August 28, 2025 • 16 mins
Soccer history is coming to Northwest Arkansas! The Ozark United FC team reveals exclusive details about the upcoming Outrigger Challenge Cup, a groundbreaking international soccer tournament featuring teams from the US Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, and most notably, the Marshall Islands, who will be playing their first-ever international match.
Set for August 13-16 at Springdale High School's Jarrell Williams Stadium, this tournament represents far more than just competitive matches. It's a celebration of underrepresented island nations and a unique cultural exchange opportunity for our community. The hosts share the compelling story of how they've organized this historic event, from coordinating international teams to partnering with local businesses and schools. What makes this tournament particularly special is its community focus; all ticket proceeds (just $5 per match) will directly benefit Springdale High School's soccer programs.
The podcast offers a comprehensive breakdown of the tournament schedule, including the Marshall Islands' historic debut on August 14th, which will follow Ozark United's U19 Academy team playing their first official match. Beyond the competition, listeners will learn about additional activities, including opening ceremonies and closing celebrations. The hosts also reveal their vision for making this an annual tradition, with next year's tournament strategically planned to coincide with the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Whether you're a soccer enthusiast, cultural ambassador, or simply looking for a unique community event, mark your calendars and be part of something truly historic. Can't attend in person? The hosts share how matches will be streamed online, making this milestone accessible to viewers worldwide.
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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 podcast videoscom.
(00:46):
Podcast videoscom is northwestarkansas's 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):
Let's talk about you know howyou guys are going to play your
first match.
You're hosting a event.
Talk a little bit about thatright here in Northwest Arkansas
in the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
We are.
So we're actually going to beable to bring international
football to Northwest Arkansas,I believe, for the first time.
I haven't looked at all thehistory books, but I think that
this may be the first time thatwe've had an international match
that's going to be hosted outin Springdale.
Specifically, it's going to becalled the Outrigger Challenge
Cup.
Officially, technically, thisis the second iteration of the
(01:40):
event.
Last year we were able to hostan inter-island competition, uh,
between majiro quadrillion, Ibelieve.
Uh, micronesia and a coupleother uh teams were able to take
part.
Um, it was small-sided outthere.
Uh, it wasn't the 11 v11 thatwe know.
So this year annual uh secondannual event we are bringing the
(02:02):
us, virgin islands, turks,caicos, and we're even going to
be including the U19 Academy forOzark United.
We're incredibly excited aboutthat, as we're hosting here in
Northwest Arkansas, being ableto include both programs that
are kind of coming up at thesame time.
It's going to be an incredibleevent because you're pulling
(02:22):
from two different sources.
Well, you've got people thatare local and love the game and
have seen Academy football andall things like that, and we may
be getting a lot of people thathaven't watched soccer before,
but they understand the culturalimpact of it too.
So this is going to be a greatevent.
We'll be holding matches on the13th.
(02:43):
It's going to be US VirginIslands versus Turks and Caicos.
On that first match, we're allhosted at Springdale High School
, the new stadium that they'vejust had renovated out there.
And then the Marshall Islandsare going to be playing their
first match on Thursday, august14th, at 8 pm on that same field
(03:04):
.
Yes, and so we're same field,amazing, yes, and so we're
definitely excited to get thatgoing.
We're going to have the teamstart flying in next Friday, I
believe, and so things arestarting to get really real.
Yeah, a place that we'restaying.
I'll give my plug out to MountSequoia Center in Fayetteville.
They have been more thanaccommodating, with everything
(03:24):
we need.
It's kind of a cool scenariothat may not happen too often.
Koya Center in FayettevilleThey've been more than
accommodating, with everythingwe need.
It's kind of a cool scenariothat may not happen too often,
but we're going to have allthree teams staying in the same
area, kind of cohabitatingtogether.
This is obviously a first eventof its kind for the Marshall
Islands, but it's really more ofa tournament that brings
awareness to the island nations,the smaller, underrepresented,
(03:45):
the ones that may not make it toa fifa world cup or ever, ever
so, where we're really excitedto have those smaller nations
flying.
They're excited too.
