MIke Stankovic, who spent a 15-year career with the Blast, has seen soccer emerge as one of the region?s most popular sports.
“I was here in the early 1980s and the professional levels were great,” he said. “But on the local level, not too many teams were playing. Now, there aren?t enough fields for all the kids playing the game.”
Stankovic, 50, will host eight free clinics, sponsored by Chick-fil-A, beginning March 22 at Arundel Middle School. He?ll also help with the Chick-fil-A Regional Soccer Tournament on Aug. 1-2 at Western Regional Park in Howard County, an event also sponsored by The Examiner.
“We?re trying to create an event that?s fun, and takes who we are as a company ? with the parent-and-kid interaction in the store ? and create an eventoutside our restaurants,” said Mike Hutton, who operates the Chick-fil-A in Cockeysville. “We came up with the idea of creating this tournament.”
The 5-on-5 tournament is open for all teams U6 to U19, and squads can register at chickfilasoccer.com.
Stankovic played for the Blast from 1981-?87, and from ?89-?98 ? the second of which included a stint with the Spirit. He was a six-time all-star in the original Major Indoor Soccer League, ranking third on the original Blast points list with 301 in nine seasons. He was inducted into the club?s first Hall of Fame class in 2004, and was named a member of its All-Decade Team. After serving as an assistant coach for the Blast from 1991-94, he was its head coach beginning in the second half of the 95-96 season, and running through the 97-98 season.
Now, he?s overseeing soccer camps with some kids who were born after his playing days. He?ll rely on the help of coaches and players from local colleges and UMBC-based USL club Crystal Palace USA.
“There?s nothing like working with kids,” Stankovic said. “It?s the best.”
