HARRISBURG, Penn. – Newly renamed Penn FC is part of a large player development cog, starting with the new partnership with Rush Soccer, the owners of Penn FC are looking to bring players from Rush, and their own Cedar Stars Academy, through to Penn FC. The goal will be developing players, and sending them to the highest level possible, including Penn FC as a key part of that journey.

The majority owner of Penn FC, George Altirs and his company Capelli Sport has built a strong network of soccer clubs around the world through ownership shares with Ghana Premier League club Inter Allies, Jamaica Premier League club Montego Bay United, Bundesliga 2 club MSV Duisburg, and a soon to be announced club in Scandinavia in addition to USL’s Penn FC. It is that network which will attract players to Penn FC, says Capelli Sport Sporting Director Jason Arnold.

“We need to find ways to separate ourselves from what MLS clubs are doing, they have more resources than we do,” said Arnold, who also serves as President and General Manager for Penn FC. “We have to find ways to differentiate ourselves from their scenarios. I think our global network, getting opportunities for players to train abroad, and getting these players exposure, attracts players to to us.”

With three players on loan at the Harrisburg City Islanders from Inter Allies of Ghana in the shape of Abass Mohammed, Ropapa Mensah, and Fredrick Opoku, the network has already paid dividends for Penn FC. With Mohamed earning a call up to the recent World Cup qualifiers for the Ghanaian national team twice that network also seems to be paying dividends for the individual players as well.

“These are great moves for the players too, these guys come to the USL and they get exposure, they improve, the adjust to the culture but it also means higher salaries and great career opportunities for the players, so it’s a win-win across the board in so many categories,” said Arnold. “Ultimately, we want youth players to come through our youth systems and into our first teams, and help them develop and improve, moving on to bigger and better opportunities.”