Press Release

Staten Island’s Adri Mehmeti Earns His First Caps With the US Men’s National Team

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

October 9, 2026-Sometimes, kids playing recreational soccer in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) wind up representing the USA internationally a decade later. That’s what happened to Adri Mehmeti, now 17 years old and playing for the Red Bulls.

Richmondtown Rampage photo. Adri is circled, coach Joey Caruana Jr. is on the left and coach Anthony Cosenza is on the right. Photo courtesy of Joey Caruana Jr.

Adri (AHH-dree) started playing soccer when he was two years old. His first team was a recreational side, the Richmondtown Rampage of the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), and he played in Richmondtown for two years.

“Adri was really, really talented and hard working. He was great, a real sweetheart who stood out from the rest of the players,” explained Richmondtown coach Joey Caruana Jr. “His father Vani is very passionate about the sport.”

Vani Mehmeti grew up in Albania and played for a semipro team in Greece before emigrating to the USA where he played for New York Albanians in 2007-08, Kofrabi for 5.5 years and then FC Ulqini, all in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.

Adri playing for Staten Island United in 2016 on left and at home on the right. Photos courtesy of the Mehmeti family.

Adri moved on to play for the SIYSL’s Staten Island United, then for Red Bulls Academy. Vani would schedule night shifts for the trucking company he owns so that he could drive him to the Red Bulls’ practices in New Jersey in the afternoon. As Adri continued to develop, he played for the Boys-Under-15 National Youth Teams for both the USA and Albania.

His proud father recalled, “Playing for Albania there, he scored a goal with nearly 100 of our relatives watching.”

Adri made his professional debut as a 16-year-old with the Red Bulls and the midfielder is now a fixture in their starting line-up at age 17.

An additional proud moment for the Mehmeti family was when Adri came on as a second-half substitute, replacing another Eastern New York product, Tyler Adams, for the US Men’s National Team in their 4-1 win over Peru on September 26 in Orlando.

“I cannot put into words how great it is that Adri is playing for the US Men’s National Team. It’s a dream come true,” his father said. “I met my wife, Adri’s mother, here, he was born here and developed here. We have become successful in the United States.”

The future looks bright for Adri and the US Men’s National Team. In the recently-completed international window, he played in three games, coming in as a sub against Peru and Canada plus starting against Chile, which were all victories for the red, white and blue.

With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Receive a Discount When You Register For the State Cup By October 31

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

October 9, 2026-Halloween is more treat than trick when it comes to State Cup registration in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). That’s because teams receive a discount if they register by October 31, 2026.

The State Cup Championship is for the top teams and it’s the pathway to Nationals. There are no Regionals anymore and State Cup champion teams go directly to Nationals. National 1 League (N1) teams are welcome to play in this competition.

Under-12 to Under-17 team registration, both boys and girls, is $400 this month and $500 after and is linked here.

Under-18/19 registration, both boys and girls, is $400 in October, $500 after and is linked here.

The Challenge Cup is for all teams at Under-10 and Under-11 as there is not a State Open Cup in those age groups. For Under-12 to Under-16, it’s for mid- to lower-tier squads. It’s $250 per team when you register by Halloween, $300 when you register after that. Boys and girls teams can register for the Challenge Cup by clicking here.

For more info about the State Cup Championship or Challenge Cup being played in the spring of 2027, please phone the ENYYSA office at 516-766-0849.

Three Eastern New York Clubs Receive the Innovate to Grow Grant

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

September 30, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that three of the 25 clubs selected by US Youth Soccer to participate in the third and final part of US Soccer’s Innovate to Grow Grant are from Eastern New York. The local clubs selected are La Finca Futbol from the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL), Eleftheria Pancyprian Soccer Club of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) and Westchester Elite Soccer of the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL).

All three clubs have committed to implementing the model over two seasons of play in the Under-5 and Under-6 recreation age groups and provide coach and parent feedback at the end of each season. Their coaches are also provided with educational resources via membership to USYS University and access to the USYS National Curriculum.

“We’re honored and grateful to be selected for US Soccer’s Game Format Project. We are using this support to launch our areas first Grassroots program grounded in the principles of small-sided play,” stated La Finca Futbol President Jed Tucker. “With no cost to the clubs, coupled with the professional support and network of clubs nationally doing this, it shows the real value of US Soccer.”

Smaller fields and fewer players will lead to more touches on the ball, enhanced decision-making, increased scoring opportunities and more enjoyment. The participating clubs can select the game format they would like to implement based on researched-informed recommendations for field size, team size, length of games, etc.

“We are very grateful to US Youth Soccer for selecting Eleftheria Pancyprian Soccer Club for the Game Format Project. We plan to use this grant to enhance the environment we provide for our younger players, giving them more opportunities to play, develop, and enjoy the game in a format that is appropriate for their age,” explained Eleftheria Pancyprian President Parry Ermogenous. “As our club continues to grow, initiatives like this allow us to invest directly back into our players and strengthen the foundation of our development program.”

