WEBVTT 1 00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:30.920 It's an odd man rush. You're on the SDH network. 2 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:33.439 It's a two v one where we have two folks 3 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:36.359 to let us know everything that's going on with Ambassador's 4 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:39.840 Football in the three three oh and it's really cool 5 00:00:39.880 --> 00:00:42.759 where we can catch up with Bob and Ryan Dean 6 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:47.200 where Bob is Grand Exalted Pooba. Officially he is the 7 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:50.759 Grand Exalted PUBA director of Global Development and Ryan is 8 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:53.399 head Coaching technical director for what you see when it 9 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:56.359 comes to Ambassador's sc in the NPSL. Guys, thanks for 10 00:00:56.439 --> 00:00:58.719 dropping by for an odd man rush. I really appreciate it. 11 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.679 Thanks John, Yeah, thanks, Jean, appreciate it. 12 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:05.000 So, all right, so who won the toss? Who's going 13 00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:06.239 to answer the first question? 14 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:09.000 It depends on what it's about, I guess. 15 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:13.599 All right, So it's about the why why the NPSL. 16 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:14.879 Who wants to answer that one? 17 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:16.319 It's all you, Bob. 18 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:22.599 Yeah. So the why is pretty simple, and that is 19 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:26.799 that when we started this venture in twenty twenty one, 20 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.359 what we were attempting to do was to replicate what 21 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:34.640 has been done on the women's side with Ambassador's FC, 22 00:01:35.159 --> 00:01:39.519 and that is to provide a pathway for our homegrown 23 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:43.599 players and our local players to be able to compete 24 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:47.239 at the highest possible level in pre professional football in 25 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:53.959 the United States. Our women's program, their reputation precedes themselves, 26 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:59.280 their reputation in the WPSL what they've been able to do. 27 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:03.000 I mean, the names are you know, it sounds like 28 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:05.959 you're just name dropping when you're talking about players who played, 29 00:02:05.959 --> 00:02:09.439 you know, Katerina Macario, Naomi Germa. 30 00:02:09.479 --> 00:02:12.919 I mean, the list just goes on and on, and. 31 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:17.240 We just wanted to try to do something like that. 32 00:02:17.639 --> 00:02:19.759 We knew that it wasn't going to be at that 33 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:23.560 level immediately, but we also knew that probably the only 34 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:25.840 attainable level to be able to do that on the 35 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:28.680 pre professional level was going to be through the NPSL. 36 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:31.960 So literally in year one we started on that process 37 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:36.400 of contacting them, and there was just a financial entry 38 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:40.520 barrier for us to be able to do it and 39 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:42.039 to do it the way that we want to do it, 40 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:48.400 and that meant that we wanted to provide not only 41 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:51.879 that opportunity for our players, but also an opportunity for 42 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:56.439 the ministry to be on a national platform. I don't know, John, 43 00:02:56.520 --> 00:03:01.319 how aware you are of the past history with ambassadors 44 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:03.599 and professional football in the United States. But back in 45 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:07.879 the early two thousands, two thousand and eight nine to 46 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:13.639 ten USL franchise known as the Cleveland City Stars that 47 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:19.639 occupied that space great success in USL two won USL 48 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:22.479 two in terms of a national championship, and then there 49 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:24.680 was a lot of pressure to jump up to USL 50 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:30.800 one full professional and it was a decision that did 51 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:34.199 not go very well for the ministry. It put them 52 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:37.400 in great debt, and at that point, the Global Ministry 53 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:40.879 decided that no more professional football with ambassadors. That the 54 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:42.919 highest platform we want to get to is that pre 55 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:48.159 professional level. So attaining that and getting that opportunity for 56 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:52.879 our young men to go through became something that we 57 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:55.960 were very, very focused on. And I have to give 58 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:01.479 incredible kudos to the NPSL in terms of their professionalism, 59 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:05.639 their grace, their willingness to work with us, and to 60 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:09.000 provide us with this opportunity. So, you know, people use 61 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:12.879 that expression of breaking through the glass ceiling, whatever it 62 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:16.600 might be, Well, well, for us, there is there is 63 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:20.160 no glass ceiling. It's stainless steel. We're not breaking through 64 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:23.519 this ceiling. But what we're trying to do is look 65 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:26.480 at that ceiling like it's the Sistine Chapel, and that 66 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:28.120 is we're not going to go through it, but we 67 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:31.680 would like to paint the ambassador's picture on that platform 68 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:35.720 and on that