PORT ORCHARD, WA—Port Orchard Football Club continues to train for the club’s first season in the statewide Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA.) Open tryouts have concluded and Head Coach Max Sampson is working with his assistant Joshua Coetzee and the POFC operations staff to bring in new talent that will blend with some high profile returners.
Game Misconduct Media is sharing 2026 POFC training photos HERE.
“The first week of training was good, says Coach Sampson. “We did lots of technical work. We had some scrimmage phases. A good portion of the group was still on trial. So, I really wanted to test them against some of the known quantities or returning players that I think will get playing time.”
“In the second week, we’re still in that phase because we only got about half a session in on Thursday (no lights came on at Bremerton Memorial Stadium.) So, our play phase really was non-existent. We’re going to look to get into another play phase with technical work. I’ll make some player cuts soon. Into opening match week, it’ll be about the structure of the team and how we want to present the game model with attacking and defending concepts to get ready for the first match against Bellingham on May 10 at home.”
Along with training the club has been in weekly contact with returning players who have expressed their commitment to being available when they can. The return dates of these important pieces of the POFC puzzle are spread out over May and June. Sampson and Coetzee will need to balance all the new talent with availability of guys like Michael Divano, Aidan Harvey, Derek Johnson, Austin Valdez, Harper Sabari, Connor Louden and others.
The Port Orchard defense will be boosted by the return from college of captain Caleb Gilbert. Defender Jack Radovich is also expected to return in late May and be available through the EPLWA playoffs. There’s even a chance that elite scorer Joschi Schelb of Germany might sneak away from Ballard FC for an occasional appearance.
Announced POFC players as of April 29, 2026.
POFC kicks off the 2026 season at home on Mothers Day, Sunday May 10 at 3 PM at Kitsap Bank Stadium. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. They won’t have to wait long do it again though. POFC travels to Bellingham on Saturday May 16 for an away contest in the EPLWA at 7 PM at Whatcom Community College.
Cover photo: (L-R) Pepe DeLuna, Diego DeLuna, Manny Zuniga.
