Dear [Name],

We’re thrilled to welcome you to Ridgeplay Academy. Here, the game is more than a game — it’s a place to grow, to challenge yourself, and to discover what you’re truly capable of.

I want you to know the story behind the academy you’ve joined.

I grew up in Razgrad, Bulgaria, playing for Razgrad 2000 — one of the city’s youth clubs. Some of my teammates went on to join the first Ludogorets squad that would dominate Bulgarian football for over a decade. While health challenges pulled me away from high-level competition, they gave me something just as powerful — the chance to become a coach who could give young players the tools I once needed myself.

At 21, I arrived in the United States with a single sports bag, $350, and two dreams: to keep soccer at the center of my life, and to make music. Over the years, I’ve coached with Street Soccer USA (2016–2023), starting as a volunteer, then head coach, and eventually Program Manager — helping lead the Shared Schoolyard Project and other programs alongside my National Manager and colleagues. I’ve also coached with clubs like SF Aftershocks and, since 2020, with SF Vikings SC, working with multiple competitive teams.

I’ve led Chicas FC, a women’s amateur club, to multiple league titles — including three Division 1 and one Premier championship — and guided school teams deep into playoff seasons. I still enjoy playing in local leagues, though not at a high-competition level anymore, so I can protect my long-term physical health and focus fully on coaching and mentoring.

Ridgeplay Academy is here to help kids like you grow — developing technical skill, game understanding, and mental resilience to succeed not just in soccer, but in life, all while enjoying the game. Mistakes will happen here, and that’s part of the design. What matters most is how we respond, learn, and keep moving forward. Embrace challenges head-on.

I can’t wait to see you on the field.