club that finishes with the most cumulative points at the end of the five weeks of competition will be crowned the overall winner of the USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition.

USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition Points Structure

Preliminary Bracket

Round	1st Place Finish	2nd Place Finish	3rd Place Finish	4th Place Finish	5th-8th Place Finish
Qualifying	1,000	750	600	300	200

 

Division Play

Division	No. of Clubs	No. of Games	No. Promoted	No. Relegated	1st Place Points	2nd Place Points	3rd Place Points	4th Place Points	Relegation Points
A	12	12	–	4	1,000	750	600	300	-150
B	12	12	4	4	500	375	300	150	-250
C	8	8	4	–	250	200	150	100	–

 

As in the previous USL eCup: Rocket League Edition, the tournament will also feature the opportunity for each club participating to have a charitable tie-in locally. Clubs will nominate a charity of their choosing and a link to a donation page will be available for fans to chip in and support throughout the Twitch streams and on club and league websites.

Every game of the USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition will be streamed live on Twitch, the world's leading live streaming platform for gamers, allowing fans to interact with teams and players throughout the action. Coverage will also be available on USLChampionship.com and USLLeagueOne.com following the teams and players throughout the event. This tournament is not affiliated with or sponsored by Electronic Arts Inc. or its licensors.

TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League and its clubs are returning to the virtual arena, and this time there’s an added twist to the competition.

The USL announced on Thursday its second esports competition, with the USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition set to feature 32 clubs from across the USL Championship and USL League One compete on the virtual field in a six-week tournament that will feature weekly brackets across three divisions and promotion and relegation at the end of each week.

“We know how much our fans and players enjoy competing in FIFA20 online,” said USL Senior Vice President of Digital Lizzie Seedhouse. “This format will see the cream rise to the top and ensure every game is crucial as teams get the chance to take aim at the overall prize, or earn their way to a higher tier of competition each week.”

EA Sports’ FIFA franchise has been arguably its most successful globally, and over the past decade has been credited with helping build the profile of international and domestic soccer in North America thanks to its accessibility and playability both on consoles and online.

The 32 clubs from the Championship and League One will each be randomly assigned a premier international squad to compete with throughout the tournament. They will then initially square off in Week 1, beginning on May 4, to earn the right to be placed in Division A, Division B or Division C, with an elimination bracket giving every team a chance to secure their place in the top division.

Through this initial bracket, 12 teams will be placed in Division A and Division B with the remaining eight being placed in Division C. Seeding for the divisional brackets that will make up the remainder of the competition will being determined by the previous week of action.

At the end of Week 2, the four teams that advance to the Semifinals in both Division B and Division C will earn promotion to Division A and Division B respectively, while the four teams that are eliminated in the Play-In Round of the bracket in Division A and Division B will be relegated to the division below.

Additionally, points will be earned each week by the clubs that claim victory in their respective brackets. The top eight teams in the opening week’s bracket will earn between 1,000 and 200 points based on their respective finishes. Following that, 1,000 points will to the weekly champion in Division A, 500 points to the winner of Division B and 250 points to the winner of Division C. Each of the top four teams in each Division will receive points toward their overall total, while teams that are relegated will be deducted points in the overall standings.

The club that finishes with the most cumulative points at the end of the five weeks of competition will be crowned the overall winner of the USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition.

USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition Points Structure

Preliminary Bracket

Round	1st Place Finish	2nd Place Finish	3rd Place Finish	4th Place Finish	5th-8th Place Finish
Qualifying	1,000	750	600	300	200

 

Division Play

Division	No. of Clubs	No. of Games	No. Promoted	No. Relegated	1st Place Points	2nd Place Points	3rd Place Points	4th Place Points	Relegation Points
A	12	12	–	4	1,000	750	600	300	-150
B	12	12	4	4	500	375	300	150	-250
C	8	8	4	–	250	200	150	100	–

 

As in the previous USL eCup: Rocket League Edition, the tournament will also feature the opportunity for each club participating to have a charitable tie-in locally. Clubs will nominate a charity of their choosing and a link to a donation page will be available for fans to chip in and support throughout the Twitch streams and on club and league websites.

