Poby is a German visual artist based in Los Angeles,CA. After his career as a pro athlete in Germany he studied graphics, design and art. Succeeding in Munich as a commercial photographer, specialized in sports and underwater, he moved to New York City and proceeded his career in the United States. Covering Olympic Games and all kinds of world Championships. Creating advertising for VISA, Adidas, Nike, and many more.
While he was always feeding his creativity with completely different art forms, like painting, playing piano and photographing on large format analog cameras, he focused the last years on large format oil paintings.
“Life is all about emotions. What we feel, how we feel and when we feel. I want people to have a beautiful, emotional feeling when looking at my photographs and paintings.”
Partnered with World Soccer Shop
On Saturday, June 10th, 2023, Windward Ave saw Squadra Venezia take over the block at the historic Windward Arcade building to put on a viewing party for the Champions League Final. We teamed up with World Soccer Shop on the day and welcomed them into the neighborhood to celebrate one of the most exciting days of football of the year. We had over 200+ supporters and fans come out for an indoor/outdoor viewing of the match between Inter Milano and Manchester City.
Building off of the success of the World Cup viewing series, the UCL party brought out a lot of familiar VBFC originals, regulars, and newcomers all packed into a space we transformed into our own theatre of football dreams. A massive projector was put up surrounded by stadium style seating to broadcast the game. Miguel aka DJ Fiks set the tone on boards before and after the game, while Tru Artis kept the vibe correct on the microphone throughout the day as usual. To keep our people refreshed, we had fresh Brazilian cachaça courtesy of Ajornada, premium tequila from Lo Siento, and some of the best lager on the block from our friends at Skyduster Beer. Shout out to Teddy’s Tacos for providing the birria tacos for everyone who came through as well. To commemorate the occasion, we made some fresh new shirts for the squad with our own take on the Champions League. Send us a DM on instagram if you want to cop one. (Match info: As far as the match itself, like most cup finals, the football was played on a knife’s edge, remaining locked at 0-0 until City broke through courtesy of a tidy finish from Rodri in the 76th minute. City fans went nuts, and the Inter supporters were left heartbroken. Sadly for our Italian community, Italian teams ended up going 0-3 in cup finals this year. Scusa.)
A big thank you to the good people at WSS who helped make the day possible. This is surely the first of many parties at this location on Windward, and we’ll back next month summer as we kick off the Estadio Summer Classic in July. Keep your eyes peeled for information on that and make sure you don’t miss it.
Venice Beach Football Club is excited to announce a new partnership with the global footwear & apparel care leader DFNS. Driven by sustainable innovation and increased consumer demand for more ethical goods, DFNS is leading the way with unique, eco-friendly solutions that help you get more from your gear. Outside of making fantastic products for some of the top leagues and teams throughout the world, DFNS is committed to leveraging the power of sport at the grassroots level. They believe “Sport has the power to build communities and drive sustainable behavior”. DFNS Founder, Arthur Van Der Kroft, says “Coming from The Netherlands, football is in our veins, so we’re thrilled and humbled to partner with VBFC - an organisation that lives and breathes the sport and does so much for their community”.
This year, VBFC will be integrating DFNS products and technology into the club to help educate our players and community on the importance of sustainability. As footballers, we all know that boots are expensive and fragile. Taking care of your boots seems something like a lost art compared to previous generations. Finding ways to reduce our environmental impact might not be so intuitive, but the products DFNS are creating allow us to be more intelligent with our consumption and to take better care of the boots and gear we play with.
DFNS and Venice Beach FC is a natural fit, with both sharing a commitment to community and the environment. Venice Beach FC is dedicated to creating a positive impact in their community through football, while DFNS provides practical eco-friendly solutions for maintaining your gear. It’s an important step towards a more sustainable future, enabling us to teach our youth the habits of taking care of the tools you have as an athlete. We’re really looking forward to some exciting projects this year and working together to inspire community football clubs around the world to take their own initiatives on environmental impact and sustainability.
For more information about DFNS and Venice Beach FC's partnership, visit their websites or follow them on social media.
The Release Party
On Saturday July 16th Venice Beach FC and our friends and guest from Italy, Pantofola D’Oro came together to release the first look at our mutual collection we’ve created with the iconic Italian brand.
