Last month the Kosciuszko Boys Soccer team beat Dearborn Heights Star International Academy in the United League Championship to bring home the trophy!
By: Omar Thabet
Last month the Kosciuszko Cougars boys’ soccer team went up against Dearborn Heights Star International Academy Falcons in the United League Championship final and came out victorious in a nail-biting game.
The game was tied at 3-3 heading into extra time. After no team could score in extras, it was time for the dreaded penalty shootout. Star International ended up scoring the first two goals while Kosciuszko missed their first shot. The situation was not looking good for Kosciuszko, until it came down to the last penalty shot.
“You could hear a pin drop in the stadium with all the suspense in the air, “ said Head Coach Bo Sawka.
Aymen Rajeh of the Cougars came up to shoot the penalty shot and he picked the left corner while Stars’ goalie dived to the right. The ball went into the net and the game was over and Hamtramck won the championship!
The players started screaming and celebrating with excitement! The Kosciuszko Cougars brought home the United League Trophy!
The United League
The United League consists of schools from the Hamtramck, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Detroit areas.
The league is very competitive, as the game of soccer has become a staple for the kids in the metro Detroit area.
Head coach Bo Sawka said what makes him most proud about the team was, “The students and their ambition to win. Their dedication to both school and soccer.”
Coach Sawka later added, “I am proud of all of the kids and their dedication to their studies. As a team we focused on teaching them that they are students before athletes. That their education was more important than soccer.”
The Cougars finished the season with a 9-2 record.
The leading scorer on the season for the Cougars was Bassam Saleh with 8 goals.
Coach Sawka closed out the interview by thanking his assistant coach John Ondusky for all of the hard work he put into the season as well. Then Coach Sawka added, “I was proud of the league and how everyone handled themselves. All of the players from around the Hamtramck, Detroit, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights area really showed great class and sportsmanship.”
From all of us at The Yemeni American News, we want to once again say congratulations to the Kosciuszko Middle School boys’ soccer team on winning the United League championship!
