Long Island Soccer Academy Breaks Down Socioeconomic Barriers with Free Enrollment

It’s a goal worth celebrating!

Harry Singh, the CEO of Bolla Market, found it an easy decision to support a new youth soccer academy on Long Island.

Operating out of Garden City, Singh is teaming up with the American Soccer Club to sponsor this initiative, offering young athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills without the financial burden typically associated with pay-to-play systems.

“We’re breaking down all socioeconomic barriers to reach kids who might be overlooked and aren’t currently involved with youth clubs,” said Jim Kilmeade, the general manager of the Fighting Tomcats, in an interview with The Post.

“We believe there are many such talents waiting to be discovered,” he added.

The team’s mission is to find “the next” Joe Scally, a nod to the Lake Grove superstar playing in Germany for Borussia Mönchengladbach, who was just named to the Bundesliga team of the week. 

Joining the academy’s staff will be huge names in the game, like Bob Montgomery, who ran the New York Red Bulls youth academy for over a decade, and also former U.S. national team captain Perry Van Der Beck. 

“The only way to identify, develop, and launch players to the highest levels of soccer in the U.S. and internationally is via a fully funded youth academy,” said Kilmeade, who is eager to make LI a recruiting hot spot in the coming years. 

Singh, whose company is a jersey sponsor for the Tomcats, too, gladly invested in local youth soccer purely because “he loves Long Island,” the GM added. 

A launch date for the academy is still in the works, and returns home to LI on May 16 to face Newport at Lavalle Stadium in Stony Brook.