Pantofola d’Oro was a brand we wore growing up. They’ve been making shoes by hand in Italy since 1886, and have been worn by some of the best football players in history such as John Barnes, Capello, Conti, Cruijff, DiCanio, Falcao, Ferrera, Eriksson, Garrincha, Klinsman, Milla, Puskas. It was an honor to collaborate with such a historic brand that has evolved with the sport over the last 100+ years, but without losing its integrity or roots.
The event took place in the neighborhood at the Unlikely Florist, and brought out over three hundred of VBFC’s most dedicated players, partners, supporters, fans and locals to celebrate and get a first look at the upcoming collection.
In true VBFC form, we had an open bar sponsored by Bodega Brewing Company, Ciu Ciu Wine, non-alcoholic spirits by Optimist, and Nutrl seltzers. Bouy also offered rehydration supplements and Slimmies offered free legal cannabis for the evening festivities.
There was two tattoo artists on hand waiting for people to make rash bad decisions, but also for some to pledge their commitment to the club. We saw 3-4 individuals get the VBFC logo tattooed on their body, and that’s a reason for celebration itself.
The collection we’ve created with Pantofola D’Oro is one of our first global collaborations. The collection includes two lifestyle shoes, a beautiful elegant boot, and some limited apparel all designed by VBFC and made to support the boardwalk footballer’s lifestyle.
The VBFC x PDO Collection is available at venicebeachfc.shop .
VENICE BEACH FC x PANTOFOLA D’ORO
We’re excited to share with you all our footwear and apparel collaboration with iconic Italian luxury football brand Pantofola D’Oro. Pantofola D’Oro are legends in the game when it comes to premium leather and style, and have been at the forefront of boutique, high quality football boots since 1886. We’ve seen all kinds of footwear at the Estadio but only rarely have we seen a pair of PDO’s. After giving them a little tag after pick-up one day, their founder responded to the tag and basically asked if we wanted to make some shoes with them. We didn’t hesitate.
We’ve been designing and cooking up something that we feel is timeless and classic, and it marks the first a handful of collections we will be creating with the Italian brand. The quality speaks for itself, and we hope you all get a chance to grab a pair or shoes or some of the gear.
ABOUT PANTOFOLA
On Pantofola’s About page they ask “Why Play in Pieces of Plastic?”. The brand are purists when it comes to quality leather and craftsmanship, and haven’t wavered in their commitment to producing the highest quality footwear since they were founded. To know Pantofola is to know football history. In their story, they tell us that “Pantofola d’oro is the coming together of a decades long story: and if the names Charles, Cruijff, Rivera, Mazzola, Riva, Conti, Puskass, Garrincha, Falcao and Mancini don’t say anything to you, and here we just mention some of the stars of the past who wore Pantofola d’Oro, then you need to catch up on the history of the great game. Football has a history full of stars who contributed in amazing ways to the game as we know it today.”
Modena, ITALY to Venice, CALIFORNIA
We are proud to bring the luxury in football craftsmanship and history of Pantofola to our club and neighborhood, and meet on a level of authenticity that few collaborations do. We felt this collaboration made the more sense than most because of how PDO has stayed true to themselves and their mission. They haven’t strayed from their roots. Now, a piece of luxury from Modena, Italy is in Venice, CA and we add our flavor, with the style of VBFC and the feel of the Squadra to create a collection that is both timeless and fresh, and sets the stage for more to come between us and Pantofola.
We’re THROWING A huge party in venice to kick it off
We are having a big celebration and launch party at The Unlikely Florist in Venice to celebrate this collaboration. The event is hosted by VBFC x Pantofola Doro x Soccerbible.
At the party, we’ll be dropping some new shoes we made with them and a chance to look at the boots. Drinks are free and we’ll have DJs, tattoo artists, barbers, live music, raffles, gear for both sale and pre-order, a great crowd of people, and an amazing food truck. Dancing and getting a VBFC tattoo is highly encouraged. First 100 people to arrive will get a dope free shirt.
This past 4th of July was something special. Venice Beach Football Club was honored to host one of the most exciting talents in global football, US National Team and Juventus star, Weston McKennie. Originally from Dallas, Weston looked the part of US superstar rather than young talent. Enjoying the last few days of vacation, Weston only a month earlier was scoring the all important equalizing goal against Mexico in the Nations Cup Final & named Player of the Tournament. USA went on to win the game off a Pulisic penalty. The midfielder was coming off a successful first season at historic European powerhouse & Italian giants, Juventus, sharing the locker room with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Upon arriving in LA, we first met Weston at the Estadio with photog & VBFC baller Devin L’Amoraeux. Donning the new VBFC Lost Season Tee, we gave Weston a tour of the neighborhood. During his stay, we managed to play two pickup games. The first being on a small grass pitch over by Ocean Park. In a matter of minutes, the athletic prowess and strength was evident. Explosive speed and extreme strength under pressure. Even on a bad field, his technique was on full display while running with the ball through defenders or twisting his way out of trouble.
