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The Villages' DaSilva Achieves U.S. Soccer A-Senior Coaching License

By CAMERON KOUBEK - cameron.koubek@uslsoccer.com, 10/25/19, 10:45AM EDT

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Head coach leverages League Two experience in coaching education


Anderson Da Silva delivers a team talk to The Villages players. Photo courtesy The Villages SC

As head coach of The Villages SC, Anderson DaSilva led his side to a first-place finish in the Southeast Division in 2019, losing only once along the way. But an excellent League Two campaign is no longer DaSilva’s only impressive accomplishment these last few months. Last week, DaSilva received his U.S. Soccer National A-Senior Coaching License, the second-highest license offered by the U.S. Soccer Federation.

DaSilva began his coaching education in 2007, working his way through the lower level courses before earning an invitation to attend the A-Senior course at the new U.S. Soccer National Development Center in Kansas.

“The A-Senior license is not done all at one time,” said DaSilva. “You have to travel to the NDC several times and at the end of the course, one of the instructors travels to your home environment for the final assessment.

“So, this past season I was coaching The Villages and working on the license at the same time. I gradually applied many of the things that I was learning, but since I was in the process I can’t wait for the upcoming 2020 season where I can really plan ahead and put it all into practice.”

An integral part of building The Villages SC, DaSilva’s coaching coursework has influenced his approach to leading the club, and vice versa. He founded the youth club about 10 years ago, and became the head coach of the former Ocala Stampede while doing so. When the opportunity to purchase The Villages franchise came around in 2016, DaSilva partnered with Dr. Maen Hussein to bring the club to life.


Da Silva instructs one of his players. Photo courtesy The Villages SC

“I saw what a great league this is and I wanted to bring it home,” said DaSilva of being a co-founder of The Villages SC. “Being the head coach was never in question, but owning the franchise brought other exciting challenges as I also work managing all operations.”

Since becoming a coach in League Two four seasons ago, DaSilva has presided over one of the Southeast Division’s most successful teams, twice topping the division and winning at least eight games each season. With his coaching coursework supplementing his skill set on the sidelines, DaSilva praised the League Two platform as a key piece of his education.


Da Silva delivers a pre-game speech to his side. Photo courtesy The Villages SC

“Working in League Two, I get to work with players that are in the transition of becoming professional,” said DaSilva. “When applying for the course you have to prove that you are currently coaching at a high level to even be considered. My experiences in League Two helped me to prove that I was doing just that.”

DaSilva says that coaching in League Two has helped to elevate his coaching skills by giving him the chance to work with some of the top collegiate and young soccer players in the country, who are giving their all to make it as professionals. He institutes a high level of intensity at training and in games to aid his players in reaching that goal.

“The players are at the level where I get to push more and do more,” said DaSilva. “That in turn gives me a better environment for growing as a coach.”

With a prestigious USSF license now on his resume, DaSilva’s training regimen and in-game tactics will continue to evolve, and The Villages are sure to contend for another Southeast Division crown next season with him at the helm.


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