“We are incredibly grateful to US Youth Soccer for selecting Westchester Elite Soccer to participate in the Game Format Project,” stated Flavio Zhingri, Founder and Technical Director of Westchester Elite Soccer. “We are excited to use the resources provided to create more small-sided playing opportunities for our young players, giving them more touches on the ball, more involvement in the game and more opportunities to make decisions. We’re also excited to learn from the project and contribute our experience and feedback as US Youth Soccer continues to explore the best environments for young players to develop and enjoy the game.”

Richard Christiano Honored With Life Membership

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

September 30, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Richard Christiano has been given Life Membership, soccer’s equivalent of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The unanimous vote took place at the ENYYSA Annual General Meeting last Saturday, September 26 at the Sonesta Hotel in White Plains.

In his nomination letter, Ken Gulmi wrote that “I have worked with Rich for over 35 years. He is a tireless worker, a terrific advocate for the kids in our programs and is responsible for many of the positive changes that we have come to take for granted.”

Richie, who recently retired as ENYYSA President, volunteered an amazing 56 years in youth soccer. He served as a coach for the New Hyde Park Wildcats for 17 years and a decade as their Board member. He volunteered for over a decade as a Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Vice President, greatly improving the LIJSL Select Program during this time, and seven years as an ENYYSA Vice President. Richie served 11 years as Chairperson of the State Referee Committee and for five years as Director of the Olympic Development Program (ODP).

The Floral Park resident volunteered for 16 years as ENYYSA President, the second-longest tenure after Peter Masotto’s 22 years in charge. One of his major accomplishments as President is bringing more fiscal responsibility to the non-profit organization.

For all this volunteering, Richie was inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 2010, the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2011 and was honored as the Region 1 Volunteer of the Year in 2016.

Richie commented to the office staff as well as the Board of Directors, “I want to thank you all for making my job as President fun and exciting over the years. As a group, we have accomplished a lot together for the membership. It’s been my honor to have the privilege to have worked with all of you and all the past Board members.”

Jimmy Svendsen Elected President of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

September 28, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) welcomes James Svendsen as our new President after the retirement of Richard Christiano, who faithfully served as ENYYSA President for the past 16 years. The Presidential election took place at the ENYYSA Annual General Meeting this past Saturday, September 26 at the Sonesta Hotel in White Plains.

“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as President of Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association. ENYYSA has a proud history, and I look forward to working with our leagues, clubs, coaches, referees, volunteers and families to build on that foundation,” our new President explained. “One of my first priorities will be to listen. Youth soccer continues to evolve, and I believe it is important that we bring people together, hear different perspectives and make sure Eastern New York is positioned to meet both the opportunities and challenges ahead to create the best possible experience for our players. This is an important time for youth soccer, with the evolving relationship and increased alignment between US Soccer and US Youth Soccer, changes that have the potential to reshape the youth soccer landscape.”

President Svendsen is a soccer lifer who played as a kid for SC Gjøa in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) for a decade, starting off as an 8-year-old in 1973 at the start of the youth soccer boom.

Jimmy began coaching the Boys-Under-10 Scandinavian Sports Club Vikings in 1980. It was a rapid rise up the volunteer ladder as he became a CJSL Trustee two years later. In 1984, Jimmy started coaching in the CJSL Select Program.

Jimmy volunteered for two tours of duty as CJSL President, from 1998-2000 and again from 2016-18. He also had two tours of duty as Gjøa’s Youth Director.

In 2005, he received Lifetime Membership, soccer’s version of the Lifetime Achievement Award, for both the CJSL and Gjøa. In 2013, he was inducted into the CJSL Hall of Fame and received the same honor from Gjøa in 2016. He was inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2017.

Jimmy held nearly every position on the CJSL Executive Board since Emil Cohill asked him to become involved with the Board in 1982. He spent more than two decades as the CJSL Treasurer. He also volunteered on the ENYYSA Board previously as Treasurer and Trustee.

The Glenwood Landing resident was the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology at the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District for nearly a decade. After his retirement from that position three years ago, he consults for school districts now.He served for two years on the North Shore School District Board of Education and recently resigned from that position so he could volunteer as Eastern New York’s President.

Svendsen concluded, “I want to thank Richie Christiano for his many years of leadership and service to ENYYSA. Richie has dedicated an incredible amount of time and energy to the game and to our Association. I’m grateful for his support during this transition and look forward to building upon the work he and so many others have done for Eastern New York soccer.”

Nominations Now Open For the Of the Year Awards

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

September 24, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is asking that each person, club and league turn their attention inwards to their volunteers and outstanding members in an effort to acknowledge those whose contributions have truly made a difference. We’re seeking nominations for a variety of awards to demonstrate our appreciation for the hours of devotion these valued individuals give to our players.

Eastern New York will select a person in each category who will receive recognition at our Hall of Fame Banquet in early 2027 plus receive possible additional recognition at the National level, which includes some rather nice prizes. For the past two years, Eastern New York has received a nomination in nearly every category because our members took the time to nominate somebody.

