Once a week we try to find a new club and put them Under the Lights - this week, club founder Pablo Ugarte was kind enough to answer our questions about his club Estudiantes FC of the Virginia Super League as well as Eastern Premier Soccer League.

What's Estudiantes FC's origin story? Who started the team and why?
Estudiantes FC was officially founded in 2020 by Pablo Andre Ugarte. My mission as club founder and owner is to provide a competitive platform and top quality environment for aspiring professional players.

Tell us about your badge and colors – what is the inspiration?
Red and black have been chosen due to the affection of Brazilian soccer club giants Flamengo. I have huge admiration for Brazil & their soccer culture. The Badge E stands for "E" in Estudiantes and the star signifies that we build & attract stars. The badge relates to the community because Estudiantes means students in Spanish, we are students of the game and we want to help students to achieve their goal.

Which leagues do you currently play in? Why are they the best fit for Estudiantes FC?
We play in two of the DMV's most competitive leagues. We play in the Virginia Super Soccer league, a top tier amateur/semi professional midweek league, for their superior marketing and exposure playing against former & aspiring professionals. We also compete in the Eastern Premier Soccer league on the weekends to compete against clubs who provide players with a pre-professional program. Eastern Premier Soccer clubs have their USL 2 & NPSL summer programs. Leagues are used for our players to showcase their skills.

How has the season gone for you? What were the goals and aspirations heading into it? What is something to work on for the future?
The club's goals are being met. The team's goal is about being consistent, to remain successful and in the process bringing elite talent while giving opportunities to younger players and players in general that deserve it.

If there was a team within a 100 miles of you to play a friendly against – who would you play and why?
We would like to play DC United to challenge ourselves and to measure what levels we should reach to be better.

Do you sell merchandise or have plans to? If so, where can we find it?
You can find more on our Instagram page and website.

Follow Estudiantes FC on Instagram HERE