August 7, 2025 • 20 mins
The beautiful game of soccer has reached nearly every corner of the globe, but until now, one nation has remained on the sidelines. The Marshall Islands stands as the last UN-recognized country never to have played a match, a distinction about to change thanks to an extraordinary grassroots effort with surprising ties to Northwest Arkansas.
Woody Watson, VP of North American Operations for the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation, shares the remarkable journey that began when his wife discovered an AP article about UK-based soccer enthusiasts working to bring the sport to the Marshall Islands. What caught Watson's attention was the connection to his new home in Northwest Arkansas. Springdale hosts the largest Marshallese population outside the Pacific, a community established when islanders relocated for employment opportunities following nuclear testing in their homeland.
The federation has developed multiple initiatives beyond the men's national team, including women's programs, youth development, and coach education. But what makes their story particularly compelling is the urgency behind their mission. With many Marshall Islands atolls sitting just feet above sea level, rising oceans threaten the very existence of the nation. Their award-winning "No Home Kit" campaign, featuring a white jersey with portions dissolved away to symbolize their eroding homeland, uses soccer as a platform to raise awareness about climate change.
The upcoming Outrigger Cup represents more than just the Marshall Islands' sporting debut; it's a race against time to establish a national soccer identity before climate change potentially alters their homeland forever. As Watson poignantly notes, they're "expediting this program because a nation that possibly might not exist in some capacity in 10 years is able to get their first match played." Through the dedication of volunteers working across multiple time zones, this small Pacific nation is about to make sporting history while highlighting one of our planet's most pressing challenges.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Pitch to Pro is the official podcast of Ozark United
FC.
This will be our platform totell our story about the club
and the special place that wecall home, northwest Arkansas.
This is a journey we want tobring you along for the ride.
We'll share what's going onbehind the curtain, help educate
the community at large aboutsoccer, our league, and give
(00:25):
updates on the progress of theclub along the way.
Together, we'll explore andunpack our journey to
professional soccer, the magicthat is NWA, our community, and
talk all things soccer from onthe pitch to behind the scenes.
Telling the story of our club.
Pitch to Pro podcast is proudlysponsored by PodcastVideoscom.
(00:46):
Podcastvideoscom is NorthwestArkansas' premier podcast
recording studio, equipped withindustry-leading equipment.
The recording studio andservices save you time, money
and hassle.
They are dedicated to helpingyou create, record and publish
high-quality podcasts for youraudience.
Be sure to check them out todayat podcastvideoscom.
(01:07):
Hello everybody and welcomeback to the Pitch the Pro
podcast.
I'm your host, wes Harris,managing Director for Ozark
United FC, northwest Arkansas'spro soccer club playing in the
United Soccer League.
Guys, I'm really excited aboutour topic today, so let's get
into it, get going.
Welcome our very special guest,mr Woody Watson, head of US
(01:27):
operations or, as he likes toput it, head of operations
between the ponds for theMarshall Islands Soccer
Federation.
Woody, welcome and thank youfor joining me today.
Man, hey, thanks for having me,I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
It sounds like you've done that a couple of times.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Just a couple.
Yeah, I think we're on episode46 or seven, I don't know.
I've couple times, just acouple.
Yeah, I think we're on episode46 or 7, I don't know.
I've kind of lost track at thispoint, but I appreciate you
coming on, man.
We have some awesome stuff totalk about.
You guys have done such anamazing job.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
We had you guys were actually one of our first
episodes with lloyd and we're atyeah, I wasn't able to make it
onto that episode, but I'm gladwe can make that connection and
start it.
What a year ago maybe?
Yeah, when they were first onhere.
So yeah, it's been fantastic.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
But you guys have done a ton, but from that point
until now, and we've got a lotto talk about.
But first I want folks to kindof understand you a little bit,
because you are here on theground in nwa in the us, you
know, helping these guys ontheir journey, um, which has
become your journey now too,right.
(02:26):
So give a little bit ofbackground on like you like are
you?
You know, I know, like many ofus, you moved to Northwest
Arkansas, not originally fromhere, but love it and call it,
at least for now, home, right.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So yeah, Um, so love that I'm here.
Uh, it's definitely my home now, and and I cannot see myself
living anywhere else I've got awife and a dog and a cat that we
just adopted a couple monthsago.
So we live down in Fayetteville, actually Not new to Northwest
Arkansas.
However, when I was about threeyears old, my family started
(02:58):
coming to Beaver Lake every yearfor Labor Day.
We'd spend about a week, grewup, going to Eureka Springs and
War Eagle Mill and doing all thethings out of Rocky Branch area
.
Um, before we even moved hereback in 23, um, starting the
COVID years, and my wife and Iwe'd just gotten engaged.
We were like, okay, smallfamilies, uh, let's, we just
want to get married now.
(03:19):
Short engagement, all aboutthat.
Let's go to Thorncrown Chapel.
