We were lucky to catch up with Ahmed Elsokary recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ahmed, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Texas Premier Soccer Club was founded to provide an equal opportunity for all soccer players to participate in a competitive environment that develops a player’s skills, knowledge and appreciation for the game of soccer by incorporating the best training, structure and development through positive coaching.

Growing up in Houston, soccer wasn’t “accessible” to everyone. The costs were way too high and I believe that there are so many bright young players that have much potential that deserve an equal opportunity to play at an established club. I believe that sports can be used as a platform to help kids get to the next level as well as to getting a college degree and setting them up with a career for their future, not just a number to us where we only worry about soccer practice and games. We want to be role models and mentors for these kids, why not win some games while we do so as well. We want to be different. So we did just that.

Through experiences derived from playing competitive soccer, we strive to help players mature as people and will encourage the development of important life skills such as good sportsmanship, teamwork, goal setting and fair play. We have a simple way of how we believe in running a youth soccer club: we #doitforthekids. We have the kids’ best interest in mind first above else.

We are different because we want to give every kid a chance, no matter the individuals’ financial capability and underprivileged opportunities. We’re different because we have the same level of quality as coaches. We’re different because we want to guide kids after playing in their college careers to provide a different opportunity for their families. We do it for the love of the sport that we played growing up and wanting to give an even better opportunity for these kids.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I grew up playing this sport since I could walk. It’s what I know best, it’s what made me who I am today.

Soccer shaped me off the field, it defined who I am in a huge way. It taught me so many lessons that I still to this day apply. It gave me the best of friends and family. Those that I attend their weddings, attend their baby showers, and more!

What we try to coach to the players that this is more than just a sport, more than a game. It’s something that we do that shapes us into who we are as an individual, whether on or off the field. If you have dreams and goals, through this sport you can attain so many valuable lessons and habits that will help you succeed in your goals off the field. As well as provide opportunities that were unimaginable. That’s what soccer did for me. It made me who I am today.

As a coach we play through the kids, we give what this sport has taught so much through coaching and mentoring our youth athletes. Bettering our community and playing a role in their journey.

This organization was created to help those in need, to help give kids an escape from the struggles of everyday life by giving them a home on the soccer field. We make an effort to mentor these young individuals to become the best versions of themselves. We make it a priority to send these young men and women to the college by guiding them through the admissions and scholarship applications, as well as hosting sessions to discuss their career aspirations. We always remind our teams that we want to produce great soccer players, but more importantly, produce better people.

Our greatest strength are the coaches and staff involved, the family environment we’ve created in our organization. The environment we set for our members, for the youth here. If we can be any help or positive impact throughout their journey, then we’ve done our part.

We are beyond proud of our organization that we’ve grown, but more importantly with the environment we’ve set here. That we can be a different type of soccer academy, yet compete with anyone on the field. And do what we do best, develop players on and off the field.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Always do everything with full effort and passion, 100%. Whether you signed up for a role on a team, a leadership role or going to start your own thing one day then remember to give it everything you’ve got. Whether you signed up for volunteer role, a role that pays $100 or $1,00,o00, do it with the same energy, effort and passion.

Managing a team and keeping high morale is a must, it’s a tricky thing to but one of the most rewarding things to achieve. Inspire others through your journey and creating an impact. Leadership is taken for granted these days. Take time to know your team, to setup team events that build morale and a positive environment. Everyone needs to be managed differently, just like coaching. Each player reacts to different coaching techniques. Take the time to know your people on your team. Find the way that brings the best out of them. As a leader you shouldn’t be their “boss”. You’re their mentor, the person to lean on for advice, and shape the destination and plan for the team and what we’re trying to execute. To keep everyone on the same page, to understand the roles they each play. To keep everyone working towards the goal of the team, task or project.

You do that by setting up individual times with your team members to see how you can support them. See what they want out of this role and how you can be of any support. And paint a picture of the overview what value they are bringing to the table. Everyone has a different role and it’s important to showcase to them that each one is just as important as the others. Everyone just has a different responsibility. If you can show that everyone’s responsibility all brings into one effort to the team’s success then you’re on the right track.

Get to know your teammates, setup team building environments, take the “corporate” feel out of it and be a leader, more important be a mentor. And you’ll be surprised what your team is capable of. Don’t micro-manage, trust and build that relationship and open line of communication, set the clear goals and objectives, and be transparent.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The quality of our staff and the customer service that we provide. That we stick true to our mission, vision and values. It’s important to keep true to that. Regardless of challenges faced. Plans and strategies will always be shifting and changing, but the same core values and mission should be your flashlight regardless of the different time or pivot you may be going through.

That’s what helps build a consistent reputation in your marketplace. It’s not always the product or business service you provide. It’s the quality of the people managing and executing the organization’s current strategy with it’s core values in mind.

Build consistency and trust with your marketplace, be transparent and execute to the fullest ability. That’s what customers/members want to see.

And I believe that’s what we have attempted to do very well at our organization. We may not always succeed in everyone’s eyes but we certainly give our best efforts to provide the best service to the members while being transparent and sticking true to our organization’s values, mission and vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.texaspremiersc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texaspremiersc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texaspremiersc
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/texaspremiersc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPoF7oaBccGAVeFLFqLzuBg

Image Credits
Sherif ElMoghazi