Coaches
The DCYFC coaches are not just coaches. They are role models. The bios described below demonstrate their commitment way beyond soccer. Many have pursued academics and higher education beyond the college bachelors degree, work two and three jobs and pursue careers dedicated to life beyond soccer. So why is this important. Because soccer is a means to an end. It teaches discipline, routine, camraderie, teamwork and passion to pursue an ambition. These soccer coaches instill motivation and pursuit of something beyond soccer.
Mitch Dubensky is the President of the DCYFC and is also the Founder and President of First Touch Soccer. He moved to DC in 1984 and has lived in American University Park since 1990. He holds a USSF National "Youth" coaching license, a USSF National "C" coaching license and holds a USSF Referee certification. He played collegiate soccer, played in post-university adult leagues and played in various countries around the world. His work ethic is simple -- if you work hard good things can happen. Having acquired the academic credentials to pursue a rewarding and fulfilling 25-year livelihood in the government and corporate world, he decided it was a time for a new ambition, a revitalized purpose and a renewed commitment to give back. He came to the conclusion that among many passions is to teach children soccer skills, leadership skills, promote physical education, a healthy lifestyle and friendly competition. The game demands physical and mental exertion, forces one to think and provides ultimate satisfaction in teamwork and accomplishing goals. It provided him with a routine during school, a competitive outlet that eventually translated to a neccessary life and business skill, motivated him to puruse his academics, created a desire for achievement and willingness to sacrifice for teammates and friends. He strongly believes it helped with his career goals and achieving his ambitions.
Jesus Martinez graduated Archbishop Carroll High School in 2009. After HS, Jesus attended Regis College from 2009-2012 majoring in biology and physical therapy. He is now attending the University of the District of Columbia studying physical therapy/nutrition while working at a health care consulting firm. His soccer highlights include a four-year varsity career at Archbishop Carroll, the Real Maryland Youth Academy from U10-15 and the Olympic Development Program. Jesus was the former head coach for DC Scores at the Sacred Heart School from Fall 2012-2013.
Jeff White was born in Guatemala and arrived to America at age 9. After graduating from Wilson High School in 2008, Jeff went on to get an Associates Degree. He works full-time at the Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in Adams Morgan. He is great with the kids, calm and cool under pressure, and the kids gravitate to him because of his laid back style.
Giordana "GiGi" Ross graduated from Smith College in May 2016 with a BA in Economics where she played NCAA Division III soccer. She enjoyed a competitive 4 year career there and currently holds the Smith Soccer record for number of games started in a career. GiGi grew up in New Jersey where she played at the highest club level from elementary - high school, competing in tournaments across the country. She currently lives in DC where she works full time as a consultant, while still finding time to play competitively 4 days a week.
Adam Correia has 18 years of coaching experience at the club, high school and collegiate levels. As Director of Coaching for Radnor Soccer Club in Pennsylvania (2013-2017), he oversaw all aspects of player development in the club's travel program, including development of club curriculum, coach education, and player feedback. He has worked with boys and girls teams from U8-U16. As Assistant Coach with Haverford College Men's Soccer program in Pennsylvania (2014-2017), the team won back-to-back Centennial Conference championships and competed in the NCAS tournament, reaching the Elite 8 in 2015. Adam played club soccer in Massachusetts with Charles River United (1992 State Champions). He was a four-year starter with Haverford College where he earned a B.A. He also earned a M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International studies. As with most of our coaches, he has a "real job" working in international development. His favorite league is the Italian Serie A and his favorite team is Fiorentina.
Ozcan "John" Inak started playing soccer on the streets and school grounds in Istanbul, Turkey at the age of 6. Mesmerized by the acrobatic saves of the neighborhood goalkeepers, he earned a spot as the goalkeeper for Umraniye Futbol Club, a Division 1 Semi-Pro Soccer Team in Istanbul. After his H.S. graduation, he learned life's ropes and traveling the world as a "merchant seaman." Since moving to the USA in 1981, he's played in Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties and coaching U4-U16 neighborhood youth soccer club teams. As he nears his retirement as a HVAC/Mechanical Contracting Business, he plans to spend more time helping develop young players with DCYFC.
From the time Michael Elfman was a schoolboy, he was a team member of youth clubs in Bahrain, Cyprus, England, Italy and the U.S. He began coaching youth soccer at age 16 when he relocated to the U.S. and then signed as a reserve with CFC Genoa (Italy) at age 18. Over the course of 20 years Michael received the AC Milan Coaching Course Certificate, a Master's Coaching Diploma from Fiorentina (Italy) and has a USSF "A" coaching license.
