Home grown soccer talent

That big field with all the soccer goals on Chumuckla Highway had something to be proud of and celebrated on Friday.

Pace seniors and members of the Futbol Club of Santa Rosa Revolution signed scholarships last week to play soccer.

Lana Chechak, who signed with the University of West Florida, and Mary Kathryn Taylor, who signed with Mississippi State University, were the first two members of the Revolution to sign a college scholarship.

This was not something that happened over night, but part of a bigger plan put in place by Louie Sahin, who is the director of coaching at Futbol Club of Santa Rosa.

“I am really proud of these ladies,” Sahin said. “Five years ago we started a select program and these girls have worked hard on and off the field to help find the successes we are celebrating today.

“With our true player development we focus on the kids and true player development.”

While many programs in soccer are focused on winning and tournament successes, Sahin stated that Futbol Santa Rosa is not like that.

“We don’t focus on scores or how many goals a player has as winning is not that important,” Sahin said. “We knew if we did it right that the winning would come and we have enjoyed the successes by sticking to our plan and doing it right.

“Developing a player cannot happen in one year, it is something that takes time.”

While they have been developing the local talent in their academy program Futbol Club of Santa Rosa has won tournaments and placed well events like the Orange Classic in Miami where they won in the U-17 bracket and then the following year placed second in the U-10 bracket.

Each player credited the youth soccer programs after signing their scholarship and were excited about being the first two names on the Futbol Club of Santa Rosa Wall of Fame.

“They have shaped me into the player I am today,” Chechak said. “I have been in the program in Pace since I started playing soccer.

“Since my freshman year I have been working a lot with Coach Louie (Sahin, the director of coaching at Futbol Club Santa Rosa).”

Taylor recalled the family focus of the soccer program in Pace, just off of Chumuckla Highway.

“Futbol Santa Rosa has a family focus,” Taylor said. “I have basically played soccer with the same kids for years.

“It is like 20 parents and 20 kids along with the coaches being one