Local Soccer Clubs Hope to Score Winning Goal with Merger

The merger of the Darien Dynamo soccer team with the Oak Brook Hawks to form the United Soccer Academy is a move that “makes sense to make stronger teams,” officials said.

“We’re two neighborhood clubs and we’re close to each other,” said Chris Karabatsis, head coach of the Darien Dynamo Soccer Club. “We have things the Hawks can gain from us, and they have things we can gain from them. It only makes sense.”

Tryouts for the United Soccer Academy’s 2011-12 season begin in May.

Karabatsis, who played professional soccer in Europe for more than 14 years before coming to the U.S. eight years ago, will oversee the new club’s high school programs. The primary focus of Hawks Director of Coaching, Tony Hepburn, will be on the U8 to U14 youth programs. The duo will be involved with all age levels of the United Soccer Academy.

Hepburn, a native of London, England, has been in the U.S. for 16 years. He played semi-professional soccer in the United Kingdom and Portugal.

Both men have extensive and successful experience in youth soccer instruction and coaching.

Officials said the Darien Dynamo merger with the Oak Brook Hawks will enable them to better tailor the soccer experience to fit the skill level of each child.

“One of the most important reasons we’re doing this is to make sure every player plays an equal level competition,” Karabatsis said.

The Dynamo Club will now have access to the Hawks’ McDonald’s soccer fields on the southwest corner of Jorie Boulevard and Kensington Road in Oak Brook, as well as all of the fields they historically have used.

There will be no changes in the training programs for this spring season.
Officials said future training programs will be comparable and in most cases will include some additional features. Program fees for next year are currently being finalized and it is anticipated that the fees will increase slightly for some players while for other players may have a slight decrease.

The merger has caused some buzz among parents.

“Some are excited, some are nervous,” Karabatsis said. “But once they realize the purpose -- it’s all about the kids -- everybody’s very pleased and excited to start. It’s going to be great. And one of the biggest clubs in the state as far as teams and numbers.”

Parent Will Repole said he is "cautiously optimistic" about the merger "as we will be losing the hometown feel."

"It is a common problem as clubs try to grow and become more competitive they risk losing the common thread that sometimes holds a program together," he said.

Officials anticipate more than 500 students playing on 45 different teams in the United Soccer Academy.

Karabatsis is excited about the merger.

“I think it’s going to be great,” he said. “And it’s something that this area needs big time.”

For more information about the merger, visit www.dariendynamo1.com/.