You know something that Iremember from my childhood is
kind of secluded, um, so that'sjust another thing that tied us
to the area before.
Um, I even got brought out herefor some work.
Um, so everything that I hadknown from the past growing up,
uh, northwest Arkansas is great,and now I get to experience it
every single day of my life.
Um, and so it's pretty greatthat there's a couple of
(03:41):
different soccer opportunitiesthat have happened over the last
couple of years here.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, that's.
That's really cool that Ididn't know that actually in
Europe we've learned somethingnew every day, uh, about you and
and coming here, uh, as yougrew up, but originally from
kind of.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Casey area.
Right yeah, about an hour Southof downtown Kansas city small
town called Lewisburg, we've gota cider realm.
That's about that.
That's the main thing thatwe're known around the world for
, actually.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Okay, Nice Well.
I mean, you mentioned a littlesoccer.
How did you come to find thegame of soccer?
I always ask my guests thisquestion, uh, if they are in the
game of soccer at all.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
But I think I started playing recreationally when I
was about four years old,probably just my small Lewisburg
, uh kind of rural Kansas townleague Uh, and it was pretty fun
.
Um, I, I enjoyed what I wasdoing, uh, it was.
It was a great experience outthere.
And then I think when I wasabout maybe 11 or 12, uh started
into a club team.
I think it was Casey strikersat the time and Casey FC, I'm
(04:37):
not sure what it is now.
Yeah, um played club ball for alittle while.
Um really had a great timeplaying for my high school team
too Did pretty well for a coupleof years there and it's just
always stuck with me.
I've been a fan since they wereCasey Wiz back in the day
playing in Arrowhead.
I remember those games wentthrough the entire transition.
I was sporting up into theLegends area as well Still a
(05:00):
really big fan, looking forwardto Ozark as well getting started
down here, so it's something alittle closer, yeah, and so
soccer has always been a part ofmy life.
We've got the club coming inhere and then we'll get into a
little bit of how I came to bewith the Marshall Island Soccer
Federation as well.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah, that's awesome.
I love how you know.
I love just understanding howpeople found the game and where
their passion lies.
I love just understanding howpeople found the game and where
their passion lies.
But I really enjoyed the Wizlatest kind of retro kit
releases.
Over the last couple of yearsthey had some bangers.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
They really have.
They aren't ever short ofbringing color into it, and
that's something that I'vealways liked as well, where
we're definitely that sportingblue color that we had every.
I think it's like beginning ofjuly every year, something like
that.
We get a new retro kit too, andit really takes me back.
I've got one um from theoriginal days when they were
(05:54):
whiz, one when they're thewizards, um then that typical
like navy blue.
I've got some of thosehistorical jerseys too, one that
neola was game worn and signed.
Then, too, I was a really bigfan of him when I was growing up
.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, that's fun.
Shout out to Tony Good man.
He helped me out in my earlycareer as well in the soccer
side.
So fantastic, yeah, and he wasone of our first interviews at
Business of Soccer.
My old life, that's awesome.
So really, really fun.
Yeah, great guy.
He actually, chris, ran intohim at the XNA airport.
I think his son plays baseballat Oklahoma State.
(06:29):
Really.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Small world.
I apologize, tony and son,tony's son if I misspoke, but
anyway, they ran into each othernot too long ago.
They're going to be picking upthis episode Absolutely,
absolutely, immediately andsuing me for all I got.
But anyway, yeah, back to thetopic at hand.
How did you know?
Speaker 2 (06:47):
let's give a little bit of background for folks on
Marshall Islands, marshallIslands Soccer Federation and
just the story there, before weget into, kind of how you got
into it and what's toically backin the 1980s, I believe, there
were some testing that were doneout in the Marshall Islands in
(07:15):
the South Pacific that wasrelated to nuclear weapons
essentially at the time Fastforward a little bit there was
job opportunities that came tosome people from the Marshall
Islands and they actuallyrelocated some of their
population here into Springdale,worked for some of the local
poultry farms and manufacturersthere and since then the
(07:40):
population has just grown.
The community here is justamazing.
People know that they can comeand have a nice family oriented
cultural appreciation for anyonethat happens to visit from the
islands or ends up moving to theUnited States.
So there's a lot of historythat goes into the relationship
between the two countries.
I don't want to get into ittoday because I think this is
going to be focused a littlemore and there's other
(08:02):
historians that are a littlebetter known at it than I am,
but I'll go in and answer thequestion you're about to ask.
Next, the way that the MarshallIslands Soccer Federation came
to Northwest Arkansas.
I'll give another shout out tomy wife here because we moved
here in June of 2023.
(08:24):
I had just finished school,starting a new job, we had a new
house out in the country hereand she read a random AP article
about some guys in the UK thathave been on this podcast since
then Lloyd Owers and Matt Webb.
Last nation on earth to havenot played a match and to not
(08:49):
have FIFA representation.
