Testimonials

“‘The Gjøa Way’ is not just some marketing slogan. Their caring, educated coaching discipline is uncompromisingly faithful to player development. In our case, our daughter has been able to realize her individual potential, playing for the U13 1st team boys and being accepted to the New York South Region ODP girls. If your interest is allowing your child to patiently develop so that they may play as well and as long as they desire, I would highly recommend Gjøa.”

- Tracy Ricard, CEO of Garic, Inc.

“Our three children have been involved with Gjøa for the past five years and we could not feel luckier to have found this club and made it a home. Our children are seen and known by their coaches. They have invested in them as whole individuals, imparting much more than soccer skills. We have seen their confidence and determination skyrocket and they have just had so much fun and forged meaningful friendships. We are so pleased they are learning the Gjøa way. / Nuestros tres hijos han estado involucrados con Gjøa durante los últimos cinco años y no podríamos sentirnos más afortunados de haber encontrado este club y convertirlo en nuestra casa deportiva. Nuestros niños son conocidos por todos los entrenadores. Han invertido en ellos como individuos, impartiendo mucho más que habilidades de fútbol. Hemos visto que ellos tienen más confianza y determinación, y se han divertido mucho y han hecho amistades significativas. Estamos muy contentos de que estén aprendiendo de jugar con Gjøa.”

- Javier Valdés, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road NY & Tina Habib, Managing Director, Popular Democracy Movement Center

“My son was on a Gjøa team until his senior year. His coach was outstanding, supporting my son's growth as a player but also as a person, underscoring the importance of team members caring and supporting each other. I was so pleased to see my son become not only a more confident and thus better player but also focus on supporting his teammates. My son’s former coach, however, is not unique at Gjoa. The entire organization is focused on helping youth become better players and also foster their connections with each other. They even had me, a developmental psychologist, consult with them about how to address some of the difficulties being faced by the girls and boys who played for Gjøa teams. I loved my two hour session with seven or eight coaches from Gjøa, each focused on how to support the kids on their respective teams. You can't get a better organization or better coaches than Gjøa!”

- Niobe Way, Professor of Applied Psychology at New York University

“This is the third year my son has been a part of Gjøa, it has been the best decision I’ve ever made. He has learned skills that are both valuable on and off the field like hard work, time management, determination and caring. My son had the unique experience to travel to Norway with his teammates and coaches, that he will forever be grateful for. Thank you Gjøa for all you do!”

- Anessa Omer

“As a business owner, a native New Yorker and a former classical dancer what I appreciate about Gjøa are three things: their commitment to staff development, their deep sense of community, and the importance they place on developing technical skill. As a mom, what I appreciate is that they are committed to the development of my son while keeping it fun. Within the Gjøa club, he has become an athlete, and a solid teammate while always being seen for the individual he is.”

- Jennifer DeLuca, owner of BodyTonic Pilates Studio

“It’s been a great experience playing for SC Gjøa. They really thought me a lot, especially when it comes to playing in more than one position. Going to the MLS tryouts, it was very important for me to be able to play multiple positions because it helps you understand the game better. In addition, Gjøa was the first club ever to take me out of the country and travel to one of the biggest tournaments in the world, the Norway Cup. This gave me the opportunity to learn a lot of new things and get closer to my teammates.”

- Moussa Cisse, 2004 player, trialist with New York Red Bulls and New York City FC.

“I had a beautiful journey at Gjøa. From tears to laughs, wins to losses, friends to family, I always felt like I was right where I belonged. I could write an entire book about how Gjøa made me grow. Gjøa embodies development, sportsmanship, honesty, trust, and community which all influence us as players. I'm so thankful for everything I’ve learned from everyone who's been a part of my long and enriching journey. I’m happy the future generations of footballers are in good hands.”

- Colman Cassidy, SUNY Purchase (DIII)

"I loved my time playing at Gjøa. They taught me how football is meant to be played, and they helped me fall in love with the game again. I want to thank everyone at the club for helping me reach my goals."

- Mads Pfeiffer, Longwood University (DI)

“Gjøa should be an example to all clubs in the USA and other countries. It’s a club that has a strong philosophy and belief in the way they play and the way the coaches coach. This gives both the coaches and players the environment to develop the skills needed both in coaching and playing. Results are not a focus but development is and that is what sets Gjøa above all the clubs I have worked for. It was and still is today the best club I have worked for!”

- James Francis, Accra, Ghana (UEFA B License)

“Gjøa is one of the few clubs that truly cares about the all-round development of each individual. Despite coaching at various levels in 4 different countries, Gjøa remains as one of my favorite clubs to have worked for.”

- Harry Trethowan, Denville, NJ (UEFA B License)

“Sporting Club Gjøa is one of the most progressive soccer clubs in America. I’ve had the opportunity to evaluate, license and mentor their coaching staff and found them to be open, curious and forward thinking in their approach to training. Their methodology of instruction focuses on total player development with an emphasis on empowering each player to make the best decisions on the field. I recommend them to players who are motivated to advance their game to the next level.”

- TJ Kostecky, Men’s Soccer Coach, Bard College (DIII), 20 seasons as Men’s Head Soccer Coach, LIU Brooklyn (DI), Founder, Vision Training Soccer

“We have had a fantastic mutually beneficial relationship with SC Gjøa. The type of human beings they are producing are the type of student athletes we want in our program; responsible, thoughtful, caring, and driven. Their communication is always top notch and accurate with player evaluations and everything in-between. We look forward to having SC Gjøa boys in our program for years to come!”

- Brandon Levine, Head Coach of SUNY Purchase Men’s Soccer (DIII) Soccer

“As a high school coach who has sent many players to SC Gjøa over the years, I can only say thank you. Gjøa is a first-class organization with top-notch coaches and a highly effective approach to developing players and promoting the game. Keep up the great work!”

- Christopher Rohner, Head Coach for Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology