Getting the ball rolling: Henrico soccer league formed by Afghan immigrant now serves 100 children and teens

Under the cool, dim cover of a fall evening, floodlights cast a bright glow over Brookley Fields in Glen Allen. The youth soccer players of Arya RVA FC have converged for a practice session. With a tournament approaching in just a couple of weeks, the U12 and U14 teams begin their drills as laughter and the occasional phrase in Farsi mingle with the thud of soccer balls and the distant rumble of a passing train.

Hamed Zakiri, a former player on the Afghanistan national soccer team who now works with refugees at Commonwealth Catholic Charities, founded Arya three years ago. Before its creation, he coached his nephews and an adult team, but he soon wanted to expand his teaching to a youth organization that would cultivate a deep love for the sport, prioritize the improvement of technique and be accessible to low income families. Today, the club has approximately 100  players across five teams from the U10 to U16 level.

In the soccer landscape of Henrico County, where the financial barriers of other clubs loom large, Arya’s existence is unique. While popular youth clubs like the Kickers and FC Richmond charge a player fee of anywhere between $1,650 and $2,600 per season, Arya charges $40 per month. The club stands as a beacon of affordability that provides soccer access to children who would otherwise be unable to afford it.

Beneath the surface of Arya's lively practice lies a stark reality. The club grapples with financial constraints, while the majority of Arya’s coaching staff, including volunteers like Director of Coaching Paolo Tripodi, invest their time without financial compensation. In navigating the hurdles of securing fields for practices, the club encounters the issue of limited field availability in Henrico County. While the county offers facilities to clubs at no cost, Tripodi says that the distribution of resources often favors larger clubs.

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In the golden haze of the Iranian sun, seven-year-old Zakiri faced an insurmountable barrier blocking him from achieving his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. The games played on sprawling fields enthralled him, but the teams playing on them remained inaccessible. Bound by his status as a refugee whose family had fled a war-torn Afghanistan, he navigated a landscape where he was prohibited from joining a club since he was not an Iranian citizen.

Plagued by the deep pain of the fields and club teams being just out of reach, Zakiri began to do all that he could to immerse himself in the sport. He watched the Iranian players as they practiced and would later try to mimic the same drills on his own. The soccer cards of great players like Rivaldo became prized possessions and served as a motivation to reach the professional level.

Upon returning to Afghanistan a couple of years later, Zakiri’s homecoming was blighted by escalating challenges. His parents, disapproving of his dreams to play soccer, physically reprimanded him in a bid to thwart his efforts. Undeterred by their opposition, he found creative ways to play the game he loved.

Deprived even of a ball, Zakiri crafted a makeshift one by stuffing three plastic balls into a single sphere, adjusting its weight to mimic a regulation ball. With the absence of proper equipment, he kicked the improvised ball throughout Kabul’s dusty streets in an effort to refine his technique.

Zakiri’s commitment to his soccer dreams was encapsulated in a rigorous daily routine. He rose with the sun at around 5 a.m., a habit that remains ingrained in him today. With his bag slung over one shoulder and his makeshift ball at his feet, he sprinted the considerable distance to the park. In those early, solitary hours before school, Zakiri juggled the ball on his own, working on his coordination and reflexes.

“It was pure love,” he says, reflecting. “Something inside me wanted this.”

Zakiri continued to defy his parents’ disapproval when he sought refuge in a soccer club in the city. Impressed by his potential and recognizing his lack of resources, the club stepped up and paid for his uniform and shoes. After joining the club, his abilities improved at a quick rate as he began playing in games, which his parents never attended. He played on the U14 national team before moving up to U16 to U19 teams. Oftentimes, Zakiri was the youngest player on the team.

As the war in Afghanistan escalated, a 16-year-old Zakiri assumed the role of a translator for the U.S. Army – a responsibility born out of necessity, driven by a need to support his family. The hazardous nature of his work exposed him to ongoing danger, with suicide bombers and thunderous strikes at military bases becoming a chilling routine.

Through his years of work for the U.S. Army, Zakiri became eligible for a special immigrant visa to the United States. In 2014, he arrived in Henrico, joining his sister who was already living there. His transition to life in the United States presented its own challenges and was marked by feelings of cultural disorientation and homesickness.