So that is no grass pitches, noplayers suiting up together,
nothing like that that had everhappened for this.
There's some other nations outthere that have at least had
their games before, but we hadit not.
We did not at this time.
I digress.
Wife read this article in theAP, mentioned it to me, and one
(09:10):
of the facts that I had learnedabout this area as we moved here
, we wanted to, you know, kindof figure out where you're going
.
Springdale's the largestpopulation of marshallese
islanders outside pacific, and Itotally kind of slid into the
dms of lloyd and I was like, hey, we should talk about this
program.
I see what you're starting.
Uh, there's connection here inthe program.
(09:31):
I see what you're starting.
Uh, there's connection here inthe United States there is, um,
you know a lot of reasons.
If you're going to do kind of abase camp Springdale, arkansas,
it's going to be your place.
Um, it's a fantastic area thathas a lot of culture on its own.
Soccer is booming here, uh,we've got the Ozark team, and so
I think that if you're going tocontinue this project, as I
think you'd like to, it would bea good idea to come out here
(09:53):
and see what it's like.
And so everything kind of hasblossomed from there.
I don't think that either thethree of us or anybody else
involved with the program atthat time really knew the
direction they would go, and,and two years later you know
we're, we're getting ready totalk about the outrigger cup for
the rest of this episodeprobably, um, and and so we
(10:17):
recognize, uh, this is kind oflike a base camp, you know, uh,
the united states or othernations around the world.
They have a place where thenational team goes and
congregates and calls home, uh,essentially for their training
sessions.
People know where to go whenyou know you have the
international breaks, thingslike that.
I mean, that's what we'reessentially doing to Springdale,
(10:38):
arkansas.
Besides those that are based inMajuro and Kwajalein and the
islands out in the South Pacific.
A lot of our players are flyingin from there.
So that's really how it gotstarted.
And why Springdale?
Why Northwest Arkansas?
And here we are, you know, twoyears later, on the precipice of
one of the best events that thesport will have known, you know
(11:00):
, especially for a last team outthere, Just to bring it back to
perspective for people.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
you guys are about to play your first ever
international 11 v 11 soccermatch as a nation.
That's correct.
Like I don't think I canremember, recall or ever, not
just in my lifetime, but hearingabout when that has occurred
for another country.
That'd be a good deep dive.
(11:37):
Like when was the last time youknow?
Like when was the?
Speaker 2 (11:39):
last.
First, there's still nationsout there that aren't recognized
by FIFA as well, but they've atleast had a match.
Yeah, so this is definitely onefor the history books as the
last country that's recognizedby the UN that has not had a
match.
Yeah, so this is definitely aone for the history books as the
last country that's recognizedby the UN that has not had that.
So I think that that's what I'mgoing to be doing this weekend,
and have another talking pointas we go into this cup, because
(12:00):
there's going to be a lot ofconversations that happen
throughout the year, absolutelythe next week especially.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Yeah.
So let's get into it, let'stalk.
I mean, you've done all thiswork.
You've had what have you guysdone up until this point?
You've had a couple of camps,maybe a futsal like.
Talk a little bit about some ofthe stuff that you guys have
done, both maybe at the kind ofsenior level, but then also some
of the grassroots stuff thatthe guys have been doing on them
.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, absolutely so.
Right now, kind of how we'restructured is we have this men's
national team that's coming in.
We've had a women's nationalteam camp for the last two years
.
It's been very successful.
We have a group of about eightto ten women that fly in from
across the country, mostlyUS-based, some playing college
soccer, some that are still inhigh school and really excelling
at what they're doing.
(12:44):
We had hired a women's nationalcoach, katie Smith, who has
just gotten a recent promotionup to Xavier.
So she's doing very well and sowe're able to host that for the
last two years.
There is no sign of thatstopping in the future.
It's a really great pipelinethat we like to build, and
that's playing into phase two,and how do we get the women's
(13:07):
team to play in their firstmatch as well?
And then there's also thepipeline for the kids, and
there's a lot of children thatare playing in the islands right
now and they have it wrappedinto their school programming.
That was one of the firstthings that lloyd did out in the
islands work with some of theeducators out there and make
sure that it's not just a way tohave a competition but it's
(13:29):
also something that they can dofor, you know, daily activity,
yeah, it's something that can beplayed, sure, on a large grass
pitch, but you know, you canalso put a ball down on a
basketball court, you know, andplay some football.
So we've got a couple of thosedifferent areas.
The kids we can talk about theeducation as well.
We're developing coaches, bothon the islands and out here.
(13:50):
They're starting to structure aprofessional way for these
people to really grasp soccerfor the first time and move up
through the different ranks ofcoaching.
This is all going to strengthenthe pipeline of the players
that we have for the future too.
So everything that we're doingkind of starting them young, it
really pays off for the programlater.
(14:10):
And I know that's somethingthat has probably been talked
about on this podcast about theOzark Academy as well.