After enjoying a couple hours of pickup on grass, and scoring the winning goal no less, Weston and the crew took the next few days to explore Los Angeles, only to return to Venice on the 4th of July of all days to pay a visit to the Estadio. It didn’t take long for Weston to jump on the court for a run.
Enjoy the gallery below from Devin Lamoreaux of Weston McKennie’s debut at the Estadio de Dogtown, July 4th 2021.
On Saturday August 21st, VBFC was honored to host the 1st Annual Estadio Summer Classic. Supported by Nike, Menotti’s, Winston House and Waterfront Venice, the day marked our first formal event back at the Estadio in over 18 months. We shared the park with countless other organizations who all together made up the 1st Annual Venice Beach Summer Sports Day - a new tradition in Venice sports that will continue on. The entire park was activated from morning until sunset, with each respective sport doing their thing and bringing their communities together again to enjoy the games they all love.
For us, the day was about celebrating the game of football, and all the people our club serves from youth to adult. We used the opportunity to give all the kids in our club, and those outside of it, the chance to play at the Estadio and use this moment to celebrate them above all else. In the morning VBFC coaches put on clinics for our Oakwood players and a small-sided tournament for our Futsal Club and Venice High School players which brought out dozens of families and young talented players.
The Music & VBFC Shop Set The Vibe
Miguel Espinoza aka DJ Fiks, who also coaches with VBFC and whose family owns the famous Great Western Steak & Hoagie, was on the decks from 12pm onwards setting the tone for players to enjoy the competition and brought a vibe for everyone in attendance. Supported by VBFC mainstay emcee Tru Artis, the music and commentary kept the place buzzing and entertained the entire day. To add even more flavor, a Brazilian rhythm section came through for the finals and built an adrenaline inducing beat as players battled on the court like a Roman colliseum.
The biggest highlight of the environment however had to be the VBFC Club Shop, which was popped up on the basketball courts and offered everyone in attendance a glimpse into the styles and pieces we’ve put together over the last year. Shop goers got the full experience and were able to grab fresh new pieces, accessories and some old classics still in rotation.
Adult pick-up tournament
Following the kids activities and tournament, the day took us into one of the marquee moments of the day, the adult pickup tournament. This tournament brought out some of the best players in the LA soccer community, who frequent VBFC on Sundays, to go toe-to-toe in a king-of-the-court style tournament to see who would take home the 1st Estadio Summer Classic trophy.
The tournament brought back some familiar faces, including the always-difficult Brazilian squad, led by captain Roge, a VBFC coaching staff team, a youthful high-school team of Venice High and Animo ballers, and countless other champions of the Estadio court. Teams played for 3 hours to try to qualify for the finals, and it was nothing short of a spectacle for all those in attendance to watch and enjoy. Officiated and regulated by the one-and-only Juan Guadarrama, the tournament was successful in bringing together to create a very competitive and high-level of play, but also sustain the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood that the Estadio stands on.
Every player showed up to ball out and win, and it was a tightly contested tournament until the top 4 teams started to pull away: the Ontario Fury boys, the VBFC coaches squad, The Brazilians, and Sterling Watring’s squad. The semi-finals were set to be the most competitive yet in VBFC tournament history.
But before the four teams squared off, VBFC was proud to present the women leaders in our community who put on a showcase game in front of everyone in attendance. For us, it was a moment to recognize and celebrate the leadership, unity, and talent of our rapidly growing women’s community. The ladies took the court for over 40 minutes showing off their talents for all to see.
Following the women’s exhibition game, and with the final set, some of the most consistent and capable VBFC Sunday pickup players took the court for the final rounds of play to see who would be crowned the first annual Estadio Summer Classic champions. A close game between the VBFC coaches side and the Ontario boys ultimately saw VBFC push through the final by a narrow margin, which was met by cheers from all of the young kids they coach watching from the sidelines. On the other side, the Brazilians squared off against the defending Invitational champion’s Sterling Watring and his boys, but the power and class of Ederson Lopes and Roge’s team ultimately took them to the final.
