Sí se puede.
THE MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB
Sí se puede.
ABOUT THE MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB
We teach youth from all walks of life that they can achieve anything, and we do that through soccer. We have players who surf backdoor, bake delectable sour dough bread, make & sell our team jewelry, skate mini ramps, work at the local hamburger spot, slap the bass guitar etc. Coach Strider once said, "You do you," and that is what we do. Everyone is unique, and everyone belongs.
THE MFC STAFF
CHUCK III
Coach Chuck, also known as Neighbor Nate is an advocate of the “Sí se puede” life. He lives for football, long long long bike rides through bear country, grocery shopping, and kayaking ankle high waves. He developed his passion for youth development after organizing a weekly handball night at the St. Ann's Park in The Bronx. Since then he has directed the Youth Outdoor Recreation program for Life-Line Utah, taught snowboarding to inner city kids with The Burton Chill Program, and is now building The MFC.
DAVID DIEGO
Coach David is the mathematician of The Malama Football Club. Working alongside Collegiate footballers, he teaches a style of play that promotes creativity, sportsmanship, and efficiency. He is able to quickly teach proper soccer technique and brings many many laughs to the field. When he is not training, he is running around with his son, Kawika Diego, who at the age of 1.5 years old is the youngest player to sign a lifetime contract with the MFC. Saludos to the Hermano David!
DALTY BOY
Coach Dalton can do anything. Throw double gainers off diving boards? Can. He even invented a dive that is renowned in The Beehive State. He talks story of a teen who wanted to quit snowboarding before trying. Dalt instilled confidence in him, and after a days work, the grom was all about the snow life. That is the impact Dalt has on youth. Thank you for teaching us how to be open, aware, and accepting of the life around us. Its a privilege to have him on board.
SIR BLAINE GUNN OF IPSWICH
On November 21, 2021, Blaino was recognized as the President of Mālama Football Club. As a manager and player for The Horse Force FC, he is respected through out the Wasatch Front as a scrappy yet personable footballer. He teaches us how to appreciate others differences and find common ground with complete strangers. Ladies and gentleman, Blaine R. Gunn.
BENJI BARLOW
Spending 700 + days in Argentina, Benji is el Che de Ches. Ben is a scholarly gentleman and when we have questions, we go to him. He has taken on the role as the treasurer of the Mālama Football Club and has been critical in helping efficiently utilize our resources. He’s a realist who acts and stays present. We love this picture of him and his ma. For years he would drive to her house to do her yard work. He’s an example of living aloha and being loyal to his family, gracias Benji.
RUDY T
This brother can become best friends with his local FedEx driver after a five minute conversation. Rudy T and Coach Chuck met and chatted for five minutes up at The University of Utah back in 2015. There now brothers. He’s genuine and appreciates diversity. When we think of this guy, the word loyalty comes to mind. He stands my his brothers, sisters and his mom through it all and does the same for our club. He has taken the role as the secretary of Mālama FC and helps us understand how to watch out for the underdog and remain loyal to our mission.
MĀLAMA TAY
Our friend Gabz dubbed him with the name “Mālama Tay,” after consistently doing her dishes and taking out her trash. Tay is thee master story teller who captures our reason through film and photo. Little do you know this lad is a mean footballer. Watch out as he makes an occasional appearance as a sub trainer when he’s not providing us with quality photos and videos from the pitch. Check our guys and hire him out to brand your reason - www.taysteelefilms.com & IG @tay_steele
COACH GENT
Such an impactful individual. When it comes to sports, soccer is his language although he rips on a snowboard and on the volleyball court. His creativity and drive to be the best is shown on the field and in the mountains when he is shredding the gnarly hills of the Wasatch Front. He is the little brother that is annoyingly too good at everything. Dalt vs Gent in a cross bar challenge? Money is on Gentrie. His ability to connect with young adults is amazing and everyone wins when he is teaching. Bringing his skill set to Mālama Football Club is a big win for all of us!
STRIKE MISSIONS AROUND OUR WORLD
MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB + EL TRANSITO, NICARAGUA - SPRING / SUMMER ‘22
We are grateful to have worked alongside The NICA Fund (www.nicafund.org) and The Bananoz Surf House @Bananozsurfhouse_nicaragua to run a 7 week camp in the small fishing village of El Transito, Nicaragua. Our focus was on the word Mālama and teaching our footballers to care for one another off and on the pitch. We thank Camilo for continuing to run our Mālama FC Saturday dawn patrol trainings.
This would not have happened without our very own Aunt Jenny Lane May, Jodi Richie from Bridge of Promise, and Abuela Ligia for their financial donations. From supporting our staffs meal plans, to helping cover the cost of flying with 40 pound soccer goals, we thank you three for your support and stoke. Lastly, thank you Stu and his crew for installing footy goals when you saw the MFC momentum we were gaining. What a site it was to pull up to permanent wood work (soccer goals).