They're bringing full squads um, people that have been playing
and professional,semi-professional, collegiate
all the different levels offootball are going to be here
and it's going to be so excitingthat's great.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
So August 14th 2025, mark the date.
Yes, first ever match for theMarshall Islands.
That's really cool.
Yeah, woody's going to get atattoo, maybe Lloyd.
No, I don't want to, maybeLloyd.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
But we've got a whole bunch of series of things that
are happening.
All the teams are going to betraining at the same location.
Springdale High School is justfantastic to work with Eric
Burnett, one of the athleticdirectors out there.
He has just championed thisevent as well and made it so
hospitable to work with us,letting us use their facilities
(04:48):
and everything.
If you haven't been out there,just go to check out how cool
the stadium is.
They've got a massive board.
The field is just immaculate,you know kind of a really,
really class stadium, and we'reexcited to be able to work with
them and get all of our teamstraining and playing there for
the entire week.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
So, speaking of stadium, woody, can I attend
these matches?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Of course, you can attend.
Yes, we're going to havetickets that are available at
the gate.
Okay, right now they're goingto be $5 per match.
So come on out.
We've got the Wednesday match.
That's US Virgin Islands versusTurson Caicos.
It's going to be held, like Isaid, at Gerald Williams Stadium
, springdale High School.
We have our first MarshallIslands match.
That's taking place on August14th.
(05:33):
That will be the second of adoubleheader.
Yes, the first game is going tofeature Ozark United U19
Academy team, I believe fortheir first match as well, since
they have had rosters announced.
Yeah, their first officialmatch.
That's going to be fun.
We're going to have them suitup in their new kits as well.
Eno, lever and America's CarMart and Children's out there
(05:56):
too.
Fantastic, and all the workthat's gone on with that too.
It's just brilliant.
Then the last matches are goingto wrap up on Saturday, august
16th.
The first match is going to beat 1 pm and then the second
match is going to be at 4.
We'll have opening ceremoniesthat second night of matches.
So on Thursday, before theMarshall Islands plays theirs,
(06:18):
we're going to have somefestivities out at the stadium.
Bring all your kids.
It's going to be a historicmoment where we're going to make
everything pretty incrediblefor all this cultural awareness
that comes up and make sure thateverything's really documented,
because people are going towant to see this.
Yeah, absolutely.
We have a lot of broadcastingpeople that are very interested
(06:41):
as well, that want to make surethat the story is told, and then
we'll wrap up, like I said, onthe 16th.
On Saturday, we'll have awardspresented.
We've got some really coolmedals to give out for the
champions.
We've got a Best Player trophy,and then we've got a really
nice champion of the tournamenttrophy as well.
If anybody wants to come out,they're welcome to come to Mount
(07:03):
Sequoia that evening too, andwe're going to have another
closing ceremony betweeneverybody.
That's there, kind of like aparty to wrap everything up
before people depart the nextday yeah, that's amazing, and
the proceeds of the tickets,those go yeah, that's the
community.
Yeah, that's one of the bestparts about this.
Is that, um, for every ticketsold for people that go and turn
(07:24):
up in stadium, all of thatmoney goes right back to
Springdale High School.
It's going to go directly tothe men's and women's soccer
team, which, right now in theworld, every little dollar that
can go back to schools is justfantastic.
So that's one of the best partsis that, yes, we're being able
to showcase what we have andmake this a huge you know,
international cultural event,but we're not forgetting about
(07:46):
where our roots are.
Really.
We're in Springdale, we're inthis great little corner in the
state, and we want to make surethat we're lifting everybody up
as we do this, and that's kindof our way of giving back, not
only for them, letting us usetheir amazing stadium and
everything there too, but wewant to make sure that soccer is
supported in the communitiesall around.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Absolutely, I love that, and so you know they're to
historic or they're to witnesshistoric event, but also support
, you know, local community,Absolutely, so that's awesome.
So talk a little bit about youknow how how does this
tournament, how's it going toimpact?
You know NWA, other than youknow what we just talked about,
which was you know, obviously,other than you know what we just
(08:26):
talked about, which was youknow, obviously, the impact for
springdale uh, men's and women'shigh school soccer yeah, sure,
um, so we're hoping that youknow all.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
What is it?
