How it all began...The Albany Patroons moved out, and Afrim's Sports moved in. Fall of 1990 one large field was installed at the Washington Avenue Armory. Owner Afrim Nezaj, having recently graduated from SUNY Albany, wanted a place for him and his friends to play soccer. Afrim purchased the hockey style boards from the recently disbanded N.Y. Kick professional soccer team, and rented space in the Washington Avenue Armory.
It turned out that many other community members shared Afrim's love of soccer. As the number of adult teams increased, Afrim expanded the Armory into two fields, both partially surrounded with hockey style boards, wooden floors still remaining. Youth leagues began to compete at the facility. One year later the field was turfed, and girls teams began participating in Afrim's Indoor Soccer League. The following season field two was turfed and the soccer shop moved from Westgate Plaza and Northway Mall - into the Washington Avenue facility.
In 1996 the ice was melted at the Center City Sportsplex and astroturf was placed inside the hockey rink. The opening of one of the largest indoor soccer fields in the Northeast was an excellent move by Afrim Nezaj and the Center City Committee. The City of Schenectady had been operating that facility in the red for several years. The community was searching for new places to play soccer as gym space became harder to book and kids began to compete at higher levels. The addition of the larger field to Afrim's Sports allowed more athletes to participate at one time, and more levels to be offered (A,B,C).
With an 800 seat viewing capacity, and an abundance of local talented collegiate players, the OTB Sting indoor team was formed. This semi professional indoor soccer team competed in a 12 game schedule. One year later Price Chopper came on board as a major sponsor, and the semi pro Shockers entered the arena soccer league. The Shockers have been near the top of their division in standings as well as attendance. Players from opposing teams often comment on the tremendous fan support at the Shocker home games.
At the end of the 2000 season the doors of the Washington Avenue Armory closed to soccer...and the refurbished Colonie Athletic Club open the newest chapter of Afrim's soccer dream. Two turfed fields opened in October of 2000 with a newly designed all plexi, hockey style board for better viewing. Every week the building developed. Quickly adding a concession stand, increased seating, big screen t.v., and birthday party seating.
In January of 2001 the two field turf fields opened and quickly booked to capacity. The field turf has added excitement to the indoor game, allowing a more outdoor style of play to occur. Higher blades of grass filled with a rubber sand mixture simulate the outdoor surface. Larger goals were added and the walls were removed. Throw ins restart the sideline play. The Colonie facility currently has 4 large turf fields and one 3v3 small field and will be in operation year round providing camps, youth lessons, and adults leagues throughout the Spring and Summer. In 2003, Afrim's Sports open a large dome facility on Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham that can house one full size field or 2 smaller fields.
