“Soccer is my passion,” professed Austin Okoye, or Augustine Okoye by his birth name. 

Okoye was born in Nigeria and grew up playing soccer. When he was young, he was selected out of thousands of other athletes to play on a premier team that traveled around Nigeria. While on this team, Skidmore men’s soccer coach, Jeremiah Keeland came across his highlight reel. He traveled to Nigeria to watch Okoye play, and upon seeing him in person, offered him a full scholarship to play for Skidmore.

Okoye has been coaching youth soccer since he came to the U.S. in 2014 with Rush Soccer Club, Global Premier Soccer, and Saratoga-Wilton Soccer Club. 

Okoye graduated from Skidmore in 2018, and in 2020 he started Sabicoach to help young soccer players develop their technical skills.

“Soccer is a really unique sport, you are using your feet. Basketball and most sports are different, you are using your hands, which tends to be easier. If you are not training right and you are not consistent, you can lose it quick,” Okoye said. 

Four years ago, Okoye started summer soccer camps at Gavin Park through Sabicoach for ages U8 through U18. The camp is designed for kids at all points of their development. 

“Every kid is coming in to have fun, but they are being challenged and getting better,” he said.

Okoye brings in coaches from across the country and the world to his camp. The camp next week will feature coaches from England, Jamacia, and Ukraine. 

Sabicoach has two camps coming up, the first is from July 27th through the 31st, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gavin Park. The second camp is from August 3rd through the 7th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gavin Park. Both camps offer full days and half days either in the morning or afternoon. 

To register for the soccer camps, go to sabicoach.com. 

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Women in Business Group for a relaxed and social casual golf outing at local woman-owned course Airway Meadows on Sunday, July 16. Designed to mix networking, fresh air, and a little friendly competition. 

The event will kick off with a networking hour starting 4 p.m. allowing time to connect, mingle, and grab a drink before heading to the course. Tee-off is at 5 p.m., with golfers playing in pre-assigned foursomes. The cost to participate is $32 per golfer, payable directly to the course.

Registration at the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce website is used to create balanced golfing foursomes. Be sure to indicate your golf experience level when registering: Occasional Golfer, Somewhat Experienced Golfer, Experienced Golfer

Golfers can expect a fun, low-pressure atmosphere with lighthearted competitions on the greens, like Most Accurate Drive, and plenty of encouragement all around!

Please note: no outside alcoholic beverages are permitted on the course. A cash bar will be available during the networking hour, and a beverage cart will be available on the course during play.

Whether you’re an avid golfer or just enjoy getting out on the green, this outing is all about connection, conversation, and having a great time together

The 17th annual jockeys-versus-horsemen charity basketball game will take place Wednesday, August 5, at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center at 7 p.m. The event benefits the programs of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy as well as the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

The jockey team will once again be coached by Hall of Fame jockey Ángel Cordero Jr., and the horsemen team will be coached by retired New York-based trainer Rick Schosberg for the second consecutive year.

Mitch Levites of the NYRA TV department will once again serve as the announcer and provide lively commentary in his inimitable style.

“We are very grateful to all the players, coaches, sponsors, and fans who make this such a special event each August,” said Humberto Chávez, the Executive Director and Lead Chaplain of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy. “Their enthusiastic support ensures both the continuation of our wide-ranging backstretch programs as well as the assistance provided by the PDJF.”

The Saratoga Springs Recreation Center is located at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue in Saratoga Springs, and admission is free. 

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy serves the New York backstretch and farming community with children’s enrichment, teen mentoring, women’s programming, social service, recreational, and educational programming as well as non-denominational religious services.

The PDJF provides financial assistance to approximately 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries.

Horsemen, individuals, or organizations who would like to sponsor the game may do so via the NY Chaplaincy website at www.rtcany.org.

Ballston Spa— On Monday, July 6, the Ballston Spa community came together in support of the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) in their round of 16 tie against Belgium in Wiswall Park.

Mayor Frank Rossi gauged interest for a watch party following the USMNT’s win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on Facebook. 

“Who wants a Village of Ballston Spa watch party Monday night in Wiswall Park for Belgium/USA?” the mayor wrote on Facebook. 

The post reached over 200 likes and 60 comments and the next day, Mayor Rossi announced a watch party at Wiswall Park Monday night.

The mayor worked diligently over the weekend to get local vendors to set up shop at the game. JJ’s Snack Bar and Mike’s Hot Dogs turned up at the event despite the short notice.

“I actually went there (Mike’s Hot Dogs) on Thursday, I go there whenever I’m in Schenectady, it’s one of my guilty pleasures,” said Mayor Rossi. “And I saw their owner who I’ve known for years. I’m like, “John, you still have that food truck? We’ve got an event.” And he said, “I’ll be there.”

Despite losing 4-1 and being knocked out of the World Cup, enthusiasm for the game was high. After Malik Tillman scored his second free kick goal of his tournament, USA chants erupted in the park. 

“I think that the community coming together like this for a World Cup is something that I’ve been hoping for a long time with this sport,” said Raffaele Rispo, owner of Ballston Spa Barber Club. “You don’t see people coming to the park for the Olympics, or the NBA finals, or the Super Bowl, but you see this because this really is the world’s game and it’s catching on here big time.”

Exercise safely this summer and get free ice cream to beat the heat. That’s the goal of Senator Jim Tedisco’s innovative Safe Summer Bike Helmet program, which is celebrating its 28th anniversary of keeping Saratoga County and Schenectady County kids safe.

This year, Senator Tedisco’s Safe Summer Program will distribute 5,000 “good tickets” for free ice cream cones to 12 local police departments to reward children who wear their helmets while bicycling, skateboarding, and rollerblading, and give free bike helmets to kids who need one.  

Tedisco’s Safe Summer program is made possible thanks to donations from participating businesses: Stewart’s Shops, Hayner’s Ice Cream and Country Store in Halfmoon, Ben & Jerry’s, and Friendly’s.  The law firm of Harding Mazzotti LLP is donating hundreds of new bike helmets to police departments in Saratoga and Schenectady Counties to distribute to children who need them.  

“Summer is the season for kids to have fun, but we can’t ever forget that they need to keep safety in mind.  I want children to enjoy the summer, but I also want them to be safe when they’re riding their bicycles. My Safe Summer program, now its 28th year, reminds kids every year to wear their helmets while rewarding good behavior with coupons for free ice cream,” said Senator Tedisco. “This program is a community partnership among businesses, law enforcement, government and parents and it’s truly a model for how caring people can come together and promote a fun and safe environment for children. Safe Summer also provides positive interactions between law enforcement and kids.”

It’s the law in New York State that children up to age 14 must wear a bicycle helmet or parents could face a $50 fine. The cost of a bicycle helmet is about $30.00. The average charge for a hospital stay due to a bicycle related brain injury is $18,900 with an average length of stay of four days. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, nearly 87 percent of kids with skull fractures from bicycle-related accidents were not wearing helmets. Bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by 60 percent and brain injury by 58 percent. It’s estimated that 75 percent of bike-related fatalities among children could be prevented with a helmet. Universal use of bicycle helmets by children ages 4 to 15 could prevent between 135 and 155 deaths, between 39,000 and 45,000 head injuries, and between 18,000 and 55,000 scalp and face injuries annually.

“The safety of our children is a top priority for the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. The Safe Summer Bike Helmet Program allows us to encourage kids to safely ride their bicycles, scooters and skateboards in a fun atmosphere while wearing a helmet. I want to thank Senator Tedisco for his leadership these past 28 years in helping to protect our kids and encouraging them to have positive interactions with law enforcement,” said Saratoga County Sheriff Jeff Brown.