500 000 plus show up to thesegames probably won't happen, but
it would be really cool, um,what it means long term for our
organization.
We will still have our annualwomen's camp.
That's going to be the nextthing that we plan out.
I think the last two years it'sbeen in February or so.
So that's what we'll startgetting on to.
(08:56):
Next, if we want to talk aboutwhat we're doing with the kids,
we have coaching clinics thatare going on right now and
making sure that the people thatare local, that want to be
involved in coaching soccer, areable to.
So we've got some traininginitiatives going on there.
And again, that feeds rightback in to working with some of
the kids.
And especially, we've workedwith Joe Mardale Pena.
(09:16):
He's part of the Islander YouthAthletic Outreach Program
that's based out of Springdaleand it works with all the
different kids that areMarshallese and other from all
the island nations.
So we've got that.
That's going to be ongoing aswell.
We're going to have trainingfor the kids to work together.
You know, grow up togetherplaying the great game, and then
it feeds in to what we're goingto have is the third annual
(09:40):
Outrigger Cup.
There's this little startuptournament that's coming to the
United States next year.
It's called the FIFA World.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Cup and's actually going to be startup.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, so we're planning to have our Outrigger
Cup moved up a couple monthscompared to where it is this
year, and we hope to reallygather some of that energy that
people are feeling towards theWorld Cup.
Um, they're going to be, youknow, feeding for soccer and
ready for it to happen.
Um, there's a lot of peoplethat aren't going to be able to
(10:12):
go to the games.
Yes, you know, a lottery justto get tickets.
Tickets are expensive, you haveto travel, um, and a lot of
these things just aren'tavailable to a lot of people,
and so what we want to do ismake this, you know,
international football,accessible to everybody that's
in the region as well that maynot be able to go up to Kansas
City, to Dallas, to St Louis,wherever they're having the
(10:34):
games.
It just isn't possiblesometimes.
So, two weeks give or takebefore the World Cup, we're
actually going to be doing thesame thing next year and on and
on, but we're really excited forthe opportunity of what this
year sets up in the future.
This isn't just a kind of oneand done, where we're really
(10:55):
kind of positioning ourselveswith different organizations in
Northwest Arkansas, I'll getexperience payable, like Swar
Springdale, slim's Chickens,ones that have helped us out
already in a few different ways.
We've started thesepartnerships that aren't just
hey, can you help out this year?
What can we do for catering?
(11:16):
Are you able to help us outwith marketing or merchandise?
These are conversations that wehave about two, three, five
years in the future.
They really see it as a biginvestment into the area as well
, and we're really excited thatit's not just a one and done.
As happy and tired as we areright now about about this year,
(11:36):
uh, it's, you know, going to bea week off maybe, and then we
start planning for the next one.
Yeah, um, and that's just kindof how it rolls.
And so we really want to makesure that soccer is brought to
this area, um, and everybody hasaccess to it at any stage, not
just people that are playingrecord recreationally, not just
people that want, people thatwant to go and see a
(11:57):
semi-professional andprofessional match that's coming
soon too but keep internationalsoccer coming to Northwest
Arkansas, because it just bringsso much more attention to the
area, to everything that's gotgoing on here and all those
other extracurriculars thathappen that not everybody gets
to know about, because we've gota good little corner in the
(12:17):
state here that we hope thateverybody can experience as well
.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah, absolutely, and I think that's so well put and
I just love to watch you guyscontinue to grow and build what
you're doing.
And you know.
Again, I just want to say Icommend you guys for you know,
leaning in and being a part ofthe journey and just helping.
This is the I always tellpeople.
(12:42):
You know that.
Why do you like your job andall of that and it's you know,
the pro team when it gets here,great That'll be.
You know I'm so excited for youknow what that'll mean and
going to the stadium and uh, to,to matches and to be able to do
that and support it.
But what I love most is is howsoccer just brings people
(13:03):
together.
Um, and it's the universalhandshake is, uh, dropping a
ball at at our feet and justsaying, you know, it's a nice
anything so simple too, exactly,and so it's.
It's just, um, doing goodthrough soccer and helping bring
people together and build acommunity.
