Hawaii Rush

Rush Union WI

February 10, 2022

Opportunity of a Lifetime

Twin Cities Rush brothers look to make most of the audition in Germany 

 

When Semir Secic fled to the United States in 2001 as a refugee from Bosnia on the heels of the Bosnian War, he knew exciting opportunities awaited him. And now his two sons are taking full advantage of burgeoning opportunities as well.

 

Secic’s two sons, Semir (’07) and Damir (’08), will travel to Germany in March for 10 days of training and games at Milbertshofen Academy with an opportunity to earn a spot with prestigious European youth academies. The two Twin Cities Rush players played at a camp in Turkey in January where they caught the eye of youth academy scouts and earned an expenses-paid invitation for another look in Germany.

 

Scouts from Milbertshofen will evaluate the players, as well as coaches from Munchen 1860, Augsburg, Malmö FF, and Turkish club Antalyaspor.  

 

“These coaches came back to watch us after our first game at this camp,” Damir said. “Then they contacted our parents and told us what could happen on this trip.”

 

“We are very blessed,” Semir said. “Without our dad, we wouldn’t even be playing soccer. Our parents brought us here and helped us get these opportunities. And we’re very thankful for them.”

 

Semir and Damir started playing for Twin Cities Rush last fall and have noticed a difference in how the club approaches player development.

 

“At Rush, the competitiveness is on a different level,” said Damir, who also made the Rush Select team. “It’s super challenging and the training is intense.”

 

“Rush gave us a chance to go to the next level and get more trainings,” Semir said.

 

Having a brother who is equally determined also helps as the two boys push each other while training on their own.

 

“We get into fights, a hundred percent,” Damir said as he chuckled. “When we train together, we’ll get mad at each other for something—maybe he thought the tackle was clean and I thought it was a foul.”

 

With a bright future ahead, both boys are working hard in pursuit of their dream.

 

“We would both love to play professionally,” Semir said. “That’s our main goal right now. We’d love to play for our national team. If we can make that happen, obviously that’d mean a lot to us and our family.”

 

Both players understand what it takes to excel to the highest level.

 

“When you watch pro players, you see how hard they work,” Damir said. “So, I know I have to work harder than everyone else. For example, if I see someone doing ten push-ups, I don’t just think I have to do ten push-ups too. I think I need to do ten push-ups before they do.”

The post Opportunity of a Lifetime appeared first on Rush Soccer.

Coach Announcements

June 5, 2023
RUWI Welcomes New Coaches

Partnering for a Better Future

By Joe Manley • May 14, 2023
Kenosha, WI and Racine, WI - April 11, 2023 - Rush WISE and AFC Union announce a partnership creating a player pathway for all players from Southeastern Wisconsin under the umbrella of Rush Union WI. Rush Union WI will offer boys and girls teams for ages U12-U19. The two clubs, both prominent in Southeastern WI and their respective communities, will collaborate to leverage their combined resources for the benefit of players, coaches, and families. “We are so excited to offer this opportunity for the kids and families in our communities. We have a rich soccer history in this area and look forward to writing the next chapter of excellence through our collaboration.” said Vlatko Minic, Technical Director and Director of Coaching, Rush Wise. For years, the two clubs have provided excellent soccer options to youth throughout southeastern Wisconsin. These two clubs share a similar ideology and playing style. Player development has always been a primary emphasis for Rush WISE and AFC Union, with the goal of providing the finest player experience possible, across both the training and game environments. “We are thrilled to partner with Rush WISE to create a unified premier soccer program for Southeastern Wisconsin. This partnership will provide the opportunity for the youth in Racine, Kenosha, and the surrounding areas to play and compete at all levels, while staying close to home." - Nick Wentorf RASA/AFC Union, Board President Players of all levels will benefit from some of the best coaching talent in the State, and gain access to the Rush network and national competition platforms. (See our player pathway for more information). “We piloted this joint effort last season and saw tremendous success with all three teams in their local and regional competitions. Through this joint effort, we will not only strengthen the opportunities for the top players, but for all developing players in our organization.” said Roy Wiggemansen, Director of Soccer, AFC Union Rush Union WI expects these new elite team opportunities to attract players of the highest caliber from across a wide footprint in Wisconsin. The tryouts for these new teams will occur during the usual June timeframe for soccer clubs in Wisconsin.

A License To Learn

By duda • August 18, 2022
The post A License To Learn appeared first on Rush Soccer.
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