Horsham, PA, March 21, 2023 – The Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals SC is pleased to announce our participation in the Atlantic Premier Soccer League (APL)  Acela League platform for fall of 2023.  The expanded Acela League will be focused on the Zone 1 ages of Under 8 to Under 12 Boys and Girls Teams.  The league will offer only a 1st and 2nd level of play and strive to be the most player centric league in the market.

We will be joining FC DELCO, FC Europa, Lehigh Valley United, Lower Merion SC, PA Rush, Penn Fusion SA, and Sporting Delaware as the founding members of Acela League. “We are pleased to be joining the Acela League and to be a founding member club,” said Executive Director Chris Turano. “This league will provide elite level competition in our market and, coupled with less travel, it is a great opportunity for our membership.”  Each club has committed to entering a minimum of eight (8) teams for the fall 2023 season.  All inaugural clubs agreed on a unified vision of what they were looking for with Zone 1 ages and believed in APL / Acela to provide that experience.

“We could not be more excited to join Acela and establish this partnership,” said Technical Director Joe Nemzer. “Ukrainian Nationals prides itself on putting our teams in the best possible environment to develop and play great competition.  We have no doubt that by being part of this league, we will fulfill this objective and can’t wait for the 2023-2024 season!”

Some of the exciting league initiatives the APL / Acela platform will provide are strong competitive balance inclusive of bio-banding, scheduling to reduce coach conflicts, neutral site matches at quality venues paid for by the league, and much more.  The league will be sanctioned by EPYSA and US Youth Soccer. The league will have an open application process to any interested team or club starting on Tuesday, March 21.

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