Wanting to pursue a career as a professional soccer player, he sought to try out for the Richmond Kickers. Unfamiliar with the soccer landscape here, he embarked on a mission to find the right cleats at Walmart, but all he could find were a pair of football cleats, which he ultimately purchased. Now reflecting on the memory in jest, Zakiri remembers how crushing the glares and laughs from other players at the tryout felt.

Driven to help others who were struggling to adjust to life in America, Hamed began volunteering at Church World Service in its refugee resettlement office. Soon, it became a full-time job.

“I knew the struggles of refugees,” he says. “I was ready to help.”

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Zakiri continued to help immigrant and refugee families adjust to life in America when he began working at Commonwealth Catholic Charities as an employment specialist, but it was only a matter of time before soccer became a medium by which he would do similar work.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamed saw an opportunity in nephew Ahmad Samim Nasery’s talent for soccer when they played with friend and now-Arya coach Zubir Hadaf and his younger brothers at Deep Run Park. Immediately, Zakiri began to think about how he could create an accessible, affordable organization that would allow these kids to cultivate their love for soccer while simultaneously honing their technical skills.

Zakiri sat behind his computer throughout the night, meticulously diving into research. He worked until morning behind the glow of the screen, identifying the essential components needed to start a soccer club, which included a license from the county and compliance with the standards set forth by the Virginia Youth Soccer Association.

After first calling his organization the Hawks, Zakiri soon changed the name to Arya, which holds dual significance for him and the players in the club.

First, it is the Old Persian ancestral name for the territory of modern-day Afghanistan. Today, the team’s membership spans the globe, from the United Kingdom to Latin America, but the majority remains Afghani. Additionally, the literal meaning of arya means noble, a characteristic that Hamed sees as the ultimate goal of the club as he works to instill respect and discipline in his players.

Fate wove the threads of Tripodi and Zakiri’s lives together at Glover Park in 2021. Their initial connection occurred six years ago at Deep Run Park, when Tripodi and his son, Antonio, crossed paths with Zakiri and his nephew. There, they bonded over a shared love for soccer and lamented the notoriously expensive nature of the big clubs in the area.

When the pair ran into each other once again two years ago, this time against the backdrop of Arya’s inception, Tripodi knew he wanted to contribute to the organization’s mission as a coach. He has remained an integral part of Arya ever since.

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At Arya’s biweekly 5:30 practice, handshakes and greetings between players and coaches punctuate the air as the club gathers for another evening of soccer. Under the guidance of coaches Michelle Berthier-Israel, whose son Patrick plays on the U14 team, and Fardin Zakiri, the teams break up to create a couple of circles in which each player must face a challenger.

Positioned in front of the player attempting the pass, a challenger adds an element of pressure. The essence of the drill lies not just in the technicality of passing but in the split-second judgments the players must make. He must consider how fast the ball should be passed, as well as who among his teammates should be the recipient.

“Coach Hamed! Answer my calls!” Tripodi shouts across the field with a grin stretching from ear to ear. “You look tired.”

“I’m always tired,” Zakiri responds with a laugh as he arrives at practice 15 minutes late. “But I love to be here.”

Zakiri maintains an exhausting work schedule at CCC, as he helps refugees find employment in the greater Richmond area. Despite the consuming nature of his work, he remains committed to Arya, consistently coaching practices multiple times a week. The fatigue on his face soon fades as he jogs off to the circles where the players are practicing.

At practices, Zakiri puts his coaching philosophy, which he describes as “knowing his kids,” to work. Truly knowing the players involves discerning not just their skills but also identifying the positions where they excel. To him, coaching is a strategic, intuitive process that requires an understanding of each player’s strengths and weaknesses.

“It’s something you have inside of you,” he says. “It’s a feeling.”

As this practice at Brookley Fields comes to a close, the Arya players line up to thank their coaches with a handshake.

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A shadow of uncertainty looms over Arya’s spirited practices. The club’s very existence fully relies on the work of its volunteers, as they combat the issues of funding and field availability.

In the face of financial adversity, Arya recently elevated its monthly fee from $30 to $40. This slight elevation has not detracted from the club’s mission to remain accessible for families who cannot afford the hefty price tag of other Henrico teams.

“If they cannot afford it, it doesn’t matter,” Tripodi says. “We have a couple of families who don’t pay anything.”

The club has also begun charging for tournaments upfront, which has provided a buffer, making its financial navigation a bit smoother. Additionally, during the summer, Zakiri received 501(c)(3) organization approval for Arya so that it can receive tax-deductible donations.

