Across the globe, soccer is perhaps the most universally popular sport. However, in the United States, it has taken longer for the craze to reach the mainstream.
For example, Winston-Salem State has 14 men’s and women’s varsity athletic teams, yet soccer is not one of them.
WSSU Director of Athletics, Dr. Chico Caldwell, said that he does not see the Rams fielding a varsity soccer team for some time. Caldwell said that although there have been discussions about starting a team, there are several factors that would prohibit the athletic department from adding one in the near future.
“We base our teams on conference in affiliation,” Caldwell said. “The MEAC doesn’t sponsor soccer as a sport.”
Caldwell also said that there just isn’t enough space for the facilities the team would require.
“The first thing is where would you put it,” he said. “Space is an issue.”
Caldwell also said the funds for a soccer team aren’t there as of yet.
“We’ve just added five sports in the last two years. I don’t believe in sponsoring sports we cannot fund.”
Despite the fact that there are no plans for a varsity team in the near future, there is a group of soccer fanatics on campus that have banded together to form a club soccer team.
Nick Roman, a senior physical education major from Charlotte, is the vice president of WSSU’s soccer club. The club, which has about 20 members, played two games last year against Elon and Wake Forest.
“This year we’re trying to get a more structured team,” Roman said. “Last year was our first year and it was kind of trial and error.”
Club teams play during the same season as NCAA recognized teams do, Roman said. Players at schools with both teams join club teams instead of varsity teams for a variety of reasons.
“Some people don’t make the collegiate team, some people’s four years on the collegiate team are up and they’re still in school. The talent pool is really a lot better than some people think.”
“Our main goal is to get a good structured team that can move from year to year smoothly.”
Roman said he and the members of his club realize that their ultimate goal of putting together a collegiate team will be a long, uphill battle.
“That’s a big step for the university to take that step,” Roman said. “But I think if the team keeps growing that hopefully will happen.”