Given a rash of injuries to more senior Louisville City FC players, there have quite literally been more boys in purple at recent training sessions.
The club has integrated at least 10 athletes from its growing youth academy to fill voids, both allowing for regular drills to continue and providing further evidence of the path to professional soccer created in Louisville.
“For these kids, it’s just a wonderful opportunity for them to be in this environment and training with pro players,” said Louisville City FC’s academy director, Simon Bird, who also recently joined the LouCity staff as an assistant coach. “For our culture, it’s fantastic as well to see the first team players encouraging them, working with them and making them better.
“They’ve lived that before, and it’s great to see.”
Players such as forward Abdou Thiam (leg), defender Oscar Jimenez (knee) and midfielder Jorge Gonzalez (groin) are on the shelf for the time being, recuperating from injuries. Midfielder Elijah Wynder — the first youth academy player to sign a pro LouCity deal — also missed preseason with a leg injury.
Those being crucial pieces to his squad, head coach Danny Cruz has gone younger to fill sessions, making academy members vital to preparing for USL Championship competitions.
“The integration from the academy into the first team is extremely important,” Cruz said. “The club is doing all the right things to prepare these kids. When they have an opportunity with us, it’s about them taking it.
“The younger kids, they understand the expectation here with regard to culture and mentality, and I think that’s huge. Moving forward, we want to continue to give these kids and opportunity when most importantly the opportunity is earned.”
Among those with chances early this year are defender Josh Wynder, who has trained with the first team since mid-February. The 16-year-old appeared on both of LouCity’s game day rosters thus far and recently received an invitation to a U.S. Youth National Team I.D. Session.
Back in February, LouCity signed to USL Academy contracts seven players, including Josh Wynder, allowing them to train and play with the first team while retaining amateur status. Overall, the club’s academy system is in its second year featuring programming from players ages 6 through 19.
“Whether it’s a 6-year-old or an 18, 19-year-old, we want these kids to know the pathway to professional soccer here is real,” said youth academy director Mario Sanchez. “That was our goal from day one of building the academy program.”
“Right now, we have 10 or 11 kids who are training with the first team that are given the opportunity to earn playing time, whether it’s in training or hopefully eventually in games. We’re excited about the future and what we’re doing.”
