Kokomo Vipers Football Club Ready to Kickoff Inaugural Season
Kokomo, IN is renowned as the "City of Firsts" for its impressive track record in pioneering new technologies. However, alongside its technological advancements, one may argue Kokomo is evolving into the "City of Sports" as well.
The Kokomo Vipers, the city's inaugural semi-professional soccer team, are gearing up to launch their first season in the United Premier Soccer League. This exciting development marks a new chapter in Kokomo's sports scene, adding to its legacy of innovation and progress.
Co-owners Mike Putt and Alex Ramos have spent countless hours preparing for such a monumental moment. Putt and Ramos signed six players during the Vipers’ opening press conference. Putt and Ramos have known each other for years. Their desire to form a semi-pro soccer team led them to Kokomo, IN. Where the two gentlemen plan to introduce a new team to a city that loves sports.
The Vipers' first game will be Saturday April 6. The Vipers' will travel to Whitestown, IN to play the Indy Gladiators SC. The match will kickoff at 6 p.m.
But Kokomo's soccer fans won't have to wait very long to watch their semi-pro soccer team play on their home turf.
The Kokomo Vipers first home game will be on Sunday April 14 at 3 P.M. All of the Vipers' home games will be at Kokomo High School. One of the unique things about the Vipers is the number of players from South America that are on the team. Currently having five South American players on its roster.
Oscar Mancayo, one of the Vipers' South American players, credits his manager in his home country for why he made the trip to Indiana to play for the Kokomo Vipers.
"My manager talked to me about the UPSL," Mancayo told The Kokomo Post following a pre-season friendly. "Then, I saw videos on YouTube and TikTok, and I liked it. So I came."
Along with the international players, the Vipers' have numerous players from Kokomo, as well as surrounding counties. One of the local players on the team is team captain Adam Cheek. Cheek is from Tipton and believes Kokomo having a semi-pro soccer team is great for the community.
"I think the community, as far as Kokomo and the surrounding small towns, it's really good for the youth and high school programs to have something like this," Cheek said. "I hope we can do some reaching out after we get established as a team and after we maybe get a season under our belt we can reach and help some of these fellow towns and cities we have near us and show these young guys that there's something here to do and something here to play on."
The Kokomo Vipers will play 10 games in their inaugural season in the United Premier Soccer League. All five home games will be played at Kokomo High School. The location and time of some of the away games have yet to be determined.
Below you'll find the Kokomo Vipers schedule:
April 6 @ Indy Gladiators SC 6 p.m.
April 14 vs Inter Columbus 3 p.m.
April 20 @ Columbus Wolves FC TBD
April 28 vs Greater Columbus F 3 p.m.
May 11 @ Lions Football Club TBD
May 19 vs Fut Ohio SC 3 p.m.
June 1 @ Columbus Astray TBD
June 8 vs FC Cincinnati Academy 7 p.m.
June 16 @ Inter Columbus 3 p.m.
June 23 vs Indy Gladiators SC 3 p.m.