Javi Itarte has a Master of Science in Sport and Physical Activity (University of Lleida, Spain), and a bachelors degree in Physical Education (University of Zaragoza). Originally from the northern city of Pamplona, Spain (think "running of the bulls!"), he is now a Physical Education teacher at an elementary school in Maryland. Prior to arriving in America, he played as a defensive midfielder in the third division of Spain (semiprofessional) and he worked as a physical trainer (U18 Spanish First Division) and as a Coach with the youth program of the La Liga Club Osasuna.
Matthijs Maruanaya - Matthijs grew up in the vicinity of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. At the ripe old age of twelve he was recruited to play for the youth academy of the professional soccer team AZ Alkmaar. He played for all age groups and made his way to the senior Reserve Team. He also played for the Dutch Under 19 National Team. In 2005 he was asked to play for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. He was team captain in his junior and senior year. After college, Matthijs obtained a Master of Political Science degree in Barcelona, Spain. Matthijs now has a full-time professional position that only allows him to participate in our winter training sessions through First Touch Soccer.
Eric Gwadz, at sixteen years of age, is one of our youngest coaches. But in terms of soccer experience, he has been playing for ten years with the last five at the highest levels of youth soccer in the Washington DC area. His skills are exceptional, his game understanding terrific and his abiity to work with children excellent. In addition to his extensive youth soccer team commitments, he was a freshman starter on the Fall 2014 Wilson H.S. team. His soccer resume is second only to his academic achievements in A.P. and Honors classes.
Marcelus Jones attended high school at The Nora School in Silver Spring, Md and graduated in June 2017. He played for a U23 Bethesda Soccer Club team after a long and distinguished star with the Capital Football Club (CFC). As a striker, he was the second leading scorer in the Eastern Development League (EDP) in Spring 2015. He was the first player to train with First Touch Soccer back in 2006. He is now in Manchester, England training with a development program after playing 9 months with a small club in Barcelona, Spain.
Vince Tersegno played college soccer at St. Lawrence University. He played semi-pro and competed in several international soccer tournaments. As a FTS Board member, Vince loves to impart his humorous anecdotes and teaching skills. As a born striker, he can demonstrate the tricks of the trade in getting by defenders, anticipating runs and using deft touches to assist and score goals. Vince has a national "D", National Youth Soccer and Coerver licenses.
Mitch Dubensky is the President of the DCYFC and is also the Founder and President of First Touch Soccer. He moved to DC in 1984 and has lived in American University Park since 1990. He holds a USSF National "Youth" coaching license, a USSF National "C" coaching license and holds a USSF Referee certification. He played collegiate soccer, played in post-university adult leagues and played in various countries around the world. His work ethic is simple -- if you work hard good things can happen. Having acquired the academic credentials to pursue a rewarding and fulfilling 25-year livelihood in the government and corporate world, he decided it was a time for a new ambition, a revitalized purpose and a renewed commitment to give back. He came to the conclusion that among many passions is to teach children soccer skills, leadership skills, promote physical education, a healthy lifestyle and friendly competition. The game demands physical and mental exertion, forces one to think and provides ultimate satisfaction in teamwork and accomplishing goals. It provided him with a routine during school, a competitive outlet that eventually translated to a neccessary life and business skill, motivated him to puruse his academics, created a desire for achievement and willingness to sacrifice for teammates and friends. He strongly believes it helped with his career goals and achieving his ambitions.
Jesus Martinez graduated Archbishop Carroll High School in 2009. After HS, Jesus attended Regis College from 2009-2012 majoring in biology and physical therapy. He is now attending the University of the District of Columbia studying physical therapy/nutrition while working at a health care consulting firm. His soccer highlights include a four-year varsity career at Archbishop Carroll, the Real Maryland Youth Academy from U10-15 and the Olympic Development Program. Jesus was the former head coach for DC Scores at the Sacred Heart School from Fall 2012-2013.
Jeff White was born in Guatemala and arrived to America at age 9. After graduating from Wilson High School in 2008, Jeff went on to get an Associates Degree. He works full-time at the Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in Adams Morgan. He is great with the kids, calm and cool under pressure, and the kids gravitate to him because of his laid back style.