ceiling and the best way possible. The 69 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:38.839 kind of the the functional part of it as well 70 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:42.439 is of course it's attractive to the highest level players 71 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:45.800 that you know, are looking for that national platform, the 72 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:49.399 opportunity to play in US Open Cup, you know, to 73 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:54.279 get to get exposure nationally and potentially to have other 74 00:04:54.480 --> 00:04:58.399 places for them to go. And I think the other 75 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:01.360 thing that it does is it helps our partners and 76 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:07.439 sponsors to get their businesses and their their they're messaging 77 00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:10.480 out on a national platform as well. So so yeah, 78 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:12.519 that that's really the why. I don't know if Ryan 79 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:14.399 and you want to fill in any blanks there. 80 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:17.240 But no, I mean that was great. That's a pretty 81 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:19.480 thorough explanation of why we're doing what we're doing. 82 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:22.720 So what's it been like, Ryan, to assemble a roster 83 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:25.480 with your phone blowing up? I don't know if it's 84 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:28.560 been text or phone calls or WhatsApp or emails. What's 85 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:30.439 it been like having to assemble this on the fly 86 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:31.600 to get ready for this season? 87 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:34.720 Yeah, I mean, the the good thing about it is 88 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:37.480 is that our men's programs existed now since twenty twenty one. 89 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:41.240 So the core of our players, in terms of what 90 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:43.680 our roster looks like this here, have already been around. 91 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:45.639 So we knew that we were. 92 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:47.759 Going to have to make some some some signatures and 93 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:50.360 some additions to the squad that were able to help 94 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:53.000 us compete in the NPSL, Guys that you know, had 95 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:58.720 professional experience, NCAA Division one experience and NPSL or USL 96 00:05:58.759 --> 00:06:01.600 two experience as well to go with it. But the 97 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:03.720 good thing was that the core of our our team 98 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:06.800 is already already there. So there there's really kind of 99 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:13.040 three prototypes of kind of what what we're looking for 100 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:16.279 in terms of bringing players into the team. So the 101 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:18.639 first one that the Bo've already mentioned is players that 102 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:21.360 have have come through our own player pathway. 103 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:23.000 One of those. 104 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:24.680 As an example, as a as a young kid by 105 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:27.040 the name of a Mere Spratt, he grew up part 106 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:30.439 of his youth career playing the Ambassadors. As a young player, 107 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:33.240 he ended up going to a local college. Now as 108 00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:35.560 a young man, he plays plays up front for US. 109 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:37.920 I believe he is one of, if not the leading 110 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:41.319 scorers so far this year in the conference. He scored 111 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:43.319 a hat trick in our first match, So that's kind 112 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:45.360 of one type is local guys that played for the 113 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:48.600 club and have done that. The second one is guys 114 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.079 that are from from other local clubs that maybe don't 115 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:55.040 have that, that go to colleges in the area that 116 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:58.160 we've brought in. So our captain, a guy named Omar Najar, 117 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:02.079 played at University of Mount Union, had a really successful 118 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:04.800 career there as well. He's a He's a super talented 119 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:07.439 player and plays a big role for us. That's kind 120 00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:09.600 of the second one of those two are already in 121 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.800 place and lots of guys like them, and so the 122 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:14.959 vast majority of our roster was made up of guys 123 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:16.519 like that. And then kind of what we've looked at 124 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:18.399 this year is how do we bring in guys that 125 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:20.800 don't fit one of those two groups that help kind 126 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:24.120 of augment what we're doing. So, h there's two guys 127 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:26.399 that I'll highlight this year that we went after pretty heavily. 128 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:28.800 So one of them is a guy named Audrey and 129 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:32.399 Nunias Kiros. He played at the University of North Florida 130 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:36.360 and Clemson university for a few years as well as 131 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:38.040 professionally in his home country of. 132 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:39.759 Costa Rica, so we brought him in. 133 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:42.319 He's been incredible for us, both as a player and 134 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:45.319 a leader, you know, and and and has done a 135 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:46.920 really good job. The other one I'll bring up is 136 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:49.040 a guy who's currently now working and coaching on our 137 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:49.720 women's side. 138 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:51.319 That's Joni Sorokin. 