The Fords soccer team, colloquially known as “Fords Footy,” is coming off of back-to-back Inter-Ac championship seasons, as well as a victory on EA Day.
“We are considerably the team to beat,” Sixth Form captain Luca Aloi said. “Most teams will expect a lot from us, so this year, more than the others, our main focus is to win a third Inter-Ac title.”
Last June, Fords Footy graduated eighteen Sixth Formers from the starting roster, leaving a gap for younger athletes to fill.
“We will be a completely different team from the past two seasons,” Head Coach Mr. Keith Cappo said. “My goal is to help us find our own identity and, with that identity, compete for another Inter-Ac title.”
Sixth Form captain Nicholas Nekoumand believes that strong leadership will allow the team to find the team’s identity.
I want to encourage the other seniors on the team to step up and lead this year,” Nekoumand said. “I feel that if this senior class can do the same [as last year] we will have a good chance of winning again.”
“It’s definitely obvious that a lot of the guys have definitely been working hard over the summer to get into shape for the season.”
Nicholas Nekoumand ’25
Aloi agrees.
“The upperclassmen have to set the example and set the tone from the start,” Aloi said.
Nekoumand will focus on the underclassmen.
“The biggest goal for me is seeing how some of the younger kids fit into the team and program,” Nekoumand said. “Something that has stood out to me in the first practices is how fit the team is this year compared to last year. It’s definitely obvious that a lot of the guys have definitely been working hard over the summer to get into shape for the season.”
Aloi also noticed the team’s improved fitness. He cited the team’s younger athletes as a prominent reason for their ambition.
“I am very happy about the team’s understanding of our young identity,” Aloi said. “Our first scrimmages showed us that the team is hungry and works hard. But there’s still a lot of tactical work to be done.”
Coach Cappo noticed the team’s preparedness coming into preseason as well.
“The boys have been focused and came into the season well-prepared,” Coach Cappo said. “We are a younger group compared to last year, with many key contributors who have limited varsity experience, alongside returning players who have been crucial to our success over the last two years.”
Aloi is also focused on keeping the environment competitive, but healthy.
“Since we have less seniors this year, we will take less players on the roster,” Aloi said. “It creates a healthy competitive environment for a lot of these young guys to want to make the team and make an impact.”
Nekoumand believes that the team should work together and not be in competition for playing time.
“Don’t worry about the amount of playing time or games you don’t start,” Nekoumand said. “The time will come and when it does, you have to take it. We can only be who we want to be if we work together and not play as individuals.”
Coach Cappo echoed the advice.
“My main advice to them has been to embrace the process and not focus solely on winning the league for the third year in a row,” Coach Cappo said. “Instead, I encourage them to take it one game at a time and to focus on how we react to and learn from the ups and downs of the season.”
“The main thing is having strong team chemistry and playing as a team,” Aloi said. “Last year, these were our strong points. Eliminating the individualist mindset and sticking to the tactics Coach Cappo implements will play a major role in our success.”
