Dalton State Director of Soccer Kerem Daser kicked off a series of nine free camps this week with approximately 150 youngsters in attendance.
The clinics are hosted each Wednesday at the Ronald R. Nix Soccer Complex at James Brown Park. Ages 8 to 10 will be from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. Ages 11 to 14 will be held from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. Over 15 “Elite” players finish the night.
The clinics are part of the Dalton Utilities/Optilink Clinic Series which featured baseball and volleyball last year. They are sponsored by Dalton Parks and Recreation Department. Courtyard by Marriot and Los Pablos restaurant are also participating sponsors. Future camps are set for October 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 and November 5, 12, and 19.
“Coach K” was excited about the impressive turnout for the first session and is looking forward to the coming weeks.
“In my first year, my two goals are to recruit quality soccer players for Dalton State and get out in this wonderful community and use my experience athletically and academically to help the local soccer culture,” said Daser. “The fact that we can put something like this on for kids free of charge is amazing. Our turnout was excellent and I only see it growing.”
A number of talented instructors participated in Wednesday’s sessions, including local coaches and a number of professional coaches.
Coach Lalo Liza is a former player and current assistant coach for the Atlanta Silverbacks professional soccer team and is a staff coach for the Concorde Fire Soccer Club. He played intercollegiate college for Georgia State.Liza is a native of Lima, Peru.
"Lalo is a great young coach who has tremendous knowledge and passion for the game,” said Daser. “He was a great Student-Athlete while he was on the Georgia State University team for me. His senior year he was one of the best midfielders in the Colonial Conference. I am so proud that Lalo is coaching at the professional level and will do big things in Soccer.”
Coach Louis Crayton is a FIFA instructor and Georgia ODP Goalkeeper Coach. He served last year as a goal keeper coach at Georgia Military College. He is a former goalkeeper for the Liberian national team. Crayton played nine years for the Swiss Super League and professional in the MLS for DC United.
"Louis has amazing professional experience,” said Daser. “He is one of the top Goalkeeper/Speed Coaches in the country. He will help me develop goalkeepers here in Dalton at the youth level and will help my Dalton College keepers battle for conference championships.”
Coach Mark Acosta is a former assistant coach and camp coordinator at Georgia Military. The native of Columbia has an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest and a Masters from the University of Hawaii..
“He is one of my best friends from my high school days in North Carolina,” said Daser. "Mark is a super administrator who loves the game. He has developed the website for my soccer camps and has done a great job organizing our Wednesday Super Skills Clinics."
Fernando Tlacuatl is youth director and scout for Taluca (Mexico) Futball Club. He played college soccer at Andrew College and has served as an assistant with the Andrew College women’s soccer program.
"Fernando is amazing with young players. He is good role model for young kids who want to improve their game. He is great young youth coach.” He is also a youth scout for Toluca FC. Toluca is one of the best Mexican professional soccer teams.”
All young soccer players are welcome to come out next Wednesday and participate in high level clinics. For more information on the Dalton State soccer program or the youth camps, e-mail “Coach K” at kdaser@daltonstate.edu