So we're definitely taking thatto heart.
On Friday, the 15th, during thisweek of events we talked about,
we're actually having a gettogether for the kids, fifth
through eighth graders, to havetwo training sessions with the
national team players, with thecoaches.
(14:32):
We're going to be out at SnorerMiddle School, found at one of
their fields, and then I'll givea shout out later to some of
the guys that are helping outwith that as well that are local
organizations part of thenonprofit athletic organization.
So we've got the men's team,we've got the women's team,
we've got coaching and we've gotthe kids that we're working
(14:54):
with as well.
That last piece that we'reputting together is the
sustainability and how do wegive back, not just to the
community here, but everybodyout on the island?
Um, one of our biggestinitiatives right now, uh, is
it's called the 1.5 degree andessentially we are expediting
this program as fast as we can.
Um, because, as you know, withclimate change and some of those
things that are out in theworld, the water's rising.
A lot of these atolls andislands out in the South Pacific
(15:18):
they're not more than a fewfeet above sea level at their
highest point.
So a big reason that we'rereally really accelerating this
program is to make sure that anation that possibly might not
exist in some capacity in 10years is able to get their first
mattress plate, is able to havesomething out there that says,
(15:40):
yes, we got this started time.
And that goes twofold becausethis brings so much exposure to
what is going on as well.
There's donations that fly inall the time to make sure that
we're giving back and makingsure that this sustainability
and especially the awarenessthat people have around the
world that this is happening.
These are real scenarios, realsituations, so those are really
(16:04):
the high level things.
We can get into any one ofthose if we want to, but that's
what we're working on right now,outside of some of the smaller
events we have.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
No, that's great.
I want to keep going on thesustainability piece, Talk a
little bit about the no Home Kitand what you guys did there,
and you guys actually talkedabout the awards you just won
and you know way out there inSpain.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Hopefully we can get a plug in to or a link to the
actual no home kit and showpeople about what it is.
But essentially it's kits arewhite secondary uniform that has
some pieces that have dissolvedoff of it, showing that slowly
the nation you knowmetaphorically is is being
eroded.
And that goes right along withwhat I was just mentioning
(16:50):
before this initiative and theprogram and what everybody on
the team in the UK did aboutthis.
It was actually giving an award.
Lloyd Overs actually got to flyout to Spain and collect this
award and I've got a nice littlepicture of him holding a plant
on the stage.
I keep that saved on my phone.
I really hope that he hearsthis.
(17:10):
But yeah, I keep that on myphone because I thought it was
hilarious.
But yeah, I keep that on myphone because I thought it was
hilarious.
But yeah, the initiative won anaward and each time that that
happens, that's not just one ofus spreading a link or talking
about this or doing a podcast,but these were actual things
that people at an internationallevel were recognizing for a lot
of the work that had gone in.
(17:31):
That's not just face level,that's the level down deeper
that, hey, what does this reallymean?
We see what you're doing, butlike what is the backend effects
of this going to happen?
So, especially if people arerecognizing, uh, the awards that
are given out sure, that'ssomething that comes of it, um,
but the exposure, again, is thenumber one thing we're going
after.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
And all of which are, like, I think, incredible.
Remind everybody, you guys areall volunteers at this point
right.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
We are Myself and Matt Webb joked about that
Different story about one of thepeople that we'll interact with
next week but, yes, we are allvolunteers.
This is a completely grassrootsprogram.
Everything that we have done sofar comes from the effort that
each of the people on our teamhas done, completely outside of
(18:25):
any payroll or work or anything.
This is just something we'repassionate about.
I didn't know that I would bethis involved when I first
signed on.
I thought it was going to be,you know, hey, I can help out
and give some connections whileyou're in the area, maybe set up
a few meetings, right.
But but it really turned intothings that we can be proud of,
that are physical, tangiblepieces that we had to work on
(18:51):
and show our actual results forand I don't like to think of it
in that way, essentially butwe've got a group of probably 20
, 25 people that are behind thescenes working on all this.
Probably half of them arecoming in for the event that
we're going to have in the nextcouple of weeks.
But we've got people that arereferees, that are broadcasting,
(19:13):
that have donated camerasupplies straight out to speedio
for that.
Um, people that have a lot ofanalytical background, know
football really well, that havestudied the game for years,
people that are haveinternational experience with
coaching.
Uh, myself, I I don't reallyhave, you know, uh, professional
soccer experience, but you know, I've known the area for a
little while now and I can helpset up some things to throw a
(19:36):
good soccer event.
I know what people would likeand so we all have really worked
really well as a team, eventhough I think it's 12 hours
difference out to the SouthPacific and then it's six hours
time difference the other wayover to the UK, so we're kind of
all working on differentschedules, time difference the
other way over to the UK, sowe're kind of all working on
different schedules, but thechat between us all is very
(20:04):
consistent on what we have towork together for it.