With the unfortunate loss of team leader Alex Lalor for the VBFC Coaches team, the Brazilians, drummed on by their countrymen in the rhythm section, ultimately won by a score of 3-1. The Brasileros were triumphant and earned themselves the first ever Estadio Summer Classic Trophy.
POST MATCH CELEBRATIONS
Following their victory, the Brazilian’s Ole’d all over the court and celebrated with everyone who was there until the very end. The drummers kept the beat, and players got their photo ops in front of the media board courtesy of our sponsors. The cherry on top of everything was Roge, fresh off winning a trophy, performing live for everyone as the sunset. It couldn’t have been scripted any better.
Thank you Sponsors
None of this would have been possible without the support of our sponsors. A massive thank you to Nike, Menotti’s, Winston House, and Waterfront Cafe.
The Kings & Queens of the Estadio De Dogtown
On Friday Oct. 9th 2020, Venice Beach FC and EA Sports made local history, by putting the kings and queens of the Estadio up in the sky. The Goliath of a painting at the world famous Venice courts - aka the Estadio de Dogtown - celebrates the fact that a bunch of slum dogs from Venice made it into the worlds biggest video game for the second year in a row. The relationship with EA and VBFC has become a pivotal part of our club’s history. VBFC’s pickup game, players, kits and apparel have been heavily featured in the new FIFA 21 and none of that would’ve been possible without the collective commitment and local talent continuing to make this club one of the most unique football clubs in America.
The mural was designed by Neil Jamieson (@the_sporting_press) and painted by artist Sergio Ramirez (@bartolallc). The painting process took over 10 days to complete, and by Friday it was ready to unveil it to the VBFC players and community that it celebrates. The collage of a players features king Kylian Mbappe front in center in the famous VBFC Mbappe exclusive kit designed by VBFC top baller Ryan Arambula. Surrounding the French world champion, are the top local talent, who’ve all made huge impacts within the club and neighborhood. The day Kylian Mbappe graced the hallowed Estadio court and left an indelible mark on the hearts of two of Venice youth players, Gera Seo-Flores and Cody Davis. The slogan “Win as One” message echoed by FIFA21, fits write in with the VBFC ethos. All walks of life from every clique of society come together on Sundays to hold court at the Estadio De Dogtown.
On the day of the reveal, we brought together all the featured personalities, minus Mbappe, to gather and soak up the mural thru celebration and pickup on the courts which it overlooks. Tru Artis hopped on the mic to add some color commentary to the game, some off the top flow, and his signature roasting of unassuming tourists passing by. VBFC players and supporters got a sneak peak at some of the newest apparel items teased before the launch of the online shop (venicebeachfc.shop) which will go live this month. The upcoming apparel collection feature the items included within FIFA21, new collaborations with local artist and Estadio legend Alessandro Canale, the release of the bespoke Mbappe kit made personally for Kylian on his debut in Venice, and several other new items.
Our club is super hyped to feature again in FIFA21, with some of their apparel and stadium branding being added as a new feature to this year’s title. With the online shop opening around the corner, this mural was a big moment to celebrate how far the slum dogs have come. The wave isn’t stopping anytime soon.
Gallery 1: Chicharito Thru the Lens of Hana Asano (@hanaasano)
Gallery 2: Chicharito Thru the Lens of Devin Lamoreaux (@devinlamoreaux)
On February 8th, 2020 the year kicked off with a very special moment that took place in the heart of Venice at Oakwood Rec. Center. FC Montfermeil, an amateur club based in Paris and responsible for producing over 250+ professional footballers, traveled to Los Angeles alongside filmmaker Ladj Ly to support him for his Oscar nominated Les Miserables. Ladj Ly grew up in the neighborhood of Montfermeil, a suburb of Paris, and is closely connected to the local football club. FC Montfermeil embodies the true nature of a community soccer club, taking in players whose families have very modest means and are often immigrants to the country. The club takes on the responsibility of helping their players on and off the field through world-class football development and ensuring a quality education and civic participation. The club is partnered with Ligue 1 side Saint-Étienne, who signs the best players to come out of FCM. On their first visit to Los Angeles, we were lucky enough to link up with this incredible group and play a friendly match against them at our home.
