Our Soccer Boys Should be Called The Internationals
By Michael Clarkson
With a mostly-international lineup, the two FEIA boys’ soccer squads are off to a brisk 2026-27 campaign.
In just its second season under head coach Aleks Balta, the FEIA program is giving young players skill development and exposure to college and university scouts.
And, so far, the results have been pretty good, too. In the Youth Indoor Competitive League, which features seven-vs.-seven action, the Falcons’ elite team is 2-0 while the Under-18 developmental team is 1-1.
The teams play league matches at the Youngs Sportsplex indoor facility in Welland and have also seen action in outdoor exhibition sessions, including at the FTF Showcase for college scouts in Toronto at the end of October.
“Our program provides great experiences for the players, along with skill development,” said assistant coach and operations manager Michael Fernandez, of Thorold, who has joined FEIA this season as Balta’s cohort. “It provides great memories and relationships that will last.”
Fernandez was a centre-midfielder and captain at Brock University for five years and went on to play semi-pro soccer with St. Catharines Club Roma Wolves. He co-founded a private academy, Peak Football Performance.
The Falcons’ opponents in Welland include men’s teams, who are slightly older, such as Club Roma, the Welland Soccer Club and the Niagara Falls Soccer Club.
The Falcons have players from Spain, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Costa Rica, Columbia and the Republic of Benin.
“In the beginning, there were issues with English translations,” said Fernandez. “But thankfully I speak Spanish.”
Some of the standouts thus far on the elite team include defender Arthur Tannus of Brazil, goalkeeper Jorge Fernandez Gonzales of Spain and striker Jesus Soto of Mexico, FEIA’s Most Improved Player last season.
Shining on the developmental squad are Rayane Alladji of Benin and Carter Colangelo of Thorold.
Coach Balta, who has coached many pro players over the years, brings a European-style philosophy to the game and this past summer he scouted at a high-level academy in Brazil.
“My philosophy is you have to give everything to try to win with an attractive, tactical game,” Aleks said. “But I also teach the kids life skills, perseverance, discipline and dedication on and off the field to maximize the potential they will need to perform at a higher level (after FEIA).”
The Falcons will play in showcase events in January in Toronto and Montreal.
