I couldn't be happier to be working with youth athletes. I've seen incredible determination, self-motivation, and focus within the athletes who seek more training to better themselves. My mission is to provide a specific yet unique development process for players.
My name is Malak Thabet, but I go by Luca — in Egypt, "Malak" often becomes "Luca" as a nickname.
I grew up playing both futsal and academy soccer, and I moved to the U.S. at age 12, continuing my soccer journey here. My love for the game has only grown since then. As an adult, I played professionally with C'Villa FC and Grove United Pro Group.
My coaching journey has been shaped by experiences working with coaches from different cultures and backgrounds. I've spent years coaching youth and learning how to develop holistic athletes, which inspired me to create my own Game Model — soccer players who can fit into any team. Who doesn't want a good soccer player? That's what this is meant for.
I have served as Director of Coaching and head coach in Richmond for over nine years, and later as Technical Director overseeing development processes for both boys and girls programs.
This training isn't only about the hour players come out to train once or twice a week. It's about a culture — one we instill in every athlete — of being accountable for their own development.
I believe that real growth happens when players take ownership of their journey. The sessions are a starting point, but the mentality we build carries into every practice, every game, and every decision on and off the field. My role is to be the mentor who guides them, challenges them, and holds them to a standard they didn't know they could reach.
"Development is not an event — it's a lifestyle. We don't just train players for the next game. We build athletes who hold themselves accountable, who put in the work when nobody is watching, and who carry a winner's mentality everywhere they go."
Every player who trains with me gets more than drills. They get a mentor invested in their growth — someone who will push them to be better, believe in them when it's hard, and help them see the game the way it's meant to be played: with intelligence, creativity, and fearlessness on the ball.
The goal is simple: develop complete players who can walk into any team, any system, and make an impact. Players who are technically confident, tactically aware, and mentally strong. That's the culture we build here.
Take ownership of your game. Let's build something together.
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