The story begins nearly one year ago, when one of the sauciest French players stumbled upon the Sunday Pickup game and quickly became a VBFC regular and standout personality. Moises Fadiga who you’ll see rocking Yeezy’s while doing step-overs , who was raised in the Montfermeil district and had connections back to the club. Early in 2020, Moises mentioned the film and that the team would be coming over to support around the Oscars. However, no logistics or anything definite was set in stone prior to the club’s arrival on Oscar weekend. The night prior to their arrival, Moises texted and said “you will be at Oakwood tomorrow at 12? The club will come by.” We didn’t know what to expect at all, and assumed maybe a few players would come by for an informal meet and greet. At 12pm that Saturday, a greyhound bus pulled up, filled with a full 18-man squad, trainers, media, the club president, DOC, and traveling supporters. VBFC’s Oakwood Soccer League had just finished, and we had dozens of our youth players and families there already. We quickly set up a large 7 v 7 field, and put together a squad between the Venice High varsity team, VBFC coaching staff and some of our Sunday’s best players to compete against a group of U-18 professional prospects. These boys were full-grown men, some of whom already had French Youth National Team experience.
The VBFC staff, players, and families were beyond excited as they rolled out of the bus and into the park, blasting French hip-hop through a speaker for their entrance. The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and you could feel that some footballing magic was about to unfold. Everyone met and greeted each other, mingled, and the players suited up to play. As the players took to the field, a professional walk-out was arranged, with both the French and American national anthems being played, followed by the Champions League’s anthem to set the stage for a first-of-its-kind game in Oakwood Rec. Center. It truly felt like soccer history in the neighborhood of Venice. French international talent and some of VBFC’s finest stood to play a full 90 minute game in front of the neighborhood community. The match started and both teams immediately took to the occasion and began to show out. Montfermeil’s talent became apparent immediately with the footballing magic of a nation fresh off a World Cup title inspiring the minds of every player on their team. Music blasted throughout the entire match, with a fresh French afro-beats playlist being controlled by the traveling supporters.
Venice Beach FC, however, with a home-field advantage, pulled away with two early goals. But within 15 minutes, Montfermeil had settled into the game and began physically testing the VBFC team and controlling possession. Pressure from stand outs Ryan Arambula and Alex Lalor, forced the French boys to play their best, while Michael Rosario kept it calm at the back defensively. Each team had their opportunities, and the score quickly climbed and remained close throughout the game. Every goal from the French side was followed by a full-blown celebration amongst the subs and fans, complete with scripted dancing and team selfies. Venice High school varsity players got a fresh taste of the talent that exists on the other side of the world, with players their age demonstrating a level many of them will work hard to achieve. It opened their eyes to a new ceiling. Returning from injury was Nick Santhiago, Venice native and VBFC OG, who shook off the rust and showed his technical and passing ability in the midfield throughout the game. VBFC Youth prospect, Gera Flores (12 years old) was given his first team debut. You’ve never seen such ferocity and fearlessness in a kid in all your life. Gera threw caution to the wind, flying into slide-tackles against 6’2 French-African ballers, winning 50-50s and distributed the ball with quality.
At the end of 90 minutes, the game was all square and both teams were forced into golden-goal extra-time. True to his spirit, Antonio de Rossi - reserve team captain - arrived on his bike trailer seconds before the extra-time whistle blew, and immediately subbed himself into the game. No one questioned it. Both teams came out firing and wanted to be crowned champs of the first friendly of its kind on US soil. Montfermeil shots zipped wide and high, threatening to break the dead-lock, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Right on cue, Antonio began to show the Santos Laguna quality in his blood, as he demanded the ball from his VBFC teammates. With minutes remaining in extra time, Ryan Arambula picked out a through ball to Antonio, who calmly megged the FC Montfermeil keeper to claim the golden-goal winner for VBFC. The VBFC kids rushed the field, and both sides celebrated this very special moment. You couldn’t have scripted it.
VBFC and Montfermeil created a bond that day that we believe will last a lifetime. For most of the French visitors there that day, it was their first time in the United States, and for Venice, it was the first international friendly held at Oakwood Rec. Center. The fans, players, and staff on both sides shared a memory that won’t soon be forgotten. VBFC will continue to remain close with the Montfermeil and is looking forward to sharing exciting news about more collaborations with Montfermeil in the future. And who knows - maybe a VBFC youth player will make their way to France to embark on a new journey in the game.
We are eternally grateful to Moises Fadiga, the French consulate, and the FC Montfermeil family for their graciousness and class during their visit. We cannot wait to be with them again.
