Written by Julie Underwood Burton

Wichita Coach Cheers on Home Team Argentina in KC

Our own legendary local soccer coach, Daniel Fiszel, executive director of Sporting Wichita Academy, is one of many Wichitans who is closely watching all the action, and he is certainly Wichita’s biggest fan to go to Kansas City to watch his home country in the Argentina match up against Algeria. Fiszel is well-known in the soccer field locally and abroad and has been instrumental to the soccer boom in Wichita over 25 years. 

“Everything is about soccer in Argentina; it is the main event there,” says Fiszel whose job as an aeronautical engineer brought him to Wichita in 2001. With Fiszel’s own experience and a tremendous passion for the sport, he immediately got his young children involved in anything soccer related. He started a team called the Sluggers, and by 2002 the Wichita Rojos Soccer Club was founded. His two sons, Dallas and Tommy, both played as members of their father’s teams and have followed in their father’s footsteps and are both recognized as talented soccer coaches and players. 

“Soccer should be about having fun. You must enjoy being around kids, enjoy teaching them and creating moments of joy.” — Daniel Fiszel

It’s been over 25 years since Fiszel launched what is now known as Sporting Wichita Academy. Their mission is to provide a positive, safe and professional environment which encourages early development and fosters a lifelong interest in soccer. Programs offer age-appropriate skill training, organized recreational play and opportunities for top competitive league play. 

Fiszel cannot stress enough the importance of creating a family environment among his kids, coaches and parents and how their mission must include players of all ages, genders and races. For example, one program called TOPSoccer teaches and integrates young athletes with disabilities into soccer programs as valued and accomplished members of the youth soccer community. Soccer is a pay-to-play-sport, but there is no charge for TOPSoccer families. 

Asked about his favorite part of coaching and soccer, Fiszel immediately answers: “Soccer should be about having fun. You must enjoy being around kids, enjoy teaching them and creating moments of joy, which often starts with the coach. If a coach doesn’t have fun, the players are not going to have fun, and parents will not have fun either. I tell the players before the game, ‘Just have fun, guys, enjoy the game.’ Soccer is not just about learning how to kick a ball, you learn so many other things on and off the field.” 

A Dream Come True

One of Fiszel’s greatest joys most recently was hearing that his home team, Argentina, would be playing at the FIFA World Cup in Kansas City against Algeria. This match-up being held so near to Wichita was truly a dream come true — especially having his two sons by his side to cheer on Argentina. When asked what his FIFA experience was like, Fiszel replies “I think the World Cup was an eye opener for KC to see how hard it is to explain about the ‘futbol’ passion, and how the countries are so enthusiastic about their teams, including all the cheering, chants, songs and more!” 

After the game, it’s back to work overseeing the enormous spirit and joy he has created among kids and families in Wichita as they play in summer camps and clinics, whether recreationally or competing in the one of the most popular sports for youth. 

For information about Sporting Wichita Academy, go to sportingwichita.net.

“The atmosphere was incredible and electric, and seeing the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, score a hat trick was truly a dream come true.” — Coach Daniel Fiszel