MOBA Proud

2016 - a year full of ... well ... anything and everything you could possibly think of, from happiness to heartbreak. Peyton Manning took home a Super Bowl ring in his final season. Román Torres scored the game-winning penalty kick as Seattle Sounders FC took home its first MLS Cup title. The Chicago Cubs took home their first World Series title in over 100 years. We also lost a number of big names in Prince, Craig Sager, Muhammad Ali, David Bowie, Arnold Palmer, and others. However, in this up and down year, soccer in the state of Georgia took a huge step forward on the back of the MOBA Soccer Academy. Peachtree City MOBA Making Waves in the PDL Coming into 2016, word was spreading that the PDL was coming to Peachtree City in the form of Peachtree City MOBA, but little did we know the effect that would have on the community. Preparations began, and the talent flooded to the area as head coach Jordan Davis and owner Volker Harms looked to build a team to compete. Slowly but sure

In January 2015, it was announced that the German company MOBA Mobile Automation AG would be meeting with Peachtree City to discuss plans to build a new 50,000 square foot office building and soccer complex on Highway 74. A strange combination of projects, several months later, the project was approved, and construction began almost immediately. In a mere few months, it became arguably one of the best decisions the board has ever made. Fast forward to December 2016, the new MOBA Soccer Academy is nearing completion, and already the effect it was intended to have on Peachtree City sports is being felt. When the idea was proposed, Mr. Volker Harms said he hoped to provide Peachtree City and the surrounding area with an opportunity to unite out on the pitch, and that is just what happened. The facilities aren't even complete, but the fields are, and that's all we need. They may be soccer fields, but that doesn't mean only soccer has to be played on them. Elite Lacro

The collegiate post-season is getting into full swing as schools from around the nation make their bid for the national championship. With that in mind, we take a look back at some of the schools that played host to our very own Peachtree City MOBA players for the fall. From Atlanta to Johnson City to Laie, MOBA players were making magic happen out on the pitch with some outstanding performances. Out in Morrow, Georgia, some of the top MOBA players from the inaugural season were making their presence known. This Lakers team has been covered on MOBA Proud before, however after the outstanding year these players had, I felt that they deserved special recognition. The season may not have gone the way the Lakers had hoped record-wise, as they finished the season 4-13 (2-7 PBC). However, it was not without its fair share of excitement, most notably by forward Ryan King. Out of Durham, England, King channeled his inner Paul Pogba as he exploded for twelve goals, including two ha

After an exciting two and a half months of college soccer, the regular season finally comes to a close. The season was full of drama, excitement, outstanding showings, and tremendous heartbreak, but that's all out the window now, as the best of the best go head to head looking to grab the trophy of their respective conferences. However, that does not stop us from remembering some of the best performances of the brief college soccer season. In a similar fashion to the end of the PDL season, the one-man panel here at MOBA Proud would like to recognize one player from the 2016 MOBA roster that went above and beyond this collegiate season, putting up outstanding offensive numbers and leading his team to a remarkable regular season. Many of the MOBA players had phenomenal years, including midfielder Ryan King and forward Iain Smith. The captains of the Clayton State Lakers soccer team were both named to the All-Peach Belt Conference second team, the first time both players have bee

It may be the offseason, but preparations never stop for the PDL executives, teams, and players. As the players and coaches are off at their respective colleges making a name for themselves and striving for a title, the league is already getting to work on making the 2017 PDL season the best one to date. In a sport where success is #1, everybody wants a piece of the action. This time last year, the Premier Development League was welcoming Peachtree City MOBA, Tormenta FC, Tri-Cities FC, San Diego Zest, FC Golden State, SF City FC, The Villages SC, and South Florida Surf into the ranks. Well, it's expansion time once again, and three new teams have been announced as the 2017 expansion to the already massive 67-team league, pushing that number up to 70. Lakeland Tropics On September 19, the first expansion team was announced to be the Lakeland Tropics, headed by CEO Andrew Haines and the Central Florida Sports Ventures. The Tropics, the eighth Florida-based team in the PDL, ar

College soccer is now in full-swing, and spoiler alert: Peachtree City MOBA players are playing really well. All around the United States, from Atlanta to Hawai'i, MOBA players are making a name for themselves and proving they can play with the best of them. Clayton State: MOBA Playground Okay, there is no way the nets at Clayton State are regulation size. After just seven matches, Iain Smith, Ryan King, and Bilal Nakhli are responsible for nine of the eleven total goals scored by the Lakers this season. After King came out of the gates hot, scoring a hat trick against Barry, Nakhli put his name in the books by grabbing Clayton State's only goal against Eckerd in a 4-1 loss. Smith then looked to get a piece of the action and led the Lakers to their first win of the year against Auburn Montgomery by scoring two goals and assisting on the other in a dominant 3-1 victory. Sitting at 1-6 on the year, the schedule-makers didn't do the Lakers any favors, as they face Erskine