With fields and goals provided by the county, and pinnies, balls and cones donated by Richmond United, Arya is putting any money it can aside to pay for a second set of jerseys and potentially training for one of its young volunteers to become a certified coach.

In addition to financial concerns, field accessibility remains a top issue for Arya. According to Park Services Division Director Chris Bolt, county regulations demand a variety of requirements for field reservations, including providing liability insurance and rosters to ensure that Henrico youth programs are prioritized. Then, clubs vie for field space through the county’s reservation system, rSchoolToday.

Henrico County hosts an immense number of athletic organizations, and often the Henrico Recreation and Parks division receives far more requests than there it has field availability. According to Tripodi, the competitive landscape often tips in favor of larger clubs, and the allotment of fields is not made public by the county.

“Our voice, regretfully, is not always heard,” Tripodi says.

Zakiri, undeterred by the challenges with which Arya grapples, steadfastly maintains an optimistic outlook. Rather than perceiving the obstacles that Arya confronts as insurmountable hurdles, he reconsiders them as stepping stones that the club must cross to achieve their goals.

“Nothing is impossible,” he says, as he considered Arya’s challenges in the context of those he faced in Afghanistan. “I have seen some horrible things. Now, taking a risk is nothing because back then, I was taking the risk of my life. These struggles today are nothing.”

As winter descends upon Arya and the fields become even more limited, the club will have to make slight changes to its training schedule. The county has granted Arya access to a single field at Glover Park, two days a week.

With a current minimum of two practices per week for each team and the U16 team accustomed to three sessions, Arya now will need to navigate a condensed winter schedule. Tripodi anticipates the need to compress training sessions into a limited timeframe, likely settling for twice a week, each lasting one hour.

Despite the myriad of challenges with which Arya grapples, there’s an overwhelming demand for spots in the club. Zakiri and Tripodi find themselves in a position where the demand exceeds the club’s capacity, making it challenging to accommodate everyone.

Faced with this predicament, Zakiri embodies a compassionate resolve. He admits that he cannot say no to anyone who wants to join. His own experiences linger in his words.

“My parents didn't support me. So now, when I see kids with talent…” His voice trails off as a smile emerges across his face.

* * *

The rich scarlet red uniforms of the U14 Arya team, much like those of the Afghan national team, stand out against a fog-laden field and the white jerseys of the opposing team at the 2023 RVA Turf Wars Tournament at River City Sportsplex in Chesterfield County. The game begins with the echoing of enthusiastic encouragement from the bench and the slapping of high fives as players transition on and off the field.

Down 1-0 at halftime, a stark contrast appears as the opposing team takes a seat while Arya players use the break to stay on the field to practice. Then, the team gathers into a tight huddle and exclaims “1-2-3 ARYA!” in unison.

In the midst of the second half, players exemplify the nobility endowed by Arya’s name and cultivated in the club’s culture as a pair of Arya players extend a helping hand to a rival player when he suffers an injury.

As the final whistle blows, Arya suffers a 2-0 loss, but players embody an obivous depth of respect, which underscores a maturity beyond their years. One player acknowledges the strength of the opposing team.

“That was a good team, they were better than us,” he says. “We just need to be better and work harder!”

In the wake of Arya’s loss, it becomes clear that the Arya community finds value in more than winning. One father, Mohammad Eissa Amirzai, explains that he sees the club as a way for his son to build character and stay connected to his roots through the use of Farsi.

“They’re very polite and very respectful,” Berthier-Israel says. “They help each other. If someone isn’t doing his best, they encourage them to try something different. That’s just the coaches, that’s what they teach them.”

In the aftermath of the tournament, Zakiri’s twinkling eyes reflect a mix of exhaustion and elation. Despite the team’s loss, the respect and discipline shown by his players brings him great pride. It also serves as a nostalgic reminder of the chance his coaches in Afghanistan took on him – one that has given the gift of an accessible soccer team to more than 100 Henrico children through Arya.

“When I’m coaching, and I see the kids kick the ball, I feel myself kicking too,” he says. “That’s what Arya has given me. When I’m teaching these kids, I feel myself playing. It makes me so happy.”

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To make a financial contribution to Arya RVA FC, do so through its Zelle account at (804) 933-5132 or learn more by visiting the Arya RVA FC website.