So, and there's no betterexample of that that I can think
of right now.
Then then, what you guys aredoing with the Marshall Island
(13:25):
soccer.
So, um, any, any last words forfolks in NWA and coming out
again, I think it's the dates,just remind people and then also
can they watch it if they can'tmake it out, for whatever
reason.
And just where should people gofor more info?
That kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, so we're about two weeks out now.
First match is going to be onWednesday the 13th, taking place
Again all of these matches atSpringdale High School.
We're going to have the firstMarshallese game on Thursday,
august 14th.
We're going to have adoubleheader that day, as well
as a doubleheader again onSaturday where all four teams
are going to be playing OzarkUnited, united teams included.
(14:07):
If you're interested and have akid in the area that wants to
go to a free clinic, we have agroup that is going to be
starting on the friday nightbetween those games at sonora
middle school more details tocome about.
That is going to be for fifththrough eighth graders, divided
into two different sessions.
Yes, we do have links for peoplethat are not local or people
(14:29):
that you know can't make it outto the game.
We'll be able to drop that linkto make sure that that's
attached to this.
It.
It will be streaming.
Again, we have really goodpartners at Speedio that are
providing cameras, helping uswith software and getting all
that set up Really great peoplethat have put in a lot to this
project as well.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
That's great, so remind folks on where they can
go for more info.
You guys have a website.
You can get to social media.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Yeah, it's a really simple website, rmisoccer and
you can go on there find any ofthe information.
There's a lot of differentmedia that's being added each
day.
We've just recently announcedour squad list.
We have people that got theirletters.
For the first time, we havevideo of them opening up saying
just what it means to beselected for the first team for
(15:11):
the first match.
It's just incredible, for thefirst match.
It's just incredible.
So, if you can go there, youcan find GoFundMe that we still
have.
We're taking donations of alltime, all kinds.
We are a charitableorganization.
If anybody wants to get intouch about working together
next year as well.
Like I said, this is an annualproject.
It's not going away.
It's really big to the area and, the most important thing,
(15:33):
thank you for supporting thegame, thank you for supporting
Northwest Arkansas, thank youfor supporting the Marshallese
community as we go into a really, really historical moment in
the words of soccer out there.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Yeah, thank you, woody.
I love that and can't wait tobe a part of the event and be
there, not going to miss it forthe world.
So appreciate everything thatyou guys are doing and best of
luck to you guys and putting ona great event.
So that'll do it for thisepisode of Pitch the Pro.
We hope you enjoyed it.
Be sure to catch all of ourepisodes on pitchtheprocom or
look for us on Pitch the ProYouTube, spotify, apple,
(16:11):
wherever you get your podcastsfor more content until next time
.
Northwest Arkansas Cheers.
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.
(16:32):
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 podcast videoscom.
(00:46):
Podcast videoscom is northwestarkansas's 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):
Let's talk about you know howyou guys are going to play your
first match.
You're hosting a event.
Talk a little bit about thatright here in Northwest Arkansas
in the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
We are.
So we're actually going to beable to bring international
football to Northwest Arkansas,I believe, for the first time.
I haven't looked at all thehistory books, but I think that
this may be the first time thatwe've had an international match
that's going to be hosted outin Springdale.
Specifically, it's going to becalled the Outrigger Challenge
Cup.
Officially, technically, thisis the second iteration of the
(01:40):
event.
Last year we were able to hostan inter-island competition, uh,
between majiro quadrillion, Ibelieve.
Uh, micronesia and a coupleother uh teams were able to take
part.
Um, it was small-sided outthere.
Uh, it wasn't the 11 v11 thatwe know.
So this year annual uh secondannual event we are bringing the
(02:02):
us, virgin islands, turks,caicos, and we're even going to
be including the U19 Academy forOzark United.
We're incredibly excited aboutthat, as we're hosting here in
Northwest Arkansas, being ableto include both programs that
are kind of coming up at thesame time.
It's going to be an incredibleevent because you're pulling
(02:22):
from two different sources.
Well, you've got people thatare local and love the game and
have seen Academy football andall things like that, and we may
be getting a lot of people thathaven't watched soccer before,
but they understand the culturalimpact of it too.
