910 FC’s youth ranks continue to grow with the signing of 17-year-old winger Simeon Betapudi. The rising senior at Memphis University School will join up with the team for the 2021 season.
“It’s surreal because just a year or two ago I was a ball boy [at AutoZone Park], and I would watch them play, and I thought they were really good,” said Betapudi. “It’s fun, but at the same time it’s motivating to get to play with those guys that you watched and really wanted to emulate. Just to be a homegrown player in the Memphis atmosphere is really exciting.”
Betapudi has been playing soccer since he was four years old, and has played for Memphis FC since 2013, as well as the Region III Olympic Development program since 2019. He has also participated in the Futsal Academy.
“Simeon is one of the top youth players in the Mid-South and we are excited to integrate him into the first team,” said 901 FC head coach Ben Pirmann. “His current youth coach Carl Schmitt has done an excellent job of identifying and preparing him for our club’s environment, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for Simeon and the Betapudi family.”
The winger is 901 FC’s second academy player after the addition of Tycho Collins. As an academy signing, he will maintain his college eligibility.
901 FC’s next match is 7:30pm on Saturday, May 29th, away to OKC Energy.