Week two of NCAA soccer comes to a close, and with that, everything is beginning to take form. The best teams are racking up the wins, and the worst are, well, not having the best time. Player success, however, is not based on wins and losses, but how well each individual player performs in the heat of the moment. MOBA players have seen success so far this season, and this week we take a look at some of the big stories featuring members of the 2016 Peachtree City squad, including both dominance, and heartbreak. King, Smith, Nakhli take the Lake Clayton State is one of two schools that features multiple talents off the MOBA squad, along with Georgia State. Despite sitting at 0-3, including a tough 2-0 loss to #5 Palm Beach Atlantic, MOBA players Ryan King, Iain Smith, and Bilal Nakhli are off to strong starts. All three players played in the first three games, and Smith and King are responsible for all four Laker goals this year, including Ryan King's hat trick against Barry.

As the first week of division 1 NCAA soccer comes to an end, the nerves are beginning to pass and the grind is beginning to set in. Stat sheets are beginning to fill up, the records are building, and the preseason polls are being proven incorrect. Every player looks to make the impact that puts their name in the history books, and Peachtree City MOBA players are no different. After a solid first season in the PDL, the relationship amongst teammates and opponents grows stronger, and now we turn our heads to the college pitches featuring some of the #MOBAProud men and the notable impacts they have made. Taku Mashingaidze: GMC Multi-talent Due to being in the NJCAA, Georgia Military College began their season earlier than most schools, so the impact from Taku can be proven more through statistics. After three games, GMC sits at 2-1 including back-to-back blowout wins at Thomas University and at home against Oxford College of Emory University, 6-0 and 7-0, respectively. Starting i

The Premier Development League is all about developing young athletes into the football superstars of the world. This mission has been more than successful, as seen by the profound amount of talent that has passed through the PDL, including former Boulder Rapids Reserve defender Nat Borchers, now a star player of the Portland Timbers, Brad Guzan (Chicago Fire Premier), goalkeeper for Middlesbrough F.C. of the English Premier League, and Graham Zusi (Central Florida Kraze), starting midfielder for Sporting K.C. and U.S. National Team member. The PDL is a breeding ground for young talent, and Peachtree City MOBA plans to be a hotspot for that talent. After a decent first season in the PDL, MOBA showed promise and potential under the leadership of head coach Jordan Davis, assistant coach and owner Volker Harms, goalkeepers coach Wesley Lutz, and striker Omar Jarun. Upon the completion of the season, many MOBA players headed back to college to continue training for the upcoming NCAA s

"Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships." - Paul "Bear" Bryant (1913-1983) Probably the most respected coach and leader of the 20th century, Paul Bryant led the University of Alabama football team to six national titles (1961, 64, 65, 73, 78, 79) behind one of the strongest defenses in the nation year after year. Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. Bryant epitomized that. Defense is the cornerstone to almost every dynasty, and Peachtree City MOBA began their dynasty preaching defense, featuring some of the top defenders in the league in Salomon Lorenzano and Adam Sheikali. But there was one defenseman who really built a name for himself among the fans, and that man is Jack Coulton. Captain of the Reinhardt University men's association football team in Waleska, Georgia, the four-year All-AAC first-teamer features football experience from England and New Zealand, and also has three years of experience with Knoxville Force o

The most exciting time of any sport's season, by far, is opening day. Every team has a sense of optimism and promise and can't wait to finally get everything kicked off. Peachtree City MOBA and the rest of the USL PDL were no exception. After roughly 6-7 months of planning, recruiting, and signing, the 25-man roster took to Clinton, Mississippi and Traceway Park to take on the defending Mid South Division Champions, Mississippi Brilla FC, in their first-ever match as a team. Little was expected, as it was a matter of learning how the team went together more than anything, but excitement was brewing under the pitch. As the game kicked off, Mississippi immediately looked to press. Experience seemed to be taking precedence over anything else, and MOBA couldn't seem to find a rhythm. The ball seemingly stuck in Brilla's half, but Peachtree City showed that their defense, led by Salomon Lorenzano and Adam Sheikali was one to be trifled with. Goalkeeper Jeremy Booth was

One of the great things about the 2016 Peachtree City MOBA roster was the extreme diversity of players. From right here in Peachtree City, to Melbourne, Florida, to England, to Kuwait, MOBA had no lack in flavor. One of the most influential foreign players on the roster was England-born Taku Mashingaidze. Mashingaidze was born and raised in England, and was a star player on many youth clubs. Upon his move to America, Taku decided to enroll in Georgia Military College and become an active member of the Bulldogs squad. As many of the young players of MOBA did this summer, he joined in an effort to stay in top-shape and compete at a high-level, which is one of the main goals of the Premier Development League. Taku would not take this new challenge lightly, as he was always looking to make an impact on the pitch with this new club. Mashingaidze made his first appearance with Peachtree City against the Southern West Virginia King's Warriors on the road in a 3-0 loss, in which h