Every game of the USL eCup: FIFA20 Edition will be streamed live on Twitch, the world’s leading live streaming platform for gamers, allowing fans to interact with teams and players throughout the action. Coverage will also be available on USLChampionship.com and USLLeagueOne.com following the teams and players throughout the event. This tournament is not affiliated with or sponsored by Electronic Arts Inc. or its licensors.

Europe is the undisputed grand stage of football, the ultimate destination for anyone in the world who dreams to compete with the best footballers.

But what is it like to play the beautiful game in Europe?

Robert Kristo, our number 11 in his second season with North Carolina FC, has some indelible memories from his years as a professional footballer in Italy and Germany. 

It was January 2015 when 21-year-old Kristo, fresh off a degree in Business and Communication from Saint Louis University, left the United States to kick off his career as a professional footballer for Italian Serie B club Spezia Calcio. One training was enough for Kristo to realize the amount of talent that was around him.

“I was a little fish in a big pond,” a laughing Kristo said. “That’s the right way to put it.”

 For the first time in his career, the 6-foot-4-inch, 205-pound Croatian American striker felt small in the presence of other footballers. Zlatan Ibrahimović, his lifetime football idol, must have strongly disapproved of such a humbling moment.

Friendly teammates and frequent banter in the Spezia locker room helped him get comfortable with the new lifestyle and Kristo’s unique background often made for interesting talking points.

 “The players were intrigued by the American on the team,” Kristo said. “They wanted to know more about the place I came from.”

Kristo’s speedy adaptation to the new football environment did not exempt him from performing the traditional rookie duties. As a newcomer and one of the youngest players on the roster, he remembers having to carry the training gear to and from the field, along with being systematically thrown in the middle of rondo by the veterans on the team.

 “No matter where you are in the world, the youngest always starts in the middle of rondo,” Kristo recalled.

One of the perks that he especially loved about being a professional footballer in Europe was the passion shown by local people for their players.

“The moment you walk out of your apartment, everyone knows you,” Kristo said. “You are somebody.”

However, the intense fandom around football does not always convert into positive actions. During his time on loan at Fidelis Andria, a third-division club located in the Italian southern region of Apulia, Kristo and his teammates had a dangerous confrontation with the ultras.

“I will never forget that episode,” said Kristo.

Following their side’s third defeat in a row, frustrated Andria supporters decided to throw water bottles onto the field in a sign of disappointment. Trying to confront the team in person, they then stormed toward the parking lot of the stadium, where they gathered en masse to block the players from getting to their cars.

Kristo and his teammates had to wait in the locker room for the tensions to relax. Escorted by several police units, the players were eventually able to safely reach the parking lot, get in their car, and drive home.

The situation escalated when they posted threatening messages on the players’ social media accounts.

“They would write things on your Facebook page,” Kristo said. “You can’t leave your house. We will find you. You better stay home.” 

Kristo remembers the Italian training sessions portraying the highest level of technical and tactical skills. In Germany, where he played from 2016 to 2018 for third-division club VfL Osnabrück, he had to adapt to a quicker and tougher style of football, characterized by frequent long balls and 50-50 challenges.

Although Kristo preferred playing in the Italian leagues, he recognized that the more direct style of German football suited him better.

“The German football leagues look for big, powerful, and fast guys,” Kristo said. “It fits with the way I’m built.”

Kristo believes that the USL is still catching up with the level of football that he experienced overseas.

“[The European countries] have years and years of experience in soccer,” he said. “The U.S. is still coming into that phase.”

Judging by his prolific statistics from last season, when he recorded one of the highest goals-per-minutes ratio in the USL, Kristo seems able to fully express his talent at NCFC. Working on eliminating off-the-field distractions, he explains, is what has allowed him to step up his game.

“Coach Sarachan would sit me down and have conversations with me,” said Kristo. “He told me what I needed to do mentally outside the soccer pitch to be focused inside of the soccer pitch.”

Before the quarantine, Kristo planned to net 15 to 20 goals in the USL 2020 34-game schedule. With the number of fixtures expected to shrink after the moratorium, he has adjusted his target.

“[I’ll score] as many goals as the games that we’ll play,” he said confidently.

 Now, that sounds more like something that Zlatan Ibrahimović would like to hear.