So this is going to be a greatevent.
We'll be holding matches on the13th.
(02:43):
It's going to be US VirginIslands versus Turks and Caicos.
On that first match, we're allhosted at Springdale High School
, the new stadium that they'vejust had renovated out there.
And then the Marshall Islandsare going to be playing their
first match on Thursday, august14th, at 8 pm on that same field
(03:04):
.
Yes, and so we're same field,amazing, yes, and so we're
definitely excited to get thatgoing.
We're going to have the teamstart flying in next Friday, I
believe, and so things arestarting to get really real.
Yeah, a place that we'restaying.
I'll give my plug out to MountSequoia Center in Fayetteville.
They have been more thanaccommodating, with everything
(03:24):
we need.
It's kind of a cool scenariothat may not happen too often.
Koya Center in FayettevilleThey've been more than
accommodating, with everythingwe need.
It's kind of a cool scenariothat may not happen too often,
but we're going to have allthree teams staying in the same
area, kind of cohabitatingtogether.
This is obviously a first eventof its kind for the Marshall
Islands, but it's really more ofa tournament that brings
awareness to the island nations,the smaller, underrepresented,
(03:45):
the ones that may not make it toa fifa world cup or ever, ever
so, where we're really excitedto have those smaller nations
flying.
They're excited too.
They're bringing full squads um, people that have been playing
and professional,semi-professional, collegiate
all the different levels offootball are going to be here
and it's going to be so excitingthat's great.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
So August 14th 2025, mark the date.
Yes, first ever match for theMarshall Islands.
That's really cool.
Yeah, woody's going to get atattoo, maybe Lloyd.
No, I don't want to, maybeLloyd.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
But we've got a whole bunch of series of things that
are happening.
All the teams are going to betraining at the same location.
Springdale High School is justfantastic to work with Eric
Burnett, one of the athleticdirectors out there.
He has just championed thisevent as well and made it so
hospitable to work with us,letting us use their facilities
(04:48):
and everything.
If you haven't been out there,just go to check out how cool
the stadium is.
They've got a massive board.
The field is just immaculate,you know kind of a really,
really class stadium, and we'reexcited to be able to work with
them and get all of our teamstraining and playing there for
the entire week.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
So, speaking of stadium, woody, can I attend
these matches?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Of course, you can attend.
Yes, we're going to havetickets that are available at
the gate.
Okay, right now they're goingto be $5 per match.
So come on out.
We've got the Wednesday match.
That's US Virgin Islands versusTurson Caicos.
It's going to be held, like Isaid, at Gerald Williams Stadium
, springdale High School.
We have our first MarshallIslands match.
That's taking place on August14th.
(05:33):
That will be the second of adoubleheader.
Yes, the first game is going tofeature Ozark United U19
Academy team, I believe fortheir first match as well, since
they have had rosters announced.
Yeah, their first officialmatch.
That's going to be fun.
We're going to have them suitup in their new kits as well.
Eno, lever and America's CarMart and Children's out there
(05:56):
too.
Fantastic, and all the workthat's gone on with that too.
It's just brilliant.
Then the last matches are goingto wrap up on Saturday, august
16th.
The first match is going to beat 1 pm and then the second
match is going to be at 4.
We'll have opening ceremoniesthat second night of matches.
So on Thursday, before theMarshall Islands plays theirs,
(06:18):
we're going to have somefestivities out at the stadium.
Bring all your kids.
It's going to be a historicmoment where we're going to make
everything pretty incrediblefor all this cultural awareness
that comes up and make sure thateverything's really documented,
because people are going towant to see this.
Yeah, absolutely.
We have a lot of broadcastingpeople that are very interested
(06:41):
as well, that want to make surethat the story is told, and then
we'll wrap up, like I said, onthe 16th.
On Saturday, we'll have awardspresented.
We've got some really coolmedals to give out for the
champions.
We've got a Best Player trophy,and then we've got a really
nice champion of the tournamenttrophy as well.
If anybody wants to come out,they're welcome to come to Mount
(07:03):
Sequoia that evening too, andwe're going to have another
closing ceremony betweeneverybody.
