Category: Primary Posts

The next step in Salia Carr’s journey as a soccer player is a big one. The 16-year-old from Mobile is joining the Atlanta United Academy program, where he’ll play with the U-17 team.

For the next two years, Carr will train and compete out of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, which the academy program shares with Atlanta United’s MLS first team.

“Salia is a good, honest, hard-working defender who has some great traits that will take him far in the game,” said Tony Annan, Atlanta United Academy director. “We are very pleased to have him join Atlanta United Academy and excited to see how he progresses over the next 2 years.”

Carr, who lives in Mobile and attends McGill-Toolen High School, moved to the United States from Sierra Leone when he was 2 years old “as a refugee,” he said, “because of the war in my country.” He started playing soccer at age 8. For the last two years, he’s played with Birmingham United Soccer Association’s Alabama FC.

“Alabama FC has provided better competition than I’ve had before,” Carr said, “and it’s helped me get exposure to top coaches.”

Ben Parks, BUSA’s director of coaching, is excited about Carr’s opportunity with the Atlanta United Academy.

“Alabama FC and Birmingham United are so proud of Salia Carr,” Parks said. “Not only is Atlanta United getting a gem of a player, but they are getting a fine young man as well. Salia is the rare combination of athleticism and soccer acumen. These gifts will serve him well as he continues to develop with Atlanta United. We wish him well as he embodies what Birmingham United and Alabama FC are all about.”

Officially launched in 2016 prior to its first season in MLS, the Atlanta United Academy system provides a clear pathway for homegrown players who show the required potential, ability and desire to reach the first team. The program also assists athletes in pursuing opportunities to play soccer at top U.S. colleges. Home to comprehensive and modern coaching, sports science, athletic and medical departments, the Atlanta United Academy strives to be the premier soccer club locally, regionally and nationally.

“BUSA and Alabama FC are again proud to promote another player to the MLS Academy Programs,” said BUSA Executive Director Andrew Brower. “We believe Salia will serve Atlanta United with excellence.”

Our 01 Alabama FC Boys are headed to Lancaster, MA for the ENPL Playoffs. This is the first year for the ECNL program and we wish our team the best of luck as they compete for a National Championship!

What do Jasmine Greene and Brooks Rice have in common?

The Spain Park High School athletes swept the 2017-18 Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year honors for the state of Alabama, Greene winning the girls’ award and Rice capturing the boys’ recognition.

Both decorated student-athletes also have roots in the Birmingham United Soccer Association. BUSA is the largest soccer organization in Alabama and one of the largest in the Southeast.

“BUSA is thrilled for Jasmine and Brooks to be recognized as male and female Gatorade Player of the Year Award winners,” said BUSA Executive Director Andrew Brower. “Both of these young people have been the quintessence of excellence throughout their BUSA playing careers.”

Greene, a rising senior at Spain Park, has played with BUSA for the last 3 ½ years. She’s a member of the 01 ECNL Girls team. For Spain Park this season, she scored 29 goals and added 15 assists. She has verbally committed to play college soccer at Furman University starting in the fall of 2019.

“She is a tremendous athlete and an even better person off the field,” Brower said. “While she is quiet off the field, her ability to score tons and tons of goals speaks volumes.”

Rice, a recent Spain Park graduate, has been a lifelong BUSA athlete who’s played with the 00 ECNL Boys team. He scored 37 goals and added 11 assists this season for Spain Park, finishing his high school career with 84 goals. He’s signed a National Letter of Intent to play at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro starting this fall.

“Brooks started out playing with BUSA at 6, 7 years old and has progressed all the way through the organization,” Brower said. “He is very technical and polished on the ball and possesses an uncanny knack for creativity in the attack. Brooks also helps as a volunteer coach within our organization and was a great resource for our younger players.”

The Gatorade Player of the Year awards recognize not only athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field.

Greene, who has a weighted 4.11 GPA, has volunteered locally helping to organize and distribute gift bags to Children’s of Alabama patients and has donated her time as part of multiple community-service initiatives through her church.

Rice, who earned a 3.29 GPA, has given back to BUSA and the soccer community by volunteering as a youth coach and referee and has donated his time to multiple community-service initiatives through his church.

As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Greene and Rice will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support.

Good luck to our 01 and 02 ECNL Girls who are competing for a National Championship at the ECNL Playoffs in Seattle!

BUSA Executive Director, Andrew Brower, shared his excitement after FIFA announced the U.S., Canada and Mexico will host the World Cup in 2026. Brower says having the World Cup in the U.S. is going to be awesome.

“I think it will really help be a catalyst for more growth in the sport and 2026.”

Click here to see more of the interview, which also featured Alabama FC player, Tara Katz.

TANNER TESSMAN HEADS TO MNT CAMP

It has been a great week for former BUSA players. We are super proud to announce that Tanner Tessman, a former BUSA player, has just been called up to the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team. The U.S. U18 MNT will gather for its fourth training camp of the 2018-19 cycle from June 4-11 at the U.S. Soccer National Development Center in Kansas City, KS.

Tanner played for BUSA growing up and is now part of the FC Dallas Development Academy, registering 20 starts this season with 11 goals.

The camp marks the first time that any Men’s or Women’s Youth or Senior National Team will train at the National Development Center. Surrounded by three full-size natural grass fields and two synthetic turf fields, the $75 million education and medical center was built in collaboration with MLS club Sporting Kansas City and Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Congratulations, Tanner. We are super proud of you! Keep up the great work.

Tanner’s DA profile CLICK HERE