As we all look forward to watching Kristo keep his promise, don’t forget to email socialmedia@https://www.northcarolinafc.com with suggestions for future blog posts!

Keep staying safe. We are getting there! 

#WeAreNC

Europe is the undisputed grand stage of football, the ultimate destination for anyone in the world who dreams to compete with the best footballers.

But what is it like to play the beautiful game in Europe?

Robert Kristo, our number 11 in his second season with North Carolina FC, has some indelible memories from his years as a professional footballer in Italy and Germany. 

It was January 2015 when 21-year-old Kristo, fresh off a degree in Business and Communication from Saint Louis University, left the United States to kick off his career as a professional footballer for Italian Serie B club Spezia Calcio. One training was enough for Kristo to realize the amount of talent that was around him.

“I was a little fish in a big pond,” a laughing Kristo said. “That’s the right way to put it.”

 For the first time in his career, the 6-foot-4-inch, 205-pound Croatian American striker felt small in the presence of other footballers. Zlatan Ibrahimović, his lifetime football idol, must have strongly disapproved of such a humbling moment.

Friendly teammates and frequent banter in the Spezia locker room helped him get comfortable with the new lifestyle and Kristo’s unique background often made for interesting talking points.

 “The players were intrigued by the American on the team,” Kristo said. “They wanted to know more about the place I came from.”

Kristo’s speedy adaptation to the new football environment did not exempt him from performing the traditional rookie duties. As a newcomer and one of the youngest players on the roster, he remembers having to carry the training gear to and from the field, along with being systematically thrown in the middle of rondo by the veterans on the team.

 “No matter where you are in the world, the youngest always starts in the middle of rondo,” Kristo recalled.

One of the perks that he especially loved about being a professional footballer in Europe was the passion shown by local people for their players.

“The moment you walk out of your apartment, everyone knows you,” Kristo said. “You are somebody.”

However, the intense fandom around football does not always convert into positive actions. During his time on loan at Fidelis Andria, a third-division club located in the Italian southern region of Apulia, Kristo and his teammates had a dangerous confrontation with the ultras.

“I will never forget that episode,” said Kristo.

Following their side’s third defeat in a row, frustrated Andria supporters decided to throw water bottles onto the field in a sign of disappointment. Trying to confront the team in person, they then stormed toward the parking lot of the stadium, where they gathered en masse to block the players from getting to their cars.

Kristo and his teammates had to wait in the locker room for the tensions to relax. Escorted by several police units, the players were eventually able to safely reach the parking lot, get in their car, and drive home.

The situation escalated when they posted threatening messages on the players’ social media accounts.

“They would write things on your Facebook page,” Kristo said. “You can’t leave your house. We will find you. You better stay home.” 

Kristo remembers the Italian training sessions portraying the highest level of technical and tactical skills. In Germany, where he played from 2016 to 2018 for third-division club VfL Osnabrück, he had to adapt to a quicker and tougher style of football, characterized by frequent long balls and 50-50 challenges.

Although Kristo preferred playing in the Italian leagues, he recognized that the more direct style of German football suited him better.

“The German football leagues look for big, powerful, and fast guys,” Kristo said. “It fits with the way I’m built.”

Kristo believes that the USL is still catching up with the level of football that he experienced overseas.

“[The European countries] have years and years of experience in soccer,” he said. “The U.S. is still coming into that phase.”

Judging by his prolific statistics from last season, when he recorded one of the highest goals-per-minutes ratio in the USL, Kristo seems able to fully express his talent at NCFC. Working on eliminating off-the-field distractions, he explains, is what has allowed him to step up his game.

“Coach Sarachan would sit me down and have conversations with me,” said Kristo. “He told me what I needed to do mentally outside the soccer pitch to be focused inside of the soccer pitch.”

Before the quarantine, Kristo planned to net 15 to 20 goals in the USL 2020 34-game schedule. With the number of fixtures expected to shrink after the moratorium, he has adjusted his target.

“[I’ll score] as many goals as the games that we’ll play,” he said confidently.

 Now, that sounds more like something that Zlatan Ibrahimović would like to hear.

As we all look forward to watching Kristo keep his promise, don’t forget to email socialmedia@https://www.northcarolinafc.com with suggestions for future blog posts!

Keep staying safe. We are getting there! 

#WeAreNC