“We are committed to elevating rural communities throughout Nicaragua by mobilizing local people to do the work. We avoid giving handouts; rather we implement programs that provide opportunities to locals to create change in their lives and communities.” - Team NICA
We did it - Sí se puede.
MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB + NORTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL - FALL ‘21
Coaches Dalty Boy and Blaino alongside Principle Andrea pulled off the impossible by running 19 students through our six week camp. The focus was teaching self worth and how to mālama our classmates who are different from us. During our traditional egg toss challenge, one of teams managed to toss a raw egg 73 times before all chaos broke out. How stoked we were to have our “local GOAT” Rubio Rubin from Real Salt Lake share his wizard life skills followed by the kind hearted musician, Melody Olvera. A sincere thank you to our local sponsors Jeremy Stringham & Versured Insurance, Kris Kappaert from the most authentic Mexican restaurant in the Beehive State, The Blue Iguana. Abrazos and stoke sent to all involved with our Fall 2021 Rose Park Mālama FC.
MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB + BURTON CHILL - WINTER ‘22
Yes we are footballers, but footballers can rip. Brothers Strider Steele and Coop Turner stepped up to mentor 7 youth from West Valley City through the Burton Chill snowboarding program at Brighton Resort. Chill is a youth development program, revolving around a fully subsidized six-session curriculum, where boardsports become a vehicle for empowerment. Chill’s curriculum consists of experiential learning activities and discussions that are paired with a snowboarding. The core values learned? Respect, Courage, Patience, Persistence, Responsibility, and Pride which provide our youth with a foundation for learning and personal growth. HUGE shouts to Dallon at Burton and Footballer Steve who have made this possible. Lastly, thank you Uncle Jake Carpenter for your vision and giving back.
MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB + THE HOAPILI GROUP - SPRING ‘22
Hoapili // Best Friends - What a privilege to join forces with the Hoapili Group. Heaps of laughs and good times - Briar hiding Tay’s phone, jamming to Bob Marley as we play, handing out the international jerseys to wear during scrimmage, learning what the word Mālama means, and Ma’a netting a goal from outer space. Muchas gracias to our coaching staff - Chey, Nels, Kūpono, Jopay, Tash, Mālama Tay, David Diego, Etaggy, Em, Terra, Cruz, and Anslie - Wow, couldn’t have done this without our HI fam! Check this link out to learn more about our Superheroes of the Ko’olauloa.
https://kealakai.byuh.edu/a-special-support-group-creates-a-special-safe-haven-for-children-with-special-needs
Our new best friends :)
MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB + KA’A’AWA CREW - SUMMER ‘22
We give a proper salute to our footballers and the parents of the Kaaawa Community. Yes, the kids have skill but it’s the positive energy they bring to the pitch that impressed us all. It was a delight to work with such patient, grateful and kind parents on a field places right next to the ocean. Can we get a yessssah? ¡Yesssah!
MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB + GOAT PARK - SUMMER ‘22
Our OG favorite footballers are back at our OG favorite favorite park, The Goat. Our parents asked that we focus on building the confidence of these specific kids. A bit more soft spoken and mellow, we wanted to show them that confidence comes when we are having fun. We’d say it was tossing raw eggs that got everyone hyped and laughing. Coach Davíd pulls off another successful camp with a few old timers and a few new little legends. In Nicaragua we say, ¡Diakachimba! (Awesome).
How to earn?
MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB + WAIALUA HIGH SCHOOL - FALL ‘22
“Coach, you put me in the game for less time than a hot pocket in the microwave. I’m still cold, put me back in.” - Footballer Dates. Thank you Coach John and Kainoa for bringing us on. Thank you Coach Justin for letting me know when the benches were about to clear. To our team mom Dee, gracias for all the small things you did that made a HUGE difference. To our players, mahalos for the loads of laughs fellas, and stoked to follow your future adventures - “North Shore on three...”
MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB + HOAPILI - WINTER ‘23
Our best friends - The Hoapili. This is a group that appreciates and values diversity. Not a single one of us is remotely similar, but everyone feels a sense of belonging. From Makana’s schhhmoothe dancing skills to Malia hitting every note of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” to Hearing that Pono went on to play on a city team, this was a group for the record books. Muchas gracias to Jerusha and the local university students who volunteered as peer mentors. Tash, you’re the most respected gaffer of the land. Mahalos for your stoke and support. To our friends Jopay, Cheyenne, and Erin, Terra, Jeremy - thank you for caring for our community. Our Hoapili footballers and families are top shelf!
MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB + GOAT PARK - WINTER ‘23
From eating salsa to pulling our players around the flooded pitch on the kayak, this was our most creative bunch of footballers in our history. Gold laughs as we ran to Hukilau beach during 30 knot head winds while dodging jelly fish on the sand. Our parents stepped up during our Keiki vs parent game. However they lost, and had to make our players dinner. We fitted each player with a MFC medallion to remind them of the “Sí se puede” mindset. HUGE thanks to our former player, “Coach Tallie,” who stepped up to mentor our more apprehensive players. Lastly, thank you Lili who gifted our coaching staff with a jar of fresh honey and a drawing of all of Coach Chuck’s strategies - “¡too much salsa!”