That's there, kind of like aparty to wrap everything up
before people depart the nextday yeah, that's amazing, and
the proceeds of the tickets,those go yeah, that's the
community.
Yeah, that's one of the bestparts about this.
Is that, um, for every ticketsold for people that go and turn
(07:24):
up in stadium, all of thatmoney goes right back to
Springdale High School.
It's going to go directly tothe men's and women's soccer
team, which, right now in theworld, every little dollar that
can go back to schools is justfantastic.
So that's one of the best partsis that, yes, we're being able
to showcase what we have andmake this a huge you know,
international cultural event,but we're not forgetting about
(07:46):
where our roots are.
Really.
We're in Springdale, we're inthis great little corner in the
state, and we want to make surethat we're lifting everybody up
as we do this, and that's kindof our way of giving back, not
only for them, letting us usetheir amazing stadium and
everything there too, but wewant to make sure that soccer is
supported in the communitiesall around.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Absolutely, I love that, and so you know they're to
historic or they're to witnesshistoric event, but also support
, you know, local community,Absolutely, so that's awesome.
So talk a little bit about youknow how how does this
tournament, how's it going toimpact?
You know NWA, other than youknow what we just talked about,
which was you know, obviously,other than you know what we just
(08:26):
talked about, which was youknow, obviously, the impact for
springdale uh, men's and women'shigh school soccer yeah, sure,
um, so we're hoping that youknow all.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
What is it?
500 000 plus show up to thesegames probably won't happen, but
it would be really cool, um,what it means long term for our
organization.
We will still have our annualwomen's camp.
That's going to be the nextthing that we plan out.
I think the last two years it'sbeen in February or so.
So that's what we'll startgetting on to.
(08:56):
Next, if we want to talk aboutwhat we're doing with the kids,
we have coaching clinics thatare going on right now and
making sure that the people thatare local, that want to be
involved in coaching soccer, areable to.
So we've got some traininginitiatives going on there.
And again, that feeds rightback in to working with some of
the kids.
And especially, we've workedwith Joe Mardale Pena.
(09:16):
He's part of the Islander YouthAthletic Outreach Program
that's based out of Springdaleand it works with all the
different kids that areMarshallese and other from all
the island nations.
So we've got that.
That's going to be ongoing aswell.
We're going to have trainingfor the kids to work together.
You know, grow up togetherplaying the great game, and then
it feeds in to what we're goingto have is the third annual
(09:40):
Outrigger Cup.
There's this little startuptournament that's coming to the
United States next year.
It's called the FIFA World.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Cup and's actually going to be startup.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, so we're planning to have our Outrigger
Cup moved up a couple monthscompared to where it is this
year, and we hope to reallygather some of that energy that
people are feeling towards theWorld Cup.
Um, they're going to be, youknow, feeding for soccer and
ready for it to happen.
Um, there's a lot of peoplethat aren't going to be able to
(10:12):
go to the games.
Yes, you know, a lottery justto get tickets.
Tickets are expensive, you haveto travel, um, and a lot of
these things just aren'tavailable to a lot of people,
and so what we want to do ismake this, you know,
international football,accessible to everybody that's
in the region as well that maynot be able to go up to Kansas
City, to Dallas, to St Louis,wherever they're having the
(10:34):
games.
It just isn't possiblesometimes.
So, two weeks give or takebefore the World Cup, we're
actually going to be doing thesame thing next year and on and
on, but we're really excited forthe opportunity of what this
year sets up in the future.
This isn't just a kind of oneand done, where we're really
(10:55):
kind of positioning ourselveswith different organizations in
Northwest Arkansas, I'll getexperience payable, like Swar
Springdale, slim's Chickens,ones that have helped us out
already in a few different ways.
We've started thesepartnerships that aren't just
hey, can you help out this year?
What can we do for catering?
(11:16):
Are you able to help us outwith marketing or merchandise?
These are conversations that wehave about two, three, five
years in the future.
They really see it as a biginvestment into the area as well
, and we're really excited thatit's not just a one and done.
As happy and tired as we areright now about about this year,
(11:36):
uh, it's, you know, going to bea week off maybe, and then we
start planning for the next one.
Yeah, um, and that's just kindof how it rolls.
