Kick Off 2025 (Coaches’ version)

With the biting cold leaving benchwarmers shivering, both the boys’ and girls’ varsity football teams are gearing up for the KAIAC season. Although both teams have just started their seasons, here’s a first look at your boys’ and girls’ varsity football squads for the 24/25 season.

Coach Pablo’s Side: “Game is Game”

For boys’ varsity football head coach Pablo Oyola, the message this season is simple: “Winners win.” It’s a down-to-earth motto that reflects coach Oyola’s mindset that football isn’t just about ambition but about delivering performances on the field. It aligns with the strength of this year’s squad, which he calls “the best set-up team so far,” quoting the strong cohesion among players. He also highlights the maturity of the upperclassmen players, crediting their growth since last season. He singled out Aiden Suh (11) for his standout performance against SIS, where he netted a phenomenal double hat trick to end the game at 6-0. Although this upperclassman strength also means that the freshmen and sophomores might find themselves stuck on the bench, Coach Pablo sees this process as a necessity. He said, “As a freshman, you need to get used to working your way into the starting team. It's not easy to expect to get playing time.” With this no-nonsense approach and with the support of this year’s captain, Maj Müller (12), Coach Pablo seems to be set hard on achieving what last year’s team could not: a treble.

Coach Visahan’s Varsity Girls: Skill & Experience

The girls’ varsity football team, on the other hand, is entering a season of growth. Despite losing five key departed seniors, coach Nico Visahan praises Seoul Foreign’s strong MY select program, noting, “We always have fantastic new freshmen come in.” He adds that each year, two or three of these newcomers push their way into the starting eleven, so the players lost to graduation will definitely be missed but are far from irreplaceable. This doesn’t mean that the team is weaker this year, however. This constant influx of talent maintains the team’s high standards while also changing its composition. For example, this season’s squad has an abundance of forwards who are quick on the ball compared to last year’s defensive lineup, allowing for a focus on controlled aggression and a focus on character. With this new dynamic, coach Visahan is eager to implement a “fast-paced, counterattack-style of football” that promises to bring an exciting brand of play to the field.

Whether it’s the pursuit of silverware or the development of new talent, both teams are ready to leave everything on the pitch. So no matter how cold it is, make sure to go cheer for our crusaders!