Giordana "GiGi" Ross graduated from Smith College in May 2016 with a BA in Economics where she played NCAA Division III soccer. She enjoyed a competitive 4 year career there and currently holds the Smith Soccer record for number of games started in a career. GiGi grew up in New Jersey where she played at the highest club level from elementary - high school, competing in tournaments across the country. She currently lives in DC where she works full time as a consultant, while still finding time to play competitively 4 days a week.
Adam Correia has 18 years of coaching experience at the club, high school and collegiate levels. As Director of Coaching for Radnor Soccer Club in Pennsylvania (2013-2017), he oversaw all aspects of player development in the club's travel program, including development of club curriculum, coach education, and player feedback. He has worked with boys and girls teams from U8-U16. As Assistant Coach with Haverford College Men's Soccer program in Pennsylvania (2014-2017), the team won back-to-back Centennial Conference championships and competed in the NCAS tournament, reaching the Elite 8 in 2015. Adam played club soccer in Massachusetts with Charles River United (1992 State Champions). He was a four-year starter with Haverford College where he earned a B.A. He also earned a M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International studies. As with most of our coaches, he has a "real job" working in international development. His favorite league is the Italian Serie A and his favorite team is Fiorentina.
Ozcan "John" Inak started playing soccer on the streets and school grounds in Istanbul, Turkey at the age of 6. Mesmerized by the acrobatic saves of the neighborhood goalkeepers, he earned a spot as the goalkeeper for Umraniye Futbol Club, a Division 1 Semi-Pro Soccer Team in Istanbul. After his H.S. graduation, he learned life's ropes and traveling the world as a "merchant seaman." Since moving to the USA in 1981, he's played in Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties and coaching U4-U16 neighborhood youth soccer club teams. As he nears his retirement as a HVAC/Mechanical Contracting Business, he plans to spend more time helping develop young players with DCYFC.
From the time Michael Elfman was a schoolboy, he was a team member of youth clubs in Bahrain, Cyprus, England, Italy and the U.S. He began coaching youth soccer at age 16 when he relocated to the U.S. and then signed as a reserve with CFC Genoa (Italy) at age 18. Over the course of 20 years Michael received the AC Milan Coaching Course Certificate, a Master's Coaching Diploma from Fiorentina (Italy) and has a USSF "A" coaching license.
Javi Itarte has a Master of Science in Sport and Physical Activity (University of Lleida, Spain), and a bachelors degree in Physical Education (University of Zaragoza). Originally from the northern city of Pamplona, Spain (think "running of the bulls!"), he is now a Physical Education teacher at an elementary school in Maryland. Prior to arriving in America, he played as a defensive midfielder in the third division of Spain (semiprofessional) and he worked as a physical trainer (U18 Spanish First Division) and as a Coach with the youth program of the La Liga Club Osasuna.
Matthijs Maruanaya - Matthijs grew up in the vicinity of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. At the ripe old age of twelve he was recruited to play for the youth academy of the professional soccer team AZ Alkmaar. He played for all age groups and made his way to the senior Reserve Team. He also played for the Dutch Under 19 National Team. In 2005 he was asked to play for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. He was team captain in his junior and senior year. After college, Matthijs obtained a Master of Political Science degree in Barcelona, Spain. Matthijs now has a full-time professional position that only allows him to participate in our winter training sessions through First Touch Soccer.
Eric Gwadz, at sixteen years of age, is one of our youngest coaches. But in terms of soccer experience, he has been playing for ten years with the last five at the highest levels of youth soccer in the Washington DC area. His skills are exceptional, his game understanding terrific and his abiity to work with children excellent. In addition to his extensive youth soccer team commitments, he was a freshman starter on the Fall 2014 Wilson H.S. team. His soccer resume is second only to his academic achievements in A.P. and Honors classes.
Marcelus Jones attended high school at The Nora School in Silver Spring, Md and graduated in June 2017. He played for a U23 Bethesda Soccer Club team after a long and distinguished star with the Capital Football Club (CFC). As a striker, he was the second leading scorer in the Eastern Development League (EDP) in Spring 2015. He was the first player to train with First Touch Soccer back in 2006. He is now in Manchester, England training with a development program after playing 9 months with a small club in Barcelona, Spain.
Vince Tersegno played college soccer at St. Lawrence University. He played semi-pro and competed in several international soccer tournaments. As a FTS Board member, Vince loves to impart his humorous anecdotes and teaching skills. As a born striker, he can demonstrate the tricks of the trade in getting by defenders, anticipating runs and using deft touches to assist and score goals. Vince has a national "D", National Youth Soccer and Coerver licenses.