On Sunday, December 15th 2019, Venice Beach Football Club hosted the 2nd Annual Venice Invitational. In a few short hours, the one and only Estadio de Dogtown transformed from a beachside slab of concrete into an electric mix of futbol, artistry, design, gaming, and boardwalk culture. Players and spectators flooded the courts, absorbing and participating in the festival-style soccer experience that was the 2019 Venice Invitational. The event was brought to life with two pick-up courts, the EA Sports FIFA20 Gaming Bus, a Teqball table, DJs, music, food, some of the boardwalk’s finest talent, and a launch of new Venice Beach Football Club apparel.
With a new year on the horizon, the club took this event as an opportunity to celebrate all of the incredible opportunities that 2019 brought: Our girls held hands with their idols as they sang the national anthem at the women’s national game vs. Belgium. Soon after, a Crystal Dunn mural graced the backdrop of our Sunday pick-up games throughout the Women's World Cup. Our youth, pick-up community and notable freestylers showcased their foot-skills alongside Arsenal players in front of a Gustavo Jr’s dope Arsenal mural right on our block. Our own Gerardo Flores scored a winning pick-up game goal off of a smoother than smooth assist from Kylian Mbappe on a cloudy Sunday in June. The Premier League trophy paid a visit to the Estadio in July. And these are just a handful of memorable moments from a year filled with community, love, and the game.
With Nike and EA Sports and several other local partners, we set out to create a day that celebrated and thanked our entire community for the overwhelming love and support they show to our club.
The morning gusts that swayed the palms and nearly blew the tents away eventually became the wind at our backs, propelling the day into club history. As momentum steadily built, anticipation bubbled for our second contest between the best talent to grace the courts over the year, and a star-studded Legend’s Game. It was a beautiful day that brought swathes of the Los Angeles soccer community to our club’s home and gave everyone a little bit of something to enjoy.
Youth Pick Up and Tournament
In a few short hours, the one and only Estadio de Dogtown transformed from a beachside slab of concrete into an electric meridian of futbol, artistry, design, gaming, and boardwalk culture. The day kicked off with Youth Pick Up and Tournament games. Players from both our Futsal Club and Oakwood Soccer League took their skills from the grassy fields and gymnasium floors to the streets, for some authentic Estadio-style futbol. For three straight hours, our Futsal Club players competed in their first intra-club tournament at The Estadio, battling it out in the infamous King-of-the-Court fashion. Facilitated by our VBFC coaches, the courts were brought to life, their energy and love for the game setting the tone for the youth experience. As our youth players showcased their skills on the courts, players of all ages illustrated their own skills on the Teqball table that rested in a space between the two games. Standout performances on the table came from Futsal Club regular Noah Glasco, and Brazilian technical wizard Talita Pereira. The energy at The Estadio was even further amplified by the double-decker EA Sports FIFA bus and gaming lounge that offered players a virtual street futbol experience. Venice High School varsity soccer players showed their class on the sticks during their breaks from helping facilitate the event. The buzz grew over the promising young talents that showed a glimpse of future careers on these courts. The youth Futsal Tournament winners walked off the courts smiling ear-to-ear, holding their hard-earned brand new copies of FIFA20.
Venice Invitational Qualifier
The top talent selected to compete in the Invitational arrived by noon and took to the court to get loose for a 3-hour pickup battle. Only four out of the 11 teams would advance to the Championships. Some returning talent from last year sought revenge, while a few new faces stepped into VBFC tournament competition for the first time.
As the tournament began, boardwalk legend Tru Artis offered his infectious energy to the Estadio, keeping the crowd buzzing throughout the entire day, mixing his color commentary with his unmatched off-the-top freestyle abilities.
This year’s Invitational was the closest and most competitive tournament in VBFC history, with every team winning at least four games. Every team showed strong promise, making predictions of who would earn a spot in the finals elusive. An early string of wins came from Alex Lalor and his squad (which included VBFC coaches Michael Rosario and Bella Gutierrez, immortal club legend Antonio, and Venice High coach Wesley Lee) and Talita Pereira’s squad (Big Edie, Joao, and the Brasileros) who controlled the competition in the early parts of the tourney. The goals came fast and in spectacular fashion. VBFC designer and Sunday regular Ryan Arambula nodded home a back post cross reminiscent of CR7 from teammate and VBFC warrior Ashley Oswald. Shortly thereafter, Cobi Black, with arguably the best goal of the day, put a ridiculous amount of English on a first touch backspin goal a la Thierry Henry in the Joga Bonita days. And notably, Kainoa Bailey (former LA Galaxy) hit one of the sauciest scissors, ghosted his defender, and drove home one of the best one-on-one finishes of the tournament.