Pontiac, Michigan, just north of Detroit, was host to one of the most exciting championship games in the history of the Premier Development League. After defeating the Ocean City Nor'easters in New Jersey on July 30th, Calgary Foothills FC headed to Pontiac looking to do something no team has done all year: defeat the Michigan Bucks at home. The stingy, possession-oriented Bucks defense led by goalkeeper Drew Shepherd dominated Midland Odessa at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas, where the #1 seed in the playoffs scored 3 goals to  send the Sockers back to Texas. Michigan then prepared to battle for the PDL championship at home, with a chance to win their league-record 3rd trophy. The clash of playstyles was evident early on as both teams were able to work to their own advantages, Calgary being very counter-happy, and Michigan looking to hold the ball for minutes on end. Michigan seemed to be given an early opportunity as striker Russell Cicerone looked to be taken down in the box in

First-ever's. Late Drama. Fighting Adversity. We watch sports for the excitement, the idea of everything being unknown. Nobody has any idea how a game is going to end, or who the hero is going to be. Nobody knows if something that's never been done before will happen in that game. And that is why we watch. Which explains in great detail why the battle with Tri-Cities Otters FC was one of the most incredible series of the season. Coming off of a heart-breaking 2-1 loss to Mississippi Brilla FC in MOBA's first ever match, Peachtree City wanted redemption as they headed to Johnson City to take on Tri-Cities. That desire for victory showed tremendously as MOBA struck first in the 11th minute to take the lead over the Otters off an Omar Jarun goal. The home team would not sit idly by and accept defeat once more, and they struck back in the 41st minute, knotting the game at 1. It seemed almost inevitable that the game would go into the half 1-1, but Jarun had other plans. Brys

The theme of hometown players continues as we put the spotlight onto midfielder Bryson Asher. Bryson Asher, out of Senoia, Georgia, is a junior at Duke University, and attended East Coweta High School. Bryson played a key role on the Duke squad during his freshman season, but was plagued with injury as a sophomore. Asher used the 2016 PDL season as an opportunity to tune himself back up for the upcoming Duke season, and he did just that. Bryson started seven games for MOBA, and appeared in ten, totaling 655 minutes, eighth most on the team. He used all 655 to his advantage. Asher tied with Jordan Day for most assists on the team with two, and led the team in shots with fifteen, proving that he was just as aggressive as he was talented. He proved his field-awareness throughout the season, and was always capable of making the right pass, leading to those two assists (both to Jarun against Tri-Cities in MOBA's first ever win) and to other unmarked key exchanges that led to g

One of the things that people love most about association football is that players want to play at home. Unlike American football and basketball, where the players want to play where the money is (*cough* Kevin Durant *cough*), a majority of fútbol players want to play in familiar surroundings. Omar Jarun is no different. Born in Kuwait City, Kuwait to an American mother and Jordanian father, Jarun moved to the United States before the First Gulf War in 1990, after bombs went off and missiles were fired near their home. Upon immigrating, Jarun was raised in Peachtree City. After his collegiate career at Memphis and Dayton, Jarun went on to play for the Fort Wayne Fever of the PDL in 2004 (the team dissolved in 2009). After a short stint with the Chicago Fire Premier, Omar came back to Georgia to play for the Atlanta Silverbacks of the NPSL from 2006-07, appearing in 45 games and scoring one goal. Jarun went on to play for eight more clubs in seven years, and played for the Pal

PDL Playoffs kicked off today, thus marking the transition between regular and post season. Now that MOBA's 2016 season is complete, it is finally safe to begin handing out recognition and awards for excellence in the sport, and there is no better prize than receiving the title of 2016 Man of the Year (the association football equivalent of MVP). The sport of football is based around two principles: Pride and Teamwork. However, teamwork does not mean that nobody deserves recognition for outstanding play. A team may work well together and share the ball, but there is always at least one player that truly stands out. And that player, more often than not, receives the Man of the Year award. And so, upon the conclusion of the 2016 Peachtree City MOBA season, the one-man panel here at MOBA Proud would like to recognize a player that met all the standards a MOTY should meet: Salomon Lorenzano. Lorenzano, a native of Peachtree City, started all 14 games for MOBA this year, accrui

Football has always been an unpredictable sport. In a game that nobody thought Germany would win, the soon-to-be world champs walked all over Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semifinals, 7-1. Nobody thought Leicester City had a chance to win the Premier League title this year. They won it with several games to spare. Nobody can really call a game before it's over. Much less before it starts. After a 3-3 tie on Wednesday, MOBA was looking to finally get back in the win column after a dismal couple of weeks. The playoff-bound Carolina Dynamo had other plans. Carolina clinched their playoff spot Thursday night against the West Virginia Chaos, but they still had to lock up second place in the division. Peachtree City just happened to be the Smart Car in the path of the Semi-truck. Before anybody realized what was happening, Renato Punyed found the back of the net twice in the 12th and 14th minutes. MOBA would strike back with a goal of their own in the 53rd, but Carolina wasn't going