RDP Kings Soccer team begins 2025-26 season against Rattlers
With their sights on starting the 2025-26 season on the right foot, the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Kings Soccer team started training months ago.
"For players around central Alberta, practices began in the last week of July," says Ado Sarcevic, Head Coach, Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Soccer. "By early August, the team started coming together for sessions twice a day. We have been focusing on fitness in the mornings at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre and ball work in the evenings."
The structure of the preseason program appears to be paying off. Sarcevic, the 2024-25 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Soccer South Coach of the Year, has been encouraged by what he has seen so far.
"The biggest takeaway from our early sessions is the student-athletes' level of commitment," he says. "They show respect for each other, the program and the institution, which is the foundation we need. This group is incredibly coachable, which gives me optimism."
The RDP Kings will be a young team with 10 new additions and some transfers this season.
"Three players transferred from Olds, so they bring experience at the ACAC level," says Sarcevic referring to midfielders Liam Parsons (Open Studies) and Owen McMahon (Bachelor of Education), along with goalkeeper Dylan Godbout (Business Diploma).
The Kings also continue to build an international presence to complement the talent from Alberta. Returning defender Njegos Bajovic, from Belgrade, Serbia, is back for another season and he will be joined by incoming student-athletes Pablo Sarria-Cifuentes from Columbia and Mikito Funase from Japan.
"From the footage I've seen, Mikito will be a great addition to the team," adds Sarcevic of the talented defender. "We are excited to see what he brings to the pitch."
Other newcomers for the 2025-26 season include Emmett Kenwell (goalkeeper), Jeremy Kulczycki (defender), Peter Wiebe (forward), Suhas Lanerolle (forward), Ryan Kelly (midfielder), Griffin Ward (forward), Giovanni Nicoletti (forward), Toyo Ojelade (forward) and Garrett Flett (defender).
Flett (21), a first-year Bachelor of Business Administration student
The Polytechnic's five returning players— Korben Skjolde (forward), captain Ajdin Sarcevic (midfielder), Skipper Martin (midfielder), Ibukunoluwa Oyawale (defender) and Bajovic (defender)—will be relied upon for leadership both on and off the field.
Ajdin Sarcevic (10), an ACAC All-Conference team selection from 2023 to 2025
Local representation continues to be a strong point for the Kings Soccer program. Six student-athletes on the current roster are from Red Deer: Flett, Kelly, Kulczycki, Sarcevic, Wiebe and Ward.
The Kings are coming off a successful 2024-25 regular season, during which they posted a 6-2-2 record to finish first in the ACAC South Division. Despite falling just short of a medal at the ACAC Championship, placing fourth, the team is using that experience as motivation heading into the new season.
The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings will kick off the new campaign on the road. On Saturday, September 6, the Kings will challenge the Medicine Hat College Rattlers. Less than 24 hours later, RDP will play Lethbridge Polytechnic.
"Our two-game road trip is a starting point," notes Ado Sarcevic. "We typically improve as the season progresses. While individual skill matters, it's the team effort that drives success. That's what we'll focus on—building cohesion from day one."
In their home opener, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings will host the SAIT Trojans at RDP's Main Field on Saturday, September 13 at 2:15 pm.
Martin (16) & Bajovic (11)