Georgia Rush
Soccer Professional Coaching Staff
Fahmi El-Shami, Executive Director, Professional Coach. Coach Fahmi played professional soccer for over 10 years. His professional player affiliations included the San Diego Sockers, Chicago PWR, Dayton Dynamo, and Milwaukee Wave. He was the named All Star Player for the 91-92 Season and was one of the tope leading scorers in the NPSL. His teams won three national championships. Fahmi has over 18 years of coaching experience. His coaching experience includes High School, College and Club teams. Before opening Stars Soccer Club, Fahmi served as Technical Director for 3 years at Tophat in Buckhead. He is a native of Libya, holds a “B” USSF Coaching Licenseand National Youth License.
Kamal El-Shami, Professional Coach. Coach Kamal is a native of Libya where he played professional soccer with the Libyan 1st division team. Additionally, he played with teams in Columbia and St. Charles, Missouri and the Data Graphics 1st division team in Atlanta. He has over 12 years coaching experience including College and Club teams. Kamal holds National Youth License. Currently, he coaches the U11 Girls , U12, U16 Girls Nike Premier and U16 Girls Swoosh teams at GA Rush. He will also be coaching the Super Y U15 Girls team for the Summer 2009.
Jacenir Silva, Professional Coach. Coach Jacenir has more than 20 years experience as a professional player. He played for numerous professional teams in his native country of Brazil as well as the Atlanta Rukas and the Atlanta Silverbacks. Additionally, he was selected to the Brazilian Pre-Olympic National Team in 1994. His coaching experience is almost as extensive as his playing experience. Jacenir has coached at the youth, High School, College, and Professional level. He has coached teams to State and National Championships in Brazil. Jacenir holds a Brazilian Coaching license and currently coaches the U11 Boys, U13 Boys Nike, U16 Boys Nike teams, and Pre-Academy.
Kharga Basnet, Professional Coach. Coach KB played professionally in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. He was also a member of the National Team for his native country of Bhutan. His previous coaching experience includes the National Team of Bhutan and top “A” Division teams in Bhutan, Nepal and India. He holds a coaching diploma from the United Kingdom and currently coaches U12 Boys and U16 RILS teams.
Juan Castellanos, Professional Coach. Coach Juan is a native of Colombia and represented his country in the Youth Club World Cup in 1998. Additionally, he played professional soccer in Colombia at the age of 17. Coach Juan played college soccer with Gordon College and Brewton Parker College where he was named to the All Conference Team and MVP. He was also a member of the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves in 2005. Juan has previous coaching experience with “Soccer in the Streets” and Atlanta FC. He holds a National “C” Coaching license and currently coaches the U14 Boys Nike and U17 Boys Nike teams.
Ashley Edwards, Professional Coach. Coach Ashley holds both a USSF “C” Coaching License and a National Youth Coaching License. She has extension experience in youth soccer and previously served as the Girls’ DOC and Academy Director at Forsyth Fusion, the Operations Manager & Staff Coach at New Orleans Soccer Academy (NOSA), and coached at Tophat, Metro North (currently NASA) and InterAtlanta (AYSA). Coach Ashley played in the W-League with Asheville Splash in NC and was 2-yr captain at Georgia State University, where she made 2-time All-Conference Team, Conference All-tournament team, was Conference Leading Scorer 2001, Academic All-Conference 3 yrs, and was 3rd leading scorer in GSU history. She graduated from GSU with a degree in Marketing, making Dean’s List four consecutive years. Ashley was also a member of the Kentucky ODP & Region II Pool and was two-time KY State Champion. She scored more than 150 goals in 3 seasons in Georgia HS soccer and also played club with AFC Lightning. Coach Ashley will be coaching in the Pre-Academy Program and will be Assistant Coach for the U9/U10 Girls.
Adel El-Shami, Professional Coach. Coach Adel played professional soccer in North Africa and holds a coaching license from the USSF. He has over 16 years of coaching experience with youth, Athena and Classic teams in Roswell and Milton. Additionally, he has served as trainer for several High School teams in the Alpharetta/Roswell area. Currently, Adel coaches the U13 Girls Nike and the U15 Girls Nike teams.
Steve Hutton, Professional Coach. Coach Steve has in excess of 20 years coaching experience in all levels of the game. Additionally, he holds s a USSF “A” Coaching License, NSCAA Premier Diploma, and is a NSCAA Course Instructor for both State and Regional courses. While in Virginia, he coached at Patrick Henry High School, Roanoke Youth Soccer Club, Virginia Tech, and in the Virginia ODP Program. After moving to Georgia, he coached at AFC Lightning and served as their Director of Player Development and created and directed the transition into the Georgia Academy Program. Coach Steve has additionally coached at Cobb Union (currently NASA), Coweta Cannons, Atlanta Silverbacks, and the Georgia ODP Program. He will be coaching the U12 Boys and the U15 Boys teams.
Darnell Robinson, Professional Coach. Coach Darnell has over 14 seasons of experience coaching boys, girls and coed youth teams at the recreational and club level. He was also a multi-sport athlete and was named High School All County in Football, Basketball and Soccer. He was a member of his High School Soccer State Conference and Regional Championship teams and earned an Athletic Scholarship to Michigan Tech University. Darnell holds a USSF “D” license and currently coaches the U10 Girls and U11 Girls teams.
Kerri Schmitt, Professional Coach. Coach Kerri holds both a USSF “B” Coaching License and a national Youth Coaching License. Additionally, she has been a youth soccer coach for the past 20 years at the Academy, Select and High School level. Currently, she is the Head Varsity Coach at Creekview High School. Coach Kerri will be coaching the U9/U10 Girls.
John Sprague, Professional Coach. Coach John holds a USSF “B” Coaching License and a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He also has a Bachelors of Arts, Mathematics and a Master of Science, Secondary Education. His previously coaching experience includes coaching at both the youth and college level in New York at BW Gottschee Soccer Club, Molloy College, and Concordia College where he was the Men’s Soccer Head Coach. He is currently the Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at Southern Polytechnic State University. Coach John will be coaching the U9/U10 and U11 Boys teams.
Javier Staffanell, Professional Coach. Coach Javier has a true love of the game. He is a graduate of Georgia State University with a degree in Finance. He previously worked in the telecommunications industry, but in 2005 he decided to leave the corporate world and pursue his love of soccer and to share his passion for the game. He previously coached at the club level in California and Florida. Javier is a native of Colombia, South America and hold a USFF “C” Coaching license. Currently, he coaches the U19 Nike team.