139 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:55.720 He's a former Israeli national and moved over here to 140 00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:58.560 play soccer. He played at the University of Central Florida 141 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:02.160 for four years before finishing his that you're at UCLA again. 142 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:05.720 A really talented guy. But I think what is similar. 143 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:08.160 Between those last two individuals is that they both are 144 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:11.000 the highest character guys. So we have these kind of 145 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:13.519 three groups of different types of players that make up 146 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:16.920 our team. But what everybody has in common is we're 147 00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:18.600 looking for the best people who kind of fit the 148 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:21.480 ethos of what we're trying to do. Guys who are 149 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:24.439 are willing to sacrifice, buy into the organization and see 150 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:26.600 the bigger picture of Hey, it's not just about winning 151 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:29.120 on the weekend, but it's about winning on the weekend 152 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:31.759 in a way that brings glory to what we're doing. 153 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:32.679 As an organization. 154 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:36.039 We just had, you know, a group of kids up 155 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:38.279 from Mexico, from our club down there, that were able 156 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:40.120 to come up and train with us in ball boy 157 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:43.200 for our games. And the way those guys looked up 158 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:46.559 to some of the older players that are really talented 159 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:48.639 in our team is ultimately what means the most to 160 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:51.519 me that we're able to provide an example for the 161 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:54.279 frankly thousands of kids around the world that play for 162 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:55.279 the Worldwide Ministry. 163 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:58.120 So Bob and Randean dropping by to let us know 164 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:01.840 what's going on with ambassadors f see Ohio in the 165 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.960 Great Lakes Conference. First year in the NPSL. Here this 166 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:07.120 go around in twenty twenty five. So Bob, let me 167 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:09.279 ask you when it comes to the off the field stuff. 168 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:12.679 I know that there is and this is a question 169 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:14.720 that I ask everybody. So I don't know if you 170 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:16.840 if you listen to any of our other interviews within 171 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:20.480 PSL first year franchises, I always ask there's the to 172 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:24.279 do list? Where is that to do list? Is it 173 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:27.639 on like a BlackBerry? Is it in a legal pad? 174 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:29.919 Is it in a Google doc? Is it on like 175 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:33.840 a six by eight foot white board that's got a 176 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:37.000 lot of squiggles and PDFs and directions and we got 177 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:39.559 to do this, this, this, this, and this where is 178 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:42.080 that to do list? And how long did it take 179 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:45.440 to cross everything off of it so you could hit 180 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:48.240 the ground running on the field in twenty twenty five. 181 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:51.080 Well, that's a good question, John, that's a good question. 182 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:56.120 It's it's in all those places. I don't have a 183 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:59.000 whiteboard that I carry around, but it's definitely in all 184 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:03.559 of those places. So yeah, we're we're still checking things off, 185 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:07.320 you know, as best we can. And and a lot 186 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:09.799 of that has to do with the graciousness of our partners. 187 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:13.080 You know, we play our home matches at Malone University 188 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:16.159 in the city of Canton, and we're literally a hop, 189 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:19.519 skip and a jump from the Professional Football Hall of 190 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:23.840 Fame and UH and our our lead partner, UH Forever 191 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:27.679 Long Sports Grass UH, who their turf is, what we 192 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:31.159 play on their turf is in Tom Benson Stadium at 193 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:33.559 Hall of Fame Stadium and in the Hall of Fame 194 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:38.080 Village Complex. That's that's one of the things that we're 195 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:41.919 trying to do is to attract people to our venue 196 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:45.840 on campus UH and too. In order to do that, 197 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:51.159 we're basically having to transform it from you know, a 198 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:56.759 primarily functioned, functioning UH soccer lacrosse complex for a small 199 00:10:56.759 --> 00:11:00.759 Division two university into a pre professional at sphere and 200 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:03.720 uh uh and there's there was a lot to do 201 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:07.559 as a part of it, certainly the to do list 202 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:11.600 having to do with the NPSL and the transition into 203 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:16.960 uh just just the guidelines and UH the minimum standards. 