So I'm saying that this is ateam effort more than anything,
because we could have not doneit with one, two, three, five,
10 people.
It's taken a lot over the lasttwo years.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
No, I mean, these things are hard.
All these projects, whetherthey're national teams or local
clubs.
It's hard and takes dedicationand I just applaud you guys and
the entire team and anybodywho's pitching in to lean in and
be a part of the journey.
That's great.
So kudos and hats off to youguys.
(20:35):
Thanks for joining us on thisepisode of the Pitch to Pro
podcast.
Be sure to tune in again in twoweeks for the next installment
and check out the Stoppage Timeseries for a recap of today's
episode.
Be sure to find us at Pitch toPro on YouTube, instagram and
everywhere you get your podcasts.
Until next time.
Northwest Arkansas cheers.
Pitch to Pro is the official podcast of Ozark United
FC.
This will be our platform totell our story about the club
and the special place that wecall home, northwest Arkansas.
This is a journey we want tobring you along for the ride.
We'll share what's going onbehind the curtain, help educate
the community at large aboutsoccer, our league, and give
(00:25):
updates on the progress of theclub along the way.
Together, we'll explore andunpack our journey to
professional soccer, the magicthat is NWA, our community, and
talk all things soccer from onthe pitch to behind the scenes.
Telling the story of our club.
Pitch to Pro podcast is proudlysponsored by PodcastVideoscom.
(00:46):
Podcastvideoscom is NorthwestArkansas' premier podcast
recording studio, equipped withindustry-leading equipment.
The recording studio andservices save you time, money
and hassle.
They are dedicated to helpingyou create, record and publish
high-quality podcasts for youraudience.
Be sure to check them out todayat podcastvideoscom.
(01:07):
Hello everybody and welcomeback to the Pitch the Pro
podcast.
I'm your host, wes Harris,managing Director for Ozark
United FC, northwest Arkansas'spro soccer club playing in the
United Soccer League.
Guys, I'm really excited aboutour topic today, so let's get
into it, get going.
Welcome our very special guest,mr Woody Watson, head of US
(01:27):
operations or, as he likes toput it, head of operations
between the ponds for theMarshall Islands Soccer
Federation.
Woody, welcome and thank youfor joining me today.
Man, hey, thanks for having me,I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
It sounds like you've done that a couple of times.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Just a couple.
Yeah, I think we're on episode46 or seven, I don't know.
I've couple times, just acouple.
Yeah, I think we're on episode46 or 7, I don't know.
I've kind of lost track at thispoint, but I appreciate you
coming on, man.
We have some awesome stuff totalk about.
You guys have done such anamazing job.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
We had you guys were actually one of our first
episodes with lloyd and we're atyeah, I wasn't able to make it
onto that episode, but I'm gladwe can make that connection and
start it.
What a year ago maybe?
Yeah, when they were first onhere.
So yeah, it's been fantastic.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
But you guys have done a ton, but from that point
until now, and we've got a lotto talk about.
But first I want folks to kindof understand you a little bit,
because you are here on theground in nwa in the us, you
know, helping these guys ontheir journey, um, which has
become your journey now too,right.
(02:26):
So give a little bit ofbackground on like you like are
you?
You know, I know, like many ofus, you moved to Northwest
Arkansas, not originally fromhere, but love it and call it,
at least for now, home, right.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So yeah, Um, so love that I'm here.
Uh, it's definitely my home now, and and I cannot see myself
living anywhere else I've got awife and a dog and a cat that we
just adopted a couple monthsago.
So we live down in Fayetteville, actually Not new to Northwest
Arkansas.
However, when I was about threeyears old, my family started
(02:58):
coming to Beaver Lake every yearfor Labor Day.
We'd spend about a week, grewup, going to Eureka Springs and
War Eagle Mill and doing all thethings out of Rocky Branch area
.
Um, before we even moved hereback in 23, um, starting the
COVID years, and my wife and Iwe'd just gotten engaged.
We were like, okay, smallfamilies, uh, let's, we just
want to get married now.
(03:19):
Short engagement, all aboutthat.
Let's go to Thorncrown Chapel.
You know something that Iremember from my childhood is
kind of secluded, um, so that'sjust another thing that tied us
to the area before.
Um, I even got brought out herefor some work.
Um, so everything that I hadknown from the past growing up,
uh, northwest Arkansas is great,and now I get to experience it
every single day of my life.
Um, and so it's pretty greatthat there's a couple of
(03:41):
different soccer opportunitiesthat have happened over the last
couple of years here.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, that's.
That's really cool that Ididn't know that actually in
Europe we've learned somethingnew every day, uh, about you and
and coming here, uh, as yougrew up, but originally from
kind of.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Casey area.
Right yeah, about an hour Southof downtown Kansas city small
town called Lewisburg, we've gota cider realm.
That's about that.
That's the main thing thatwe're known around the world for
, actually.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Okay, Nice Well.
