Can you tell me who you are, your role within the club and what is your background in soccer?
My name is Carlos Tolentino and I’m the General manager and Coach of Columbia FC. My background is love of the game, since I was a kid I have always played and watch soccer.

When was the club initially formed and what was the catalyst to start it?
December 31 2017 the club was formed that night I had the idea and drew up the badge before the new year came, the reason, I wanted to create a high quality soccer club for the city of Columbia MD with the hopes of one day to become the official soccer club of the city to bring the culture of soccer to a city that I’m grateful I grew up in and I know loves soccer but doesn’t have that 1 club that everyone can get behind, the other reason is I miss soccer after my injury (tore my Achilles) and wanted to be back in soccer in any capability and I decided to create a club for the people of Columbia and anyone that wants to give us their support. Columbia is a city that lives for soccer that was founded by James W. Rouse Columbia was Opened in 1967, Columbia was intended to not only eliminate the inconveniences of then-current subdivision design, but also eliminate racial, religious and class segregation. Columbia is a city for everyone (#ForAll) I learn that a few months after moving here it was great to see people from different backgrounds be together playing soccer and living in harmony. My goal is to grow Columbia FC in the city heart and everyone that wants to give us their support so everyone can gather together to watch high quality soccer, have a high-quality family, friends, and game experience. All of us together in harmony thanks to soccer ALL for one, One #ForALL

Why "Columbia F.C."? (And, how often do people misspell it as "Colombia"?)
Columbia Football Club because this club/team is for everyone that lives, visited, have heard of, or wants to support our great city, family, friends, club at the end the goal is to unite everyone under 1 badge so they know we are Together pushing to better the city to create a soccer culture to grow the team and take it to all the levels of soccer in the United States of America.

What league do you play in? Why?
We play in the Maryland Majors Soccer League the reason is the MMSL is the highest level of soccer in the state of Maryland, they have a Pro/Rel system which I believe is a foundation to grow competitive soccer anywhere in the world. the MMSL level of competition is great every Sunday is a final and that’s what is needed to reach new levels and grow a soccer club. Running a soccer club is difficult but I believe running a league is harder and the MMSL from my experience does a fantastic job compare to other leagues, they have been in Maryland since 1965 is an Honor to be part of a league that is part of Maryland soccer history and that keeps growing to provide a great competitive soccer experience for everyone that is brave enough to come fight at the highest level in Maryland, I want to invite clubs to join so they can feel and see for themselves how much fun the competition is here, Spring 2021 is coming come compete here every Sunday is a final.

Where do you play your games?
We play anywhere the league send us, that’s another thing that is great about the league if you don’t have a home field, the league schedules your games in neutral ground we have played in Latrobe Park in Baltimore, in Milford Mill High school, MLK park, Cedar lane park and other spots in Columbia (we are happy when we get Columbia fields we call those home game) this year we even took a trip to Catonsville high school it is great but we cant wait for the day we can have a field for home games.

What are some short-term and long-term goals for the club?
Short term goals are for the club to stay stable because Covid has put a lot of pressure not to only us but I believe every club, to make the playoffs of this year league so we can have a chance to fight for the championship, and to get ready for the Maryland cups competition that will come early 2021 I hope. Long term to keep growing the club, to bring our level of soccer up so we can compete and win titles by playing quality soccer so we can grow the culture of soccer in our city and our state, we want to be a staple name in Maryland soccer by 2026 or we will die trying.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a club and as owner/operator of the club? Do you see these challenges as insurmountable?
Biggest challenges, one can be players low commitment levels or Diva mentality that is something every year we kill at the beginning of the season for the new recruits and is something our old players know have no room in this team, we have learned from past experiences. It might not seem like much but controlling and running a Lower side team takes a lot of effort, commitment, and time and it can’t not only be from the owner and operators of the club it is a super human team effort that everyone that commits to a team must do, from practice to picking up soccer balls, everyone is important for the club to work. Another challenge is entitlement from players, when you commit to a club you have given your word of honor to be there for the team and sometimes when they don’t see playing time instead of working hard and get their spot back or earn a spot they talk about how it should be, in a team once you commit for a season you are there for better or worse and everyone must fight for the team that’s what we tell players and that’s how it should be “SIDE BEFORE SELF, ALL THE TIME.” Another challenge is there is not a strong soccer culture for people to invest on the team to grow unless your team has achieve a cult statues or has won a few important championships, is not like England were people get behind a team just because is their neighborhood team and they go watch it and then at some point that team grows and the community gets involve and the team keeps growing, that why we want to grow the soccer culture here because Soccer is the game that unites everyone it doesn’t matter race, religion, economy status soccer is #ForALL for the people and we want to be that type of team that unites everyone under the Columbia FC badge. The last challenge and this one is the one that would make everyone life easier if we had is Money for the club but that is the beauty of Lower league soccer fighting with the resources you have to win games, playoffs, championships, growing together to go to the next level, build a culture and bringing people together to fight with you for your team, All for one, One #ForAll I do want to thank our sponsors Angie Divljan State Farm Agency and D17 Athletics because they believe in us and the idea of Columbia FC we have their sponsor support until 2022 then we will talk about renewing again but Mrs. Divljan has been with us from the beginning because she loves soccer and played and believes in the team. Mr. Diggs (D17) he has a passion for sports and for what he does he join last year for 6 months contract sponsorship but then he saw what the club is about and believe in us and sign a 2 year sponsorship contract we are happy because we are growing and the support of this 2 individuals and their companies shows we are growing. We look forward to working with other members of our community that believe in soccer in Maryland and all around the world. All these challenges are Hard but it just makes me Love soccer more because of the players, the people and organizations I have met thanks to these challenges, these challenges have help me grow as a person and challenges are the reason teams are built so we can overcome the challenges together.

How have these challenges changed your views of the soccer landscape, if at all?
The only problem I have is that some people and teams are weak enough to do whatever it takes to win instead of fighting with the strength they can build if they work hard, we at Columbia FC build ourselves and fight together from tryouts and we know it will be hard but we want to build and win with our strength, we don’t want hollow wins. My views change a little bit because of that but at least I know the path I don’t want to go.

Is there a player (or more than one) we should know more about from your club?
ALL my players are fantastic because of the human beings they are and the Love they have for the game. Now I Hope people can come to games soon so they can decide which Columbia FC player they like that would be more fun, I hope you can come to a game soon.

If there is anything else you’d like to share about the club?
I want to mention that we believe the game is for everyone and in the future we want to build a competitive woman soccer team because we know ladies can ball and Maryland needs a woman soccer league Maryland Majors make it happen please, we want to have another Columbia team in division 2 in the MMSL and we want to build an academy were we teach soccer culture for everyone that wants to learn. I want to end by saying that Columbia FC is for everyone whether you love soccer or don’t know anything about the game, that everyone should at least play soccer once with friends so they can see the joy it brings to the world, that I hope everyone is safe and don’t forget your team Columbia FC is here in Columbia Maryland come give us your support we are stronger together ALL FOR ONE, ONE #FORALL thank you see you in the pitch.

Follow Columbia FC of Maryland Majors HERE