204 00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:19.840 We didn't want to be at the minimum standards to start. 205 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:22.799 We wanted to be above that. And so we've worked 206 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:25.159 very very hard to do that again with help of 207 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:29.039 our partners and and volunteers and many other people that 208 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:31.879 have been able to do that. But again, I great 209 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:34.879 thanks go to the league, and to to Cindy and 210 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:39.200 to Robin, and to UH and and to Jeff and 211 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:43.039 to everybody on that crew who really set you up 212 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:47.039 with mentors and with people who you can just reach 213 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.039 out to. We're all in the same boat, you know, 214 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:51.759 and a rising tide raises all ships. And just some 215 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:53.960 of the conversations that I've had with guys who are 216 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:59.480 owners and managers around the country, it's it's been, honestly, 217 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:04.440 it's been unlike anything that I've experienced in my professional life. 218 00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:09.759 With the exception of my role in substance abuse prevention 219 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:13.639 in in my primary work before I was working for 220 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:16.960 the ministry and before I was working in athletic development, 221 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:20.360 where you're sharing all of the good, good resources and 222 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:22.919 all the things that are going to make people healthy 223 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:26.799 and successful. That's what I feel that this league has 224 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:29.919 been all about. And they really do a great job 225 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:33.320 providing you with that to do list, in that checklist. 226 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:39.440 So yeah, but definitely exhausting, but you know what, it 227 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:43.080 absolutely fully worth it, fully worth it. 228 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:47.600 Ryan, You're in a conference that has Flower City, Rochester 229 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:50.320 and YFC and we talked to We talked to them 230 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:53.960 nine grade, eighteen twelve, Erie Commodores. They're a stalwart in 231 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.480 this particular part of the planet. Cleveland, c Syracuse and 232 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:59.200 Buffalo Stallions. They're back into the mix as well. I 233 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:01.320 go back in the black and white television where I 234 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:04.159 remember the Buffalo Stallions at the Odd playing Indoor. That's 235 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:05.480 how far back I go with that. 236 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:05.799 Man. 237 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:09.559 I grew up in Buffalo, John so I know that too. 238 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:12.559 Right there with Blaisdell Furniture, and I know you know 239 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:15.559 all of those folks that went in there and shopped 240 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.080 for Buffalo bills, and so I go back there with 241 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:20.120 all of my friends as well, so I know exactly 242 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:23.639 what we're talking about with the Stallions. So Ryan, when 243 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:26.799 it comes to the on the field stuff, out of 244 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:29.080 the blocks, you've hit each column once, one to one 245 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:32.720 and one from the time that you hit the ground 246 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:39.240 with a group preseason, getting ready, getting acclimated. Season starts 247 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:42.559 three matches in. What do you think the club has 248 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:46.399 learned about itself on the field and off? From your perspective, 249 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.440 and Bob gets to listen to this answer and not 250 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:52.440 repeat it, what do you think you've learned about yourselves 251 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:55.960 in this process of assemblage and now getting out there 252 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:58.080 to play where you've got the win, the loss, and 253 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.279 the draw to start things off. 254 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:03.000 Yeah, I mean the biggest thing I think is just 255 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:05.600 that we belong right When whenever you step into a 256 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:08.600 into a new environment like this, there always is that 257 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:12.440 degree of uncertainty. As much as we try to hide 258 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.919 and we try to avoid those things, It's like, have 259 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:16.240 we bitten off more than we can chew? 260 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:16.440 Right? 261 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:18.399 What if we step into this and you just get 262 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:20.799 you know, hambered in the first match or whatever it is, 263 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:23.879 or your your players or your system or your style 264 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:26.440 of players aren't equipped for what we're trying to do. 265 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:28.919 So over the course of these three games, I think 266 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:32.320 what we have found out really really quickly is that 267 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.279 we we do belong. 268 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:35.320 So it's it's funny. 