I mean, you mentioned a littlesoccer.
How did you come to find thegame of soccer?
I always ask my guests thisquestion, uh, if they are in the
game of soccer at all.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
But I think I started playing recreationally when I
was about four years old,probably just my small Lewisburg
, uh kind of rural Kansas townleague Uh, and it was pretty fun
.
Um, I, I enjoyed what I wasdoing, uh, it was.
It was a great experience outthere.
And then I think when I wasabout maybe 11 or 12, uh started
into a club team.
I think it was Casey strikersat the time and Casey FC, I'm
(04:37):
not sure what it is now.
Yeah, um played club ball for alittle while.
Um really had a great timeplaying for my high school team
too Did pretty well for a coupleof years there and it's just
always stuck with me.
I've been a fan since they wereCasey Wiz back in the day
playing in Arrowhead.
I remember those games wentthrough the entire transition.
I was sporting up into theLegends area as well Still a
(05:00):
really big fan, looking forwardto Ozark as well getting started
down here, so it's something alittle closer, yeah, and so
soccer has always been a part ofmy life.
We've got the club coming inhere and then we'll get into a
little bit of how I came to bewith the Marshall Island Soccer
Federation as well.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah, that's awesome.
I love how you know.
I love just understanding howpeople found the game and where
their passion lies.
I love just understanding howpeople found the game and where
their passion lies.
But I really enjoyed the Wizlatest kind of retro kit
releases.
Over the last couple of yearsthey had some bangers.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
They really have.
They aren't ever short ofbringing color into it, and
that's something that I'vealways liked as well, where
we're definitely that sportingblue color that we had every.
I think it's like beginning ofjuly every year, something like
that.
We get a new retro kit too, andit really takes me back.
I've got one um from theoriginal days when they were
(05:54):
whiz, one when they're thewizards, um then that typical
like navy blue.
I've got some of thosehistorical jerseys too, one that
neola was game worn and signed.
Then, too, I was a really bigfan of him when I was growing up
.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, that's fun.
Shout out to Tony Good man.
He helped me out in my earlycareer as well in the soccer
side.
So fantastic, yeah, and he wasone of our first interviews at
Business of Soccer.
My old life, that's awesome.
So really, really fun.
Yeah, great guy.
He actually, chris, ran intohim at the XNA airport.
I think his son plays baseballat Oklahoma State.
(06:29):
Really.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Small world.
I apologize, tony and son,tony's son if I misspoke, but
anyway, they ran into each othernot too long ago.
They're going to be picking upthis episode Absolutely,
absolutely, immediately andsuing me for all I got.
But anyway, yeah, back to thetopic at hand.
How did you know?
Speaker 2 (06:47):
let's give a little bit of background for folks on
Marshall Islands, marshallIslands Soccer Federation and
just the story there, before weget into, kind of how you got
into it and what's toically backin the 1980s, I believe, there
were some testing that were doneout in the Marshall Islands in
(07:15):
the South Pacific that wasrelated to nuclear weapons
essentially at the time Fastforward a little bit there was
job opportunities that came tosome people from the Marshall
Islands and they actuallyrelocated some of their
population here into Springdale,worked for some of the local
poultry farms and manufacturersthere and since then the
(07:40):
population has just grown.
The community here is justamazing.
People know that they can comeand have a nice family oriented
cultural appreciation for anyonethat happens to visit from the
islands or ends up moving to theUnited States.
So there's a lot of historythat goes into the relationship
between the two countries.
I don't want to get into ittoday because I think this is
going to be focused a littlemore and there's other
(08:02):
historians that are a littlebetter known at it than I am,
but I'll go in and answer thequestion you're about to ask.
Next, the way that the MarshallIslands Soccer Federation came
to Northwest Arkansas.
I'll give another shout out tomy wife here because we moved
here in June of 2023.
(08:24):
I had just finished school,starting a new job, we had a new
house out in the country hereand she read a random AP article
about some guys in the UK thathave been on this podcast since
then Lloyd Owers and Matt Webb.
Last nation on earth to havenot played a match and to not
(08:49):
have FIFA representation.
So that is no grass pitches, noplayers suiting up together,
nothing like that that had everhappened for this.
There's some other nations outthere that have at least had
their games before, but we hadit not.
We did not at this time.
I digress.
Wife read this article in theAP, mentioned it to me, and one
(09:10):
of the facts that I had learnedabout this area as we moved here
, we wanted to, you know, kindof figure out where you're going
.
Springdale's the largestpopulation of marshallese
islanders outside pacific, and Itotally kind of slid into the
dms of lloyd and I was like, hey, we should talk about this
program.
I see what you're starting.
Uh, there's connection here inthe program.
(09:31):
I see what you're starting.
Uh, there's connection here inthe United States there is, um,
you know a lot of reasons.
If you're going to do kind of abase camp Springdale, arkansas,
it's going to be your place.
