COAF Launches New Football Program at the SMART Center in Lori

This fall, COAF proudly launched a new football (soccer) program at the SMART Center in Lori—an exciting addition that brings sport, teamwork, and opportunity together on campus.

Officially kicking off on October 1, the program is anchored by a brand-new FIFA-regulation football pitch, reinforcing COAF’s commitment to healthy lifestyles, active learning, and holistic youth development in rural Armenia.

A Program Designed for Growth and Access

The football program features a full-time professional coach and welcomes students of varying skill levels, creating a structured and inclusive space where young people can build strength, confidence, discipline, and teamwork.

COAF is proud to partner with the Armenian Football Federation and Champion, aligning the program with national standards and a shared vision for equal access, talent development, and the long-term growth of the sport across Armenia’s regions.

More than training, the program is about belonging—ensuring that children in rural communities have access to the same quality facilities, mentorship, and inspiration as their peers elsewhere.

Learning from Leaders, On and Off the Field

A highlight of the program has been the involvement of Robert Arzumanyan, former Armenian national team player and head coach of Urartu FC. Arzumanyan has joined the program on multiple occasions, including a November visit in his role as coach, offering students hands-on training, guidance, and motivation.

His presence as both an accomplished athlete and mentor has brought the game to life, reinforcing values of perseverance, teamwork, and leadership. In September, he also participated in a SMARTConnects session, engaging students in conversation about professional sports, discipline, and building a career in football.

From the Stands to the Field

In late October, students visited Urartu FC, where they explored the club’s museum, learned about its history and values, trained alongside professional players, and walked onto the field hand in hand with their role models.

For many, it was their first time inside a professional football environment—an experience that turned admiration into possibility. Today, they step onto the SMART Center’s pitch not just as fans, but as players in their own right.

Building the Whole Child

The football program reflects COAF’s broader vision for the SMART Centers: spaces where education, wellness, creativity, and play work together to help young people discover their potential.

At COAF, football is more than a game. It is a pathway to confidence, connection, and community—and another way children’s dreams begin to take shape.

From Vision to Reality

This program was made possible through the extraordinary support of COAF’s 2025 Spring Appeal, which raised over $400,000—more than double its original goal—to build a new sports complex at the SMART Center in Lori. What began as a fundraising vision is now a living, active space, where teamwork, confidence, and opportunity are being built every day.

Construction will continue to add bleachers, a multi-purpose basketball/volleyball court, and playground in 2026.