As the tournament progressed, VBFC OG Almog Strikowski, alongside his brother Adam and teammates Martin and Reed, surged in the latter half of the tourney to secure a spot in the semis. 2019 Sunday Pickup’s most consistent duo Luis Flores and Rolando Chapparo - in typical tournament fashion - rallied late and held court for five straight wins to punch their ticket to the semis. Flores’ squad was fortified by German Perez, aka Big Germ, whose work at Deuce Gym has clearly paid off, and Sterling Watring, one of the Estadio’s brightest emerging young talents. Fans will attest - Watring put together some of the nicestly highlights in VBFC tournament history and left the crowd wondering, “Who the hell is this kid?” Lalor and Talita’s run of wins out the gate carried them through as well. With the Championship round decided, the day progressed into the marquee moment, where some of the most notable players in US Soccer stepped out on the hallowed grounds of the Estadio.
Venice Invitational teams prepare for the tournament.
Legends Game
While the tournament players took a moment to rest in preparation for the Championship, the Estadio hummed in anticipation for this year’s infamous Legend’s Game. The bleachers filled, as some of the best ballers in soccer graced the main court at The Estadio. Returners included Steve Nash, Stu Holden, Lee Nguyen, and Servando Carrasco. Estadio debuts were made by Romain Gall (who competed in the Invitational and advanced to the semi’s), Cobi Jones, Alexi Lalas, Tyler Miller, Euan Holden, Shawna Gordon, and Jordan O’Brien. Alex Morgan and Allie Long - fresh off a World Cup title and rocking their new USA Beat Everybody threads - came through to chill and enjoy the scene. In a truly humble and down-to-earth way, both Morgan and Long mixed in with the crowd, taking photos and chatting with countless fans and folks in our community.
With two stacked squads of legends, the matched kicked off. The crowd, still awe struck over the illustrious talent before them, settled in to watch the legends get a feel for the style and environment of the court. Within a few minutes, energy built like a wave, and players let their skills be known: passes connected effortlessly, movements were fluid and intentional, tricks added in for spice and flavor - the game was captivating, poetic. Most notably, every single legend was smiling, letting their love for the game radiate through their play. Bleachers full, our youth players sat criss-cross-apple sauce at the edges of the court, eyes wide in admiration, marveling over the talent before them.
Inter Miami-bound Lee Nguyen, who essentially had the ball tied to his foot the entire game, proceeded to show why he is one of the most coveted technical midfielders in the game. Steve Nash clearly never lost his 20/20 court vision and picked out dimes for teammate Jordan O’Brien effortlessly. Euan Holden debuted with an unsurprising comfortability on The Estadio concrete. LA Galaxy and US National Team Legends Cobi Jones and Alexi Lalas took to the court with four-star, general-like experience, as VBFC ambassador and club legend Stu Holden kept everyone on their toes with his usual mercurial midfield flair. LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller pulled off a cheeky meg on Stu, who returned the favor shortly thereafter. Goals poured in from both sides as fans and onlookers cheered. As the environment’s energy reached its peak, the game was to be settled by a win-by-two decision. Shawna Gordon stepped up and put her squad in pole position with a one-goal lead, but Stu, Euan and Steve rallied back and secured the Legend’s Game crown with three quick goals. Fans, players and onlookers stormed the courts to celebrate among the cast of Legends that graced our courts.
Invitational Championships
SEMI-FINALS
As golden hour washed over the closing moments of Legends Game, the top four seeds prepared to take the court. The Championship format was two 10 minute semi-finals and one 14 minute final. Three of the squads amassed 10 wins, while Team Lalor, Rosario, Antonio, Wes and Bella had just 7, which put them on the court in the first semi-final. Fortune favored team Lalor, as Talita’s squad lost two of their strongest players and were forced to recruit two more Brazilian’s on standby. A composed defensive effort from the entire team, and a particularly strong individual effort from Alex Lalor saw their team past the South American’s and into the final fairly comfortably. The second semi-final pitted 2019 Team Flores against Team Strikowski, which was sure to be a strong contest between team teams of accomplished Estadio regulars all capable of taking control of the game. The match started evenly, with both teams capable of running away with it at any moment. But it was Flores’ and co’s experience and savvy that gave them a noticeable edge as they slowly started to pull away. The combination of Big Germ’s strength and poise at the back and Flores’ consistent goal production put them through to the final.
