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Ben Popoola

Founding director of

KC blaze soccer club

Ben Popoola passed away on July 2, 2026. He established KC Blaze Soccer Club over 40 years ago and was one of the most seasoned coaches in the Kansas City area.


  • Former Head Coach Appalachian Women's Soccer Team (13 years)
  • Men’s Collegiate Soccer Record 201-63-5
  • Women’s Collegiate Soccer Record 287-143-22
  • Cumulative College Record (Men’s & Women’s) 488-206-27 –11th winningest record among college coaches in 2009)
  • Nigerian Women's National Team Assistant Coach (2002)
  • Former Men's and Women's Coach and Director of Athletics at Park University (15 years)
  • USSF "A" Licensed Coach
  • 1993 & 1994 NSCAA American Midwest Coach of the Year
  • 5 Year Veteran National Soccer Team of Nigeria
  • World Cup Experience with Nigerian National Team
  • Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) League Professional MISL Playing Experience with Kansas City Comets (2 years)
  • MISL Playing Experience with Chicago Horizon (1 year)
  • MISL Playing Experience with Cleveland Force(1 year)
  • North American Soccer League (NASL) Playing Experience with the Memphis Rogues (2 years)
  • Clemson University Soccer Team (4 years—ACC Player of the Year 1977)
  • Nigeria National Team “Green Eagles” (4 years)