269 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:37.639 That our most recent match one one at home against 270 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:41.120 Cleveland SC. So we started the program back in twenty 271 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:46.159 twenty one, so five seasons ago. It was our first year, 272 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:50.000 our first ever game as a men's program, the first 273 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:55.480 time that Ambassador's FC put out men's football wearing Ambassadors 274 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:58.840 FC jerseys. We actually played Cleveland SC in a friendly. 275 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:02.399 We just I think I DM them on Instagram and 276 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:04.399 asked if they wanted to play, and they were willing 277 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:07.519 to and it was like beyond embarrassing, Like I think 278 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:11.039 they played their third team outshot us like thirty to one, 279 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:13.799 and it was like a comfortable three nil win for them, 280 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:17.440 and that three nil really flattered us. And so it's 281 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:20.120 been a long way back after five years, and we've 282 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:23.399 brought in some incredible players that have made certainly made 283 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:26.440 my job easier. Now we do belong, right, Like it's 284 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:30.519 four points in three games, although it is not the 285 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:33.919 end of the world. Ultimately we're not satisfied and we 286 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:36.039 do feel like we belong and like we're able to compete. 287 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:39.000 So that's the biggest thing I've learned. Every day is 288 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:42.039 a school day. I get the privilege to coach college 289 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:44.679 soccer as well, at a very high level and with 290 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:48.200 very good coaches around me, and so I've learned a 291 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:51.159 lot over the last few years of coaching, and certainly 292 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.279 this year has been no different. 293 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:55.879 So all right, Bob, without stealing any of Ryan's answer, 294 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.519 what else have you learned? Independently? 295 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:03.559 I think you have to be adaptable. I just think 296 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:07.879 back to years ago when I used to lead youth 297 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:11.440 soccer tours all over Europe with a for profit company 298 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:13.759 here in Northeast from Ohio, and one of the things 299 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:16.440 that we would tell kids and parents immediately is that, hey, 300 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:18.480 this isn't gonna be perfect. You know, you've got this 301 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:20.919 great trip plan, you're investing a lot of money into it. 302 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.360 You can step off the plane and step off off 303 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:25.360 a bus, and you need to be ready to adapt. 304 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:32.600 And we've already had to adapt. We lost two essentially 305 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:35.519 key players in match one and two to a career 306 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:39.159 or not career gosh, God forbid their career ending there, 307 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:42.200 but season ending injuries and. 308 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:44.240 So it. 309 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:48.759 I always, I always feel very strong and when people 310 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.960 say next man up, that that kind of belittles the 311 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.480 process of the people that have you know, prepared to 312 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:58.320 be stepped over in that situation because it's it's a 313 00:16:58.360 --> 00:17:02.840 heartache for those guys and very very difficult. But you 314 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:07.720 have to adapt, and can our system adapt. I'm really 315 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:10.440 confident in our coaching staff being able to do that. 316 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:14.240 I'm really confident in our players being able to do that. 317 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:16.519 But that has to do with the fact that one 318 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:18.640 of the things that Ryan didn't mention, you know, is 319 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:21.720 the overused term of culture. And it goes back to 320 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:24.960 what he said in regards to the three the three 321 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:30.039 boxes that we need to pull our players from. The 322 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.400 common commonality with all of those is that they have 323 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:36.359 to fit into that culture. When they fit into that culture, 324 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.920 that adaptation process is much easier. 325 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:42.799 And going down the road, all right, I'm gonna I'm 326 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:44.599 gonna go snake draft here when it comes to my 327 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:47.079 next question, and I want to go back to you, 328 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:49.440 Bob and ask about the ministry for those that don't 329 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:52.599 know the deeper meaning that is attached to the franchise 330 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:55.039 and what you are trying to accomplish both on the 331 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.160 field and off the field with the ministry and its 332 00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:59.920 message for those that don't know, go for it. 333 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:00.559 Yeah. 334 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:04.799 So, Ambassadors Football has actually been in existence since nineteen ninety. 