Another Step for Soccer

In less than a year, if all goes according to plan, professional soccer will be played in Naples, with the team’s home field – or “pitch” in soccer terminology – at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex located in City Gate near the intersection of Collier Blvd. and I-75. For the first time ever, a professional sports team will be based in Collier County, as the nationwide United Soccer League has awarded Naples a franchise for a USL-1 team. 

With the team as yet unnamed, with no coach and no players, pro-level action on the PCSC pitch will have to wait. But soccer was played on the sports complex stadium field on Wednesday, April 24, with representatives from the Collier County Commission and the School Board of Collier County on hand. USL Naples, as the team is known pending a more permanent and probably catchier name, hosted a group of Pathways to Opportunity clients in a scrimmage on the field, with the empty grandstand overlooking the temporary goals set up for the occasion. 

Pathways to Opportunity is a program of Goodwill of Southwest Florida, giving adults living with developmental and intellectual disabilities the chance to experience a variety of real-life experiences. The press materials for the visit said, “Participants will enjoy a practice game with exclusive instructions from USL Naples’ leadership team,” along with lunch and a tour of the facilities. 

That is what happened, with a variety of instructions from the leadership team. Some members, such as the club’s chief data officer Mark Mildenberg, displayed serious soccer chops, juggling a ball in the air with one foot and dribbling with finesse. Director of Corporate Partnerships Kim McDonnell, on the other hand, admitted up front that this marked the first time she had ever attempted to play the game – “but what I lack in skill, I make up in enthusiasm.” 

Along with the team’s social media manager, Amy Gold, and chief operating officer Daniel Mildenberg, Mark’s brother, the suits suited up and took the field, with two execs joining five Pathways clients to form two seven-on-seven “sides” or squads. 

The game proceeded informally, even loosely, although some of the Pathways clients displayed enthusiasm to match McDonnell’s. A forward named John gave it his all, and Crystal proved outstanding as a goalkeeper. The two sides dubbed themselves “Mario Bros.” and “Ballers,” but with identical outfits, it was difficult to be sure who was on which side.

Pathways to Opportunity staffers, including Jessica Tursi, Director of Disability Services and Navigation, cheered on the players. They were joined by Collier County Commissioner Bill McDaniel and Collier School Board member Erick Carter. 

“I’m a 20-year board member of Goodwill – I’m a huge supporter,” said McDaniel. “I’m the driving force behind the Paradise Coast complex and the driving force behind Great Wolf Lodge,” which stood in the background behind the soccer field, with construction continuing for its September grand opening. “Pathways is a great program – it assists folks with development issues to become more independent and gives a huge lift to caregivers.”

Carter talked up the school board’s new facility, a house the school system bought adjacent to Naples High School, to teach real-world skills to developmentally disabled students.

“It’s a life skills center for students who need that. Everybody needs purpose in their life, a reason to get up,” he said. 

“Professional soccer has the power to bring people of all walks of life together. When Pathways to Opportunity’s team reached out to us, we were excited to bring their players out to the field for a game. We believe this is the start of a lasting relationship,” said Robert Moreno, CEO of USL Naples, in a prepared statement.

Moreno was traveling, having just undertaken a scouting trip to South America, said COO Mildenberg, but the team expects to be making a number of announcements in the near future, including naming a head coach, revealing a team name, crest and colors, and hosting a “select a seat event” this August allowing season ticket holders to claim their place in the stands.

Once established and staffed, the Naples squad will play games with teams from around the country. The contests will be televised, said Moreno, although no broadcast specifics are known. Nearly a year before the team’s inaugural game, scheduled for March 2025, there are many details yet to be filled in.

The Naples USL team is one of five expansion franchises, augmenting the dozen existing clubs in the league. Current locations range from Statesboro, Georgia to Spokane, Washington, along with Charlotte, North Carolina, Fresno, California, and Greenville, South Carolina. In addition to Naples, expansion teams will be located in Portland, Maine, Brooklyn, Santa Barbara, California and Sherman, Texas. 

Much like the East Coast Hockey League, in which the Florida Everblades play, USL-1 is what would be considered a minor or feeder league, with MLS, or Major League Soccer, the big league in the United States. South Florida has seen a surge of interest in soccer since the signing of Lionel Messi, the world’s top player, to the Inter Miami MLS team. 

Pathways for Opportunity is a skills training program that addresses the gap in services for adults living with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Through this program, more than 100 participants learn how to transition from school to employment, secondary education, or living as independently as possible. The program features a variety of courses that help its participants develop new life skills, including cooking, foreign languages, computer literacy, performing arts, and more, which will open opportunities for independence.