Um, it's a fantastic area thathas a lot of culture on its own.
Soccer is booming here, uh,we've got the Ozark team, and so
I think that if you're going tocontinue this project, as I
think you'd like to, it would bea good idea to come out here
(09:53):
and see what it's like.
And so everything kind of hasblossomed from there.
I don't think that either thethree of us or anybody else
involved with the program atthat time really knew the
direction they would go, and,and two years later you know
we're, we're getting ready totalk about the outrigger cup for
the rest of this episodeprobably, um, and and so we
(10:17):
recognize, uh, this is kind oflike a base camp, you know, uh,
the united states or othernations around the world.
They have a place where thenational team goes and
congregates and calls home, uh,essentially for their training
sessions.
People know where to go whenyou know you have the
international breaks, thingslike that.
I mean, that's what we'reessentially doing to Springdale,
(10:38):
arkansas.
Besides those that are based inMajuro and Kwajalein and the
islands out in the South Pacific.
A lot of our players are flyingin from there.
So that's really how it gotstarted.
And why Springdale?
Why Northwest Arkansas?
And here we are, you know, twoyears later, on the precipice of
one of the best events that thesport will have known, you know
(11:00):
, especially for a last team outthere, Just to bring it back to
perspective for people.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
you guys are about to play your first ever
international 11 v 11 soccermatch as a nation.
That's correct.
Like I don't think I canremember, recall or ever, not
just in my lifetime, but hearingabout when that has occurred
for another country.
That'd be a good deep dive.
(11:37):
Like when was the last time youknow?
Like when was the?
Speaker 2 (11:39):
last.
First, there's still nationsout there that aren't recognized
by FIFA as well, but they've atleast had a match.
Yeah, so this is definitely onefor the history books as the
last country that's recognizedby the UN that has not had a
match.
Yeah, so this is definitely aone for the history books as the
last country that's recognizedby the UN that has not had that.
So I think that that's what I'mgoing to be doing this weekend,
and have another talking pointas we go into this cup, because
(12:00):
there's going to be a lot ofconversations that happen
throughout the year, absolutelythe next week especially.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Yeah.
So let's get into it, let'stalk.
I mean, you've done all thiswork.
You've had what have you guysdone up until this point?
You've had a couple of camps,maybe a futsal like.
Talk a little bit about some ofthe stuff that you guys have
done, both maybe at the kind ofsenior level, but then also some
of the grassroots stuff thatthe guys have been doing on them
.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, absolutely so.
Right now, kind of how we'restructured is we have this men's
national team that's coming in.
We've had a women's nationalteam camp for the last two years
.
It's been very successful.
We have a group of about eightto ten women that fly in from
across the country, mostlyUS-based, some playing college
soccer, some that are still inhigh school and really excelling
at what they're doing.
(12:44):
We had hired a women's nationalcoach, katie Smith, who has
just gotten a recent promotionup to Xavier.
So she's doing very well and sowe're able to host that for the
last two years.
There is no sign of thatstopping in the future.
It's a really great pipelinethat we like to build, and
that's playing into phase two,and how do we get the women's
(13:07):
team to play in their firstmatch as well?
And then there's also thepipeline for the kids, and
there's a lot of children thatare playing in the islands right
now and they have it wrappedinto their school programming.
That was one of the firstthings that lloyd did out in the
islands work with some of theeducators out there and make
sure that it's not just a way tohave a competition but it's
(13:29):
also something that they can dofor, you know, daily activity,
yeah, it's something that can beplayed, sure, on a large grass
pitch, but you know, you canalso put a ball down on a
basketball court, you know, andplay some football.
So we've got a couple of thosedifferent areas.
The kids we can talk about theeducation as well.
We're developing coaches, bothon the islands and out here.
(13:50):
They're starting to structure aprofessional way for these
people to really grasp soccerfor the first time and move up
through the different ranks ofcoaching.
This is all going to strengthenthe pipeline of the players
that we have for the future too.
So everything that we're doingkind of starting them young, it
really pays off for the programlater.
(14:10):
And I know that's somethingthat has probably been talked
about on this podcast about theOzark Academy as well.
So we're definitely taking thatto heart.
On Friday, the 15th, during thisweek of events we talked about,
we're actually having a gettogether for the kids, fifth
through eighth graders, to havetwo training sessions with the
national team players, with thecoaches.
(14:32):
We're going to be out at SnorerMiddle School, found at one of
their fields, and then I'll givea shout out later to some of
the guys that are helping outwith that as well that are local
organizations part of thenonprofit athletic organization.
So we've got the men's team,we've got the women's team,
we've got coaching and we've gotthe kids that we're working
(14:54):
with as well.
That last piece that we'reputting together is the
sustainability and how do wegive back, not just to the
community here, but everybodyout on the island?
Um, one of our biggestinitiatives right now, uh, is
it's called the 1.5 degree andessentially we are expediting
this program as fast as we can.