FINALS
Afternoon turned to evening as the winter sun fell below the orange horizon. The final teams were decided: Team Lalor vs. Team Flores. Two 7-minute halves stood in the way of the title of 2019 Venice Invitational Champions. It was no small feat for these players to earn their spots. Today, as they triumphed over countless current and former professionals also hungry for the win, these two teams had a unique advantage: Every player in the final match toted with them dozens and dozens of hours of playing time on the Estadio court throughout the year. The wall, the concrete, the dimensions; every bump, groove, and sand spot were more than familiar to each player on the court. Both teams got off to a cagey start, but soon settled into their rhythm. Goals in quick succession from Flores and Lalor inspired a raucous outpouring of fans onto the court. The Estadio’s energy was reminiscent of Allen Iverson’s Rucker Park debut in 1998, as players and fans buzzed at every skill and goal. Sterling Watring saved his best for last as he piled in goals, making a name for himself in the process. Slight discord within Team Lalor, combined with true grit from Flores, Big Germ, Rolando and Sterling, saw Team Flores pull away and ultimately win. The 2019 Champs were crowned.
To the winners went the spoils, as the champions walked out with four new PS4s, copies of FIFA20, and the Venice Invitational crown for the next year. Alex Lalor secured himself the Most Valuable Player award, ending the day as the highest scorer and a general wealth of positive energy throughout the entire event.
Thank you to everyone who came out to support.
Massive thank you to all the Club Legends:
Cobi Jone | Alexi Lalas | Stu Holden | Steve Nash | Servando Carrasco | Alex Morgan | Allie Long | Lee Nguyen | Tyler Miller | Romain Gall | Euan Holden | Jordan O’Brien | Shawna Gordon
A big thank you to all our partners:
Estadio de Dogtown | August 11th 2019
Photos by David Salafia (@davidsalafia)
England & Premier League legend, Shawn Wright-Phillips dropped in on the boys at the beach and brought the premier league trophy with him.
Mbappé at the Estadio De Dogtown
06.16.19
By 4:00PM on June 16th, word was out that this was a special day of pickup on the horizon. Layers of people completely surrounded the court as the local crew were battling it out. A week before, we heard there was a chance that World Cup Winner, PSG/France’s frontman Kylian Mbappé might stop by to play. Excitement, anticipation and joy filled the air at and created a truly amazing atmosphere at Estadio de Dogtown as everyone waited for the arrival of Kylian.
The anticipation soon turned to sheer awe and amazement when Mbappe arrived and took to the court. Four of our top youth prospects had the opportunity to play against and alongside Mbappe in an experience they will cherish forever. His play, flicks and tricks were all amazing to see for any soccer fan and having a sideline view of this was captivating for the whole crowd. However, it seemed that his aura, presence and charismatic character are what drew everyone in most.
VBFC takes prides in giving back to its community and creating a safe environment for young boys and girls in Venice to achieve their soccer dreams. Mbappe, at just 20 years old has already one a World Cup, became the second most expensive player ever in the world, won the 2018/19 French league player of the year, and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to a charity that helps disabled children be active participants in sport, which is what made this collaboration and visit all the more fulfilling. Two groups giving back to help the youth in the future.
Photography by Devin Lamoreaux (@devinlamoreaux)
“Sport Changes Everything” is a phrase that was displayed, branded and reinforced throughout
the day as VBFC had the privilege to work alongside Nike Los Angeles to host small soccer clinics
throughout at VidCon 2019 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Working with kids and teaching
them the basics of soccer is our bread and butter, but the environment and atmosphere at
VidCon was something we had never experienced before.
We’re not exactly sure that we belonged in such a unique space with bloggers and vloggers
walking around with cameras recording the day, influencers both established and aspiring
chasing clout, and fans hoping for the opportunity to meet their favorite YouTube personality,
and somehow we had the chance to experience all. From Beyblade booths, to Nerf gun arenas
to Starburst candy mazes, the whole VidCon experience it was a long walk down memory lane
for us.
Throughout our clinics we had special guests who would take part in our clinics and give the
young participants an opportunity to play and learn soccer with someone they look up to.
Although we had no idea who the majority of these special guests were prior to the event,
learning about them, their journey, and seeing how they inspire these young kids was truly
amazing. From Olympic gold medalist, Gabby Douglas, to Youtube megastar Liza Koshy, we
learned their stories about how sport changed everything for them, and how it can change everything for
the next generation.