And so we really want to makesure that soccer is brought to
this area, um, and everybody hasaccess to it at any stage, not
just people that are playingrecord recreationally, not just
people that want, people thatwant to go and see a
(11:57):
semi-professional andprofessional match that's coming
soon too but keep internationalsoccer coming to Northwest
Arkansas, because it just bringsso much more attention to the
area, to everything that's gotgoing on here and all those
other extracurriculars thathappen that not everybody gets
to know about, because we've gota good little corner in the
(12:17):
state here that we hope thateverybody can experience as well
.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah, absolutely, and I think that's so well put and
I just love to watch you guyscontinue to grow and build what
you're doing.
And you know.
Again, I just want to say Icommend you guys for you know,
leaning in and being a part ofthe journey and just helping.
This is the I always tellpeople.
(12:42):
You know that.
Why do you like your job andall of that and it's you know,
the pro team when it gets here,great That'll be.
You know I'm so excited for youknow what that'll mean and
going to the stadium and uh, to,to matches and to be able to do
that and support it.
But what I love most is is howsoccer just brings people
(13:03):
together.
Um, and it's the universalhandshake is, uh, dropping a
ball at at our feet and justsaying, you know, it's a nice
anything so simple too, exactly,and so it's.
It's just, um, doing goodthrough soccer and helping bring
people together and build acommunity.
So, and there's no betterexample of that that I can think
of right now.
Then then, what you guys aredoing with the Marshall Island
(13:25):
soccer.
So, um, any, any last words forfolks in NWA and coming out
again, I think it's the dates,just remind people and then also
can they watch it if they can'tmake it out, for whatever
reason.
And just where should people gofor more info?
That kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, so we're about two weeks out now.
First match is going to be onWednesday the 13th, taking place
Again all of these matches atSpringdale High School.
We're going to have the firstMarshallese game on Thursday,
august 14th.
We're going to have adoubleheader that day, as well
as a doubleheader again onSaturday where all four teams
are going to be playing OzarkUnited, united teams included.
(14:07):
If you're interested and have akid in the area that wants to
go to a free clinic, we have agroup that is going to be
starting on the friday nightbetween those games at sonora
middle school more details tocome about.
That is going to be for fifththrough eighth graders, divided
into two different sessions.
Yes, we do have links for peoplethat are not local or people
(14:29):
that you know can't make it outto the game.
We'll be able to drop that linkto make sure that that's
attached to this.
It.
It will be streaming.
Again, we have really goodpartners at Speedio that are
providing cameras, helping uswith software and getting all
that set up Really great peoplethat have put in a lot to this
project as well.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
That's great, so remind folks on where they can
go for more info.
You guys have a website.
You can get to social media.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Yeah, it's a really simple website, rmisoccer and
you can go on there find any ofthe information.
There's a lot of differentmedia that's being added each
day.
We've just recently announcedour squad list.
We have people that got theirletters.
For the first time, we havevideo of them opening up saying
just what it means to beselected for the first team for
(15:11):
the first match.
It's just incredible, for thefirst match.
It's just incredible.
So, if you can go there, youcan find GoFundMe that we still
have.
We're taking donations of alltime, all kinds.
We are a charitableorganization.
If anybody wants to get intouch about working together
next year as well.
Like I said, this is an annualproject.
It's not going away.
It's really big to the area and, the most important thing,
(15:33):
thank you for supporting thegame, thank you for supporting
Northwest Arkansas, thank youfor supporting the Marshallese
community as we go into a really, really historical moment in
the words of soccer out there.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Yeah, thank you, woody.
I love that and can't wait tobe a part of the event and be
there, not going to miss it forthe world.
So appreciate everything thatyou guys are doing and best of
luck to you guys and putting ona great event.
So that'll do it for thisepisode of Pitch the Pro.
We hope you enjoyed it.
Be sure to catch all of ourepisodes on pitchtheprocom or
look for us on Pitch the ProYouTube, spotify, apple,
(16:11):
wherever you get your podcastsfor more content until next time
.
Northwest Arkansas Cheers.
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.
(16:32):
Until next time.
Northwest Arkansas Cheers.
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