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand.” - Brother Nelson Mandela
OUR SPONSORS ARE FAMILY
¡ABRAZO MATE!
Open and inclusive; this is what Abrazo Mate symbolizes. Abrazo Mate is here to help make the world a better place. They bring an open, accepting, and warm environment wherever they go. Gracias Abrazo for sponsoring three of our footballers who wouldn’t have had the means to be there otherwise during our Summer ‘22 Goat Park Session.
THE NIKE
We hope to bring too notch gear to the youth who deserve quality equipment because they deserve to be treated! Thank you for helping our youth feel taken care of on the pitch.
TAY STEELE FILMS LLC
Mālama Tay not only fills in as a sub trainer when we need, but he was the first to sponsor a player during the Spring 2021 session. When he’s not training on the pitch, or taking Gab’s garbage out, you will find him making videos that tell stories. Check him out http://taysteelefilms.com/
BURTON SNOWBOARDS
Thank you Uncle Jake Carpenter for bringing the world snowboards, and creating the Burton Chill Program to share the stoke for snowboarding with our youth.
BURTON CHILL
Chill is a positive youth development program where boardsports become a vehicle for empowerment. Revolving around a core value-driven curriculum, Chill programs consist of experiential learning activities, reflection, and discussion, paired with board sport lessons.
SCOREBOARD SPORTS
Support local quality sports gear. Thank you to McCale and Rick who are always promptly andKindly to get us the gear our gets deserve.
VERSURED INSURANCE
Wow, still grateful for this! The Versured team co sponsored our 19 players from Northwest Middle School in Rose Park Utah. A sincere thank you to Jeremy and his crew. Let them take care of your insurance needs just as they took care of our team.
BLUE IGUANA OF SALT LAKE CITY
Even looking at the pictures of their tacos from Hawaii satisfies my appetite. Kris Kappaert, Owner of Blue Iguana, has a heart of gold and co sponsored our Northwest Middle School team. Support taco stands that support our communities. Please eat at Blue Iguana for those who are an oceans distance away from a delectable Mexican dish.
AUNT JENNY LANE MAY
Jen asked how she could be involved in financially supporting our El Transito Nicaragua Strike Mission. Her and Coach Chuck are always swapping recipes so they came up with an idea to have her sponsor our staffs meal plan during their stay down South. From fresh lobster ($2.50 per pound), to eating avocados and mangos all day, we give Jen one abrazo and a cheers from a coke can for her generosity ¡Love you Jen!
JODI RICHEY
When we wakeboard and land a boosted air, we ask the driver to press the “stoke horn.” Jodi is one driver of the MFC that has been pushing our stoke horn since day one. As the Executive Director of a non profit herself, she has encouraged us that we can create positive change. Through text, phone call, Morse code etc, she’s been there to help. Thank you for believing in our work, and for your financial contribution towards our first international strike mission.
ABUELA LIGIA
When Coach Chuck moved from Nicaragua to Oahu in 2019, he met “Abuela” (Grandma). She had moved from Nicaragua 30 + years earlier and inspired us to one day get back to the country they both loved. Well, we went back and did work. Abuela provided us the funds to put on a piñata party for the kids during our Spring ‘22 camp, however Coach Chuck witnessed a piñata party go awry and realized the dangers in such activity. The funds were put towards a fresh cake, and the kids ate every crumb, literally. Thank you Abuela for being the panga boat’s motor behind our Nicaragua Strike Mission.
SHORELINE DIAGNOSTICS
Shoreline Diagnostics provides the innovation and tools necessary to personalize and provide a more “precision” medicinal approach to care for all patients. Mahalo nui loa to Shoreline for sponsoring our fall 2022 Mālama Football Club of North West Middle School.
INVICTUS 4
From legendary kicks that dethroned Wisconsin, to simple wisdom on how to best mold high school athletes, this Ute has been wealth of knowledge to the sports world. Scott Lieber prepares athletes spiritually, mentally and physically while running them through his Invictus 4 program. We salute Scott for sponsoring our Fall 2022 Mālama Football Club of North West Middle School. Thank you for your insights through this process.
HOW CAN I BE INVOLVED IN THE MĀLAMA FOOTBALL CLUB MOVEMENT?
Whether it’s through a financial donation or volunteering an hour of your time, we appreciate ANY support.
If you feel impressed to donate financially, we want you to feel connected to your contribution and see your donation in action. Give us a call and let’s figure out a way for you to feel connected to your donation.
Jen May from Falco and Sult made a donation. Together, we came up with a plan for her to fund our Nicaragua Project. Specifically, her donation was put towards providing the meals for our staff. Thanks to her we stayed hydrated and full of fresh lobster ($2.50 per pound).
We call ourselves the Town’s Club because without our town, there is no club. A sincere thank you for the stoke and support that fuels us.
808-354-6696
