Pinellas County United SC Announces International Partnership with SV Viktoria Aschaffenburg
New collaboration will create international development, education, and exchange opportunities for players and coaches in Florida and Germany
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Pinellas County United Soccer Club (PC United) is proud to announce a new international partnership with SV Viktoria Aschaffenburg of Germany, bringing together two soccer organizations committed to player development, coach education, and creating meaningful opportunities through the game.
The partnership grew from the long-standing friendship between Gerald Mai of the Viktoria Aschaffenburg Soccer School and Kai Velmer, Director of Strategic Planning & Development at PC United.
Velmer, who was born in Germany and moved to the United States with his family at the age of nine, has maintained strong ties to German soccer throughout his life. During a visit by Mai to Florida, conversations about the similarities, differences, and opportunities within the German and American development systems ultimately led to the idea of creating a formal relationship between the two clubs.
Founded in 1978, PC United has built a structured pathway for players ranging from grassroots and youth soccer through college, UPSL competition, and opportunities toward the professional game. The new relationship with Viktoria Aschaffenburg adds an international component to that pathway while creating opportunities for both organizations to learn from one another.
The partnership will focus primarily on youth player development and the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and experiences between the two clubs. Viktoria Aschaffenburg will bring experience from its BFV Youth Development Center and performance-oriented programs in Germany, while PC United will provide perspectives from the rapidly evolving soccer landscape in the United States.
Future initiatives are expected to include joint training camps, player and coach exchanges, coaching collaboration, and the sharing of ideas surrounding training methodology, education, and talent development.
Most importantly, the partnership is designed to provide young players and coaches from both organizations with opportunities to experience soccer beyond their own environment and gain a broader perspective on the game.
“Above all, we want to achieve one thing through this partnership: to learn from one another, exchange experiences, and explore new approaches to youth development together,” said Kai Velmer, Director of Strategic Planning & Development at PC United. “For our players and coaches, the opportunity to connect with a traditional German soccer club is a fantastic way to gain new ideas and experience European soccer firsthand. At the same time, we look forward to sharing our experiences from the United States and developing new ideas together.”
PC United Director of Coaching Beau Truong believes the partnership provides another important opportunity to expand what the club can offer its players.
“I'm incredibly excited to begin this partnership between Pinellas County United SC and Viktoria Aschaffenburg,” said Beau Truong, Director of Coaching. “This collaboration is about creating meaningful pathways for our players, providing opportunities not only here in the United States but also on the international stage. Together, we're committed to expanding resources, experiences, and opportunities that will help our players grow both on and off the field.”
The excitement is shared in Germany, where Viktoria Aschaffenburg sees the collaboration as an opportunity to expose players and coaches to new perspectives while continuing to strengthen its approach to youth development.
“We are very excited about this collaboration. Above all, it is about learning from one another and creating new opportunities and perspectives for our young players and coaches,” said Michel Werner, Head of the Youth Development Center for the competitive full-field age groups from U14 through U19.
For PC United, the partnership represents more than simply establishing an international connection. It is about creating a relationship that can provide tangible experiences for players and coaches on both sides of the Atlantic.
By bringing together the traditions and development experience of German soccer with the growing opportunities within the American game, PC United and Viktoria Aschaffenburg hope to build a long-term relationship centered around education, development, collaboration, and a shared passion for soccer.
About Pinellas County United SC
Pinellas County United Soccer Club has served the Tampa Bay soccer community since 1978. The club is committed to providing a structured and development-focused environment for players, with pathways ranging from grassroots and competitive youth soccer through college, UPSL competition, and opportunities toward the professional level.
About SV Viktoria Aschaffenburg
SV Viktoria Aschaffenburg is a traditional German soccer club based in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria. Through its youth development programs and BFV Youth Development Center, Viktoria places an emphasis on structured player development and performance-oriented soccer while providing young players opportunities to progress within the game.
