“It’s been a honor to play for a coach like Brendan Keyes. He helped me achieve my dreams and always supported me.”
Photo Courtesy of Brendan Keyes
Those words came from Indian football phenom Pratik Shinde, who became the youngest Indian footballer in history to play abroad when he signed with the NPSL’s Galveston Pirate in 2012.
“I would say Coach Keyes truly loves the game,” Shinde added. “He has been a great player in the past and continues his legacy through coaching and creating great players. He has an ability to unify his team and make them committed to the game. He inspires them to get the most out of their performance.”
The most telling comment from the Indian youth star was when he called Keyes “a man with a beautiful heart.”
It shows you the impact that Brendan Keyes has made on the beautiful game over the years. His impact is not just here or in his home country of Ireland, but all the way across the world in an emerging market like India.
Bringing the talented Shinde to the States was big news in India and rightfully so. The youngster was first scouted by Keyes at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, one of the largest youth tournaments in the world. Keyes was impressed and the rest is history.
“America is a land of opportunities,” Shinde added. “I’ve learned to work hard, be a better person, and not to quit on my dreams.”
Helping players reach their dreams has been a lifelong mission for Keyes. Why? Because people helped him achieve his dreams. Keyes is simply returning the favor. He helps players on and off the field, opening his home and his wallet to help them achieve their dreams. He helped raise thousands of dollars to bring Shinde to America so that he could continue his education in America and follow his dreams in American soccer.
Keyes himself went from a top youth player at Ireland’s Home Farm FC to a pro in America with the Houston Hurricanes (USL) and Houston Force (APSL). He is simply passing the torch to a new generation, sharing his own success and his achievements with young players across the world.
Keyes has done a bit of everything to grow the beautiful game. The biggest is his soccer camps, which have been a hit all across the country. Keyes couldn’t recall an exact number of camps he was involved with, but admitted it was in the hundreds.
He is also credited with training, coaching, and developing hundreds of players that have made it to the collegiate and professional levels.
Keyes has even brought storied franchises in Texas back to life, including the Galveston Pirate and the Houston Hurricanes. The Pirate, founded in 1916, was a huge success, winning the NPSL’s South Central Conference in 2012. It was their first season in the NPSL.
Photo Courtesy of Brendan Keyes
The Hurricanes, which saw success in both the NASL and USL, were a big hit in the NPSL this season. Bringing back the Hurricanes name was something true to Keyes’ heart. He brought back the legendary Texas club in a big way, bringing on major sponsors like MundoFOX and Admiral.
Now Keyes has turned his attention to creating a new league for young players to develop and grow their game. The Texas Premier Soccer League (TPSL) is one of the newest affiliates of U.S. Club Soccer and already has some incredible members like the Houston Dutch Lions and BCS Bearkatz FC.
Yet another trendsetting move from Keyes, who has made a career of setting trends. We don’t expect this to change anytime soon and it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear another big announcement involving Keyes.
Growing the beautiful game here and abroad… that is the name of the game for Brendan Keyes.
Korrio understands it is your passion for coaching kids that drives you. We also know that the less time you spend dealing with administrative, communication and automation hassles, and the more time you spend on the field, the happier you’ll be. And because you play a crucial role in our children’s lives, we want you spending as much time as possible coaching our kids. Korrio offers a modern approach to coaching by allowing new ways to communicate and develop a community on and off the field. Congratulations to the ISN Star of Coaching this month.
After a 4-1 victory over Houston Regals SCA in the semi-finals, the Houston Dutch Lions FC will host and play against the Hurricanes FC in the Texas Cup Final.
