RDP Kings Soccer team kicks off season against SAIT
Red Deer, AB – Despite a young team, Ado Sarcevic, Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Kings Soccer Head Coach, is thrilled about the potential of the squad this year.
"This is the most cohesive team that I've coached at RDP," said Sarcevic of the nine new recruits and eight returning student-athletes. "They hold each other accountable in positive ways."
The Kings showed promise during their five exhibition games, earning a 3-2 record. They picked up wins over Brandon University (3-0), Canadian Mennonite University (5-2) and Assiniboine College (7-0). The RDP Kings were edged by The King's University Eagles (2-1) and University of Calgary Dinos (1-0).
"The team is looking good," noted Sarcevic of the RDP Kings, last season's quarterfinalists at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Championship. "It's a very good group."
Along with training, the team developed a mission statement, highlighting its goal of winning the ACAC Championship through effort, improvement and building positive relationships.
"The mission statement was the Kings' idea," said Sarcevic. "The bar is set high which I always expect."
As the RDP Kings strive for ACAC gold, they will be led by captain Ajdin Sarcevic, a fourth-year midfielder from Red Deer. Last season, Sarcevic recorded six goals and six assists, earning a spot on the ACAC South All-Conference team.
Ajdin Sarcevice (10)
Serbia's Njegos Bajovic (defender) and Calgary's Eshay Fernandes (midfielder), both returning student-athletes, join Sarcevic as members of the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings leadership group.
Dante Cashato (midfielder), Grant Johnson, an All-Conference striker, Kohen Meckelborg (midfielder), Brian Murray (goalkeeper) and Nicholas Sheasgreen (defender) have also returned to the Polytechnic this season.
Murray (31)
Liam Dillingham (goalkeeper), Ibukuoluwa Oyawale (midfielder), Leo Kadezabek (defender), Julio Vega (defender), Korben Skjolde (striker), Joseph Roa (defender), Skip Martin (midfielder), Jaxon Fernandes (midfielder) and Owen Lindsay (midfielder) have joined the RDP Kings this year.
"Out of the nine new players, five come from Calgary Foothills [Soccer Club], so they have played together for quite a few years," said Coach Sarcevic of Oyawale, Kadezabek, Skjolde, Fernandes and Lindsay. "This has been noticeable during practices and exhibition games."
Veteran Eshay Fernandes, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology student, has also played for Calgary Foothills.
The Kings are embracing their roles as RDP student-athletes, seeking excellence in the classroom, during competition and as ambassadors in communities.
"School comes first. Soccer comes second," said Coach Sarcevic. "We want Kings and Queens Soccer to be visible in the community and represent RDP the best we can."
Even before the season has started, the Kings have already helped at one event, engaging with community members and supporters of academics and athletics. On August 26, ten members of the Kings Soccer team (among more than 70 RDP student-athletes) volunteered at RDP's Golf Classic which helped raise $60,000 for Red Deer Polytechnic student-athlete scholarships.
The RDP Kings will open the 2024/2025 ACAC season on the road against the SAIT Trojans on September 7. Last season, the Trojans (9-1-0) finished first in the ACAC South Division, but lost to the NAIT Ooks in the semi-finals. The Kings (5-3-2) placed second in the division.
"If we play the way we can and how we showed during exhibition, we will have a positive result," added Coach Sarcevic of the team's first game. "I don't pay much attention to others and try to focus on ourselves and be the best we can."
On Sunday, September 8, the Kings will host the Olds College Broncos at the RDP Main Field at 2 pm.