Um, because, as you know, withclimate change and some of those
things that are out in theworld, the water's rising.
A lot of these atolls andislands out in the South Pacific
(15:18):
they're not more than a fewfeet above sea level at their
highest point.
So a big reason that we'rereally really accelerating this
program is to make sure that anation that possibly might not
exist in some capacity in 10years is able to get their first
mattress plate, is able to havesomething out there that says,
(15:40):
yes, we got this started time.
And that goes twofold becausethis brings so much exposure to
what is going on as well.
There's donations that fly inall the time to make sure that
we're giving back and makingsure that this sustainability
and especially the awarenessthat people have around the
world that this is happening.
These are real scenarios, realsituations, so those are really
(16:04):
the high level things.
We can get into any one ofthose if we want to, but that's
what we're working on right now,outside of some of the smaller
events we have.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
No, that's great.
I want to keep going on thesustainability piece, Talk a
little bit about the no Home Kitand what you guys did there,
and you guys actually talkedabout the awards you just won
and you know way out there inSpain.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Hopefully we can get a plug in to or a link to the
actual no home kit and showpeople about what it is.
But essentially it's kits arewhite secondary uniform that has
some pieces that have dissolvedoff of it, showing that slowly
the nation you knowmetaphorically is is being
eroded.
And that goes right along withwhat I was just mentioning
(16:50):
before this initiative and theprogram and what everybody on
the team in the UK did aboutthis.
It was actually giving an award.
Lloyd Overs actually got to flyout to Spain and collect this
award and I've got a nice littlepicture of him holding a plant
on the stage.
I keep that saved on my phone.
I really hope that he hearsthis.
(17:10):
But yeah, I keep that on myphone because I thought it was
hilarious.
But yeah, I keep that on myphone because I thought it was
hilarious.
But yeah, the initiative won anaward and each time that that
happens, that's not just one ofus spreading a link or talking
about this or doing a podcast,but these were actual things
that people at an internationallevel were recognizing for a lot
of the work that had gone in.
(17:31):
That's not just face level,that's the level down deeper
that, hey, what does this reallymean?
We see what you're doing, butlike what is the backend effects
of this going to happen?
So, especially if people arerecognizing, uh, the awards that
are given out sure, that'ssomething that comes of it, um,
but the exposure, again, is thenumber one thing we're going
after.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
And all of which are, like, I think, incredible.
Remind everybody, you guys areall volunteers at this point
right.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
We are Myself and Matt Webb joked about that
Different story about one of thepeople that we'll interact with
next week but, yes, we are allvolunteers.
This is a completely grassrootsprogram.
Everything that we have done sofar comes from the effort that
each of the people on our teamhas done, completely outside of
(18:25):
any payroll or work or anything.
This is just something we'repassionate about.
I didn't know that I would bethis involved when I first
signed on.
I thought it was going to be,you know, hey, I can help out
and give some connections whileyou're in the area, maybe set up
a few meetings, right.
But but it really turned intothings that we can be proud of,
that are physical, tangiblepieces that we had to work on
(18:51):
and show our actual results forand I don't like to think of it
in that way, essentially butwe've got a group of probably 20
, 25 people that are behind thescenes working on all this.
Probably half of them arecoming in for the event that
we're going to have in the nextcouple of weeks.
But we've got people that arereferees, that are broadcasting,
(19:13):
that have donated camerasupplies straight out to speedio
for that.
Um, people that have a lot ofanalytical background, know
football really well, that havestudied the game for years,
people that are haveinternational experience with
coaching.
Uh, myself, I I don't reallyhave, you know, uh, professional
soccer experience, but you know, I've known the area for a
little while now and I can helpset up some things to throw a
(19:36):
good soccer event.
I know what people would likeand so we all have really worked
really well as a team, eventhough I think it's 12 hours
difference out to the SouthPacific and then it's six hours
time difference the other wayover to the UK, so we're kind of
all working on differentschedules, time difference the
other way over to the UK, sowe're kind of all working on
different schedules, but thechat between us all is very
(20:04):
consistent on what we have towork together for it.
So I'm saying that this is ateam effort more than anything,
because we could have not doneit with one, two, three, five,
10 people.
It's taken a lot over the lasttwo years.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
No, I mean, these things are hard.
All these projects, whetherthey're national teams or local
clubs.
It's hard and takes dedicationand I just applaud you guys and
the entire team and anybodywho's pitching in to lean in and
be a part of the journey.
That's great.
So kudos and hats off to youguys.
(20:35):
Thanks for joining us on thisepisode of the Pitch to Pro
podcast.
Be sure to tune in again in twoweeks for the next installment
and check out the Stoppage Timeseries for a recap of today's
episode.
Be sure to find us at Pitch toPro on YouTube, instagram and
everywhere you get your podcasts.
Until next time.
Northwest Arkansas cheers.
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