335 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:09.240 We're a worldwide football mission. We have mission plants in 336 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:12.759 thirty five countries around the world, and you really can 337 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:17.319 think of it as almost like a franchise in that 338 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:22.480 anyone can start in a bachelor is mission in regards 339 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:24.920 to the work that they're doing in terms of missionary 340 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:29.200 work and Christian outreach to spread the Gospel through the 341 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:32.519 game of football. And obviously there are core tenants that 342 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:36.000 they would have to ascribe to, but that history is incredible. 343 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:39.759 John Ortlip, our founder and president, is still at the Helm. 344 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:44.559 He is one of the most gracious inspired men of 345 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:49.119 God that I've ever met, and he's a visionary and 346 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:54.680 his vision is to is to just share the Gospel 347 00:18:55.279 --> 00:19:00.880 through football. Our tagline is Football, Faith, and Future and 348 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:04.440 they go in that order because football is the door 349 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.960 that opens young people, old people, families, whomever it might be. 350 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:14.039 It opens the door to a conversation about faith that 351 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:18.640 we can have through the through the pathway in football. 352 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:22.319 If it's street football, community football, if it's a men's program, 353 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:27.200 it's a formal program, it's a it's an after school program, 354 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:30.119 it's a Saturday soccer program, whatever it might be. It 355 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:33.680 allows us to have that conversation about faith with the 356 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:38.880 ultimate being that we're trying to influence the future and 357 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:42.000 and further, you know, God's kingdom here on earth and 358 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:45.240 to bring him the glory in doing that. I would 359 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:49.319 cite one thing, and that is there are differentiating factors 360 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:53.920 around all ministries and and mission outreach programs. Might be 361 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:57.440 one of the things that that separates us is we 362 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:02.640 actually have the most incredible curriculum. And I know a 363 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:04.759 lot of people that are listening to this are probably 364 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:09.160 familiar with the Sunday school model that's been around for 365 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:13.279 the longest time, and a lot of our programs, our 366 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:15.880 youth programs follow the same sort of thing, but it's 367 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:20.559 more of a Saturday school model in that around the 368 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:25.839 world we have literally thousands of kids who spend you know, 369 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:27.960 an hour and fifteen minutes, an hour and a half 370 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:33.519 on a Saturday being trained, football training and small side 371 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:36.839 of games, whatever it might be, through a trained volunteer 372 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:40.400 and ambassador's trained volunteer who is attached to a church 373 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:44.359 that we're in partnership with, and then for thirty minutes 374 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:48.559 then they are exposed to a gospel teaching curriculum that 375 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:54.200 was designed by the brother of our international coaching director, 376 00:20:55.039 --> 00:21:01.079 who is a service veteran in Great Britain, one of 377 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:05.960 the most incredible preachers and theologians that I've ever met. 378 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:10.839 And this curriculum, called Toward the Goal, uses little youth 379 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:15.599 soccer players cartoon characters to walk kids through Bible lessons 380 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:22.400 literally from Genesis to Revelations, and it is it blows 381 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:29.000 the door off of any Sunday school purchase online, spend 382 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:32.160 a whole lot of money type of curriculum that you 383 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:35.480 could ever see and for us, we give it away 384 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:37.839 for free. If you want to use it, you can 385 00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:43.000 use it. It's brilliant. And we're actually preparing an entire 386 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:47.160 curriculum around the twenty twenty six World Cup that will 387 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:51.160 focus on the Good Samaritan by answering the question that 388 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:54.440 the Gospel provides, and that is who's your neighbor. The 389 00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:57.519 entire world is coming to North America next summer and 390 00:21:57.559 --> 00:22:01.519 the question is who's your neighbor? So yeah, it's that 391 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:03.839 that's our history. That's where we are and that's what 392 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:06.160 our bigger picture is all about. 393 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:10.400 Ambassadors Football dot org to find out more information about 394 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:12.000 it all. Right, let me go back onto the pitch 395 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:16.519 here for my final question, Ryan, when do you leave 396 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:22.200 for Niagara University to take on Niagara eighteen twelve. What 397 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:24.920 has study hall been like for Ambassadors getting ready for 398 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:28.839 this one? As you hit match week number four in 399 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:31.960 the conference this season? What are you anticipating in that 400 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:33.720 trek to Niagara University. 401 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:38.799