The entries are on an online form that is linked below and please complete as comprehensively as possible.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Boys Competitive Coach of the Year

Girls Competitive Coach of the Year

Boys Recreation Coach of the Year

Girls Recreation Coach of the Year

TOPSoccer Coach of the Year

TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year

Administrator of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

Young Male Referee of the Year

Young Female Referee of the Year

Nominations for the above awards must be received by November 20, 2026 to be considered.

As with everything else, your nominees have to be in it to win it! Please take the opportunity to recognize your best and brightest through this great awards program.

A Coaching Pass From Eastern New York is a Very High Standard

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

September 17, 2026-Perhaps because the World Cup was played here this past summer but there are now many soccer coaches advertising their training and tutoring ability to soccer families. Parents certainly need to ask what their credentials are before hiring them. A good place to start would be to ask to see their coaching or training pass from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

Every person must complete a coaching course before receiving a pass to coach in an Eastern New York league.

Additionally, Eastern New York conducts background checks on coaches before they can be rostered in any of our leagues. They must pass this background check every two years to continue to be involved in our competitions.

Eastern New York coaches must watch periodic videos on preventing abuse, bullying and assault from the US Center for Safe Sport as well as receive concussion awareness training from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Additionally, coaches who have completed advanced courses also watch annual videos from US Soccer on head injuries, mental illness and how to respond to medical emergencies at the field.

So if local coaches do not have a pass from Eastern New York or an affiliated league, you don’t know exactly what you are getting when you hire them.

Nominations Are Open For the US Soccer AGM Awards

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

September 18, 2026-The US Soccer AGM Awards recognizes individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the sport and our soccer community. We encourage you to take a little time from your busy day to nominate someone deserving recognition for their leadership, service, innovation or dedication in advancing US Soccer’s Generational Ambitions – US Soccer Success, US Soccer is Yours and US Soccer Everywhere.

Fernando G. Alvarez Referee Champion Award-This award honors those who dedicate their time, wisdom and passion to championing refereeing in the United States. Nominees may be leaders, mentors or advocates who inspire, support and positively advance refereeing.

Nominate a Referee Champion

Kim Crabbe Game Changers Award-This award recognizes individuals who have created positive, lasting change by addressing social challenges in their communities through impact, creativity, sustainability and expanded opportunity in the game.

Nominate a Game Changer

Carla Overbeck Leadership Award-Recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership within the US Soccer landscape—motivating and mentoring others, leading by example, adapting to change and fostering collaboration across membership.

Nominate a Leader

Werner Fricker Builder Award-Honors individuals with at least 20 years of service to soccer who have made a significant national impact, built programs that outlast their involvement and demonstrated distinguished service to the sport. Nominees must be living at the time of nomination.

Nominate a Builder

Nominations for all awards close on Friday, October 16.

The four recipients will be celebrated at the 2027 Awards Dinner held on Saturday, March 13 at the US Soccer Annual General Meeting in Atlanta.

All Our Players Should Be Learning About Sportsmanship

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

September 10, 2026-It’s mathematically impossible for the two teams competing to win a soccer game but both squads should be having fun. In a Project Play survey of youth soccer players in the New York City metro area last year, 48% of kids said playing with their friends, 46% replied having fun and 45% said learning or improving skills were their reasons for playing youth soccer. Only 23% cited winning as the reason.

Few kids in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) will receive college scholarships or go on to play professional soccer but all should be learning about sportsmanship and treating others the way that they want to be treated so that they become better people.

Courtesy of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League

Opposing coaches can get off to a good start by greeting one another when they arrive at the field as a number of refs have reported that games can go much smoother because of this. Players and spectators follow the lead of their coach on how to behave.

As Eastern New York leagues kick off the Fall Season this month, let’s see great goals, good saves and Fair Play in every game.

There are approximately 25 million handshakes after Eastern New York matches annually.
Photo courtesy of the Long Island Junior Soccer League.

Get Back on the Soccer Scene By Becoming a Referee

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

September 8, 2026-As the summer tournaments have concluded and the Fall Season kicks off this month, some adults are feeling withdrawal symptoms since the soccer team they coached or watched for years has aged out of youth soccer. And there are players whose team has also graduated from youth soccer who are thinking about a new challenge.

Stay involved with the Beautiful Game by becoming a youth soccer referee or assistant ref. There are many wonderful things that happen when a person starts to ref including learning more about the game from a different perspective, learning to manage people, staying or becoming fit, earning money and expanding yourself by leaving your comfort zone.

Photo courtesy of the Long Island Junior Soccer League

The growth of the membership and programs of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) has created a continuous need for more soccer referees and assistant refs. There are certification classes held throughout Eastern New York.

The minimum age is 14 years old to become certified and the certification class consists of online learning, a Zoom meeting and a field session. For more information, log on to https://enysreferee.org/how-to-become-a-referee/. If you have any questions, e-mail questions@enysreferee.org