Hermantown Futbol Club welcomes FC Minaj from the Ukraine

It was a great scene at Stebner Park in Hermantown on Sunday, as the the Hermantown Futbol Club’s U16 boy’s team welcomed in FC Minaj from the Ukraine.

The team is hosting the young athletes who have been displaced in Europe due to the conflict in Ukraine, but have come together through the sport of soccer for a week in the U.S.

“We are expecting four of the 16 year old boys between the two teams. They are on their way here, and we are excited to meet them and they will be staying with us for a few days. We figured we have the space and availability why not open our homes for this so we are pretty excited. I am glad that the sport can bring people together because this is a really cool thing that’s happening,” stated host family Channon Richardson. 

“This is really impressive especially people that accepted us and opened the door to their houses. To accept us as their family is has really impressed everyone. The team has dreams, and dreams come true. So this is one of the dreams people have, to see America for the first time,” said Minaj head coach Rudolf Balazhinez.

The group will have the next two days to tour the Duluth area, then on July 19th two international friendly matches between the Ukrainian and Hermantown U16 boy’s and U14 girl’s teams will take place.