A popular Key Biscayne coach is under investigation by the Florida Youth Soccer Association after a parent complained that he mistreated players under his watch and failed to follow coaching standards.
The accusations against Hernan Acosta prompted about 50 residents to attend the Village Athletic Advisory Board meeting on Thursday.
Parents, former players and even a board member came to the coach’s defense.
Board Member Kenneth Coto said a few disgruntled families could hurt Key Biscayne soccer just as its competitive level is reaching championships and building a reputation.
“They push out a coach that everyone loves, respects and admires. What signal does that send to the other families that are here in this room and into the broader community?” Coto said. “I think the families that are involved in the club will lose confidence in the club.”
About 50 residents attended the Village Athletic Advisory Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2026. after accusations of bullying were made against a popular soccer coach. The vast majority spoke in favor of coach Hernan Acosta. (KBI Photo/John Pacenti)
David Rodriguez – a former soccer player with Real Madrid – and his wife Nuria de la Fuente initially complained about Acosta to the Village that his approach hurt their son when he was 7 and 8. Acosta eventually demoted the child from the competitive A League to the developmental B League.
Rodriguez was not at the meeting on Thursday, but his wife attended. “This is institutionalized bullying,” she told the Independent after the meeting. “It has been encouraged by the Club,” de la Fuente said.
To the group of 50 parents assembled at the Community Center’s Lighthouse Room, she made similar statements: “This is not about us or any parent. It is about our children. In any case, we will once again state the truth. It is many parents across multiple teams and multiple seasons, the harm from this coach across these seasons is real and documented.”
Fred Daiube told the board his son went from an enthusiastic player to a kid who didn’t want to go to soccer. “We are dealing with 8 and 9-year-olds,” he said. “Now he is with a different coach, like a different approach, super happy.”
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The parents supporting Acosta, though, said his discipline approach may seem intense, but it has built character in their children and has elevated their game so much that some have moved on to Inter Miami’s academy program.
“This father’s frustration after his son was reassigned to the second team last season, his only complaints were always the same: minutes and starting positions,” said parent Natalia Salama. “I was present at 100% of the practices, and I never witnessed abuse.”
Fred Daiube and Nuria de la Fuente address speak at the Village Athletic Advisory Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. They say their sons were mistreated by Key Biscayne soccer coach Hernan Acosta — an accusation the club denies. (KBI Photo/John Pacenti)
Key Biscayne Soccer Club President Marcelo Radice said the complaint started because Rodriguez was upset that Acosta cut his playing time. It then escalated from there because Acosta wasn’t taking Rodriguez’s advice on coaching the team.
Still, the club took Rodriguez’s complaints seriously and worked with the Village to adopt a new policy that forbids private coaching sessions and mandates playing time rotations for the younger teams, among other things.
Parks Director Todd Hofferberth was the only member of the Village administration at the meeting. Hofferberth left so abruptly that no one had a chance to ask questions.
After the Independent published the story, Hofferberth reached out through email at 6:12 p.m. Friday. He said parents were invited to share their feedback on the Key Biscayne Soccer Club at the Athletic Advisory Board’s regular monthly meeting.
” The meeting served as an opportunity for open discussion and input from families about the program,” he said. “Providing a forum for parents to share their perspectives on our youth athletic program is an important part of the Board’s role.”
Hofferbeth, however, did not answer a question as to the nature of the complaints. “We have not been copied on all communications to FYSA, as some families choose to include us and others do not. The Village is committed to following the proper process and will work with FYSA as appropriate to ensure this matter is addressed responsibly and thoughtfully,” he said in the email.
Radice said Rodriguez – after complaining to Village in April – escalated their accusations by filing a complaint with the U.S. Center for Safesport, initiating an investigation by FYSA. He said another Rodriguez complaint to the other governing body for youth soccer – U.S. Club Soccer – was dismissed.
“Instead of the playing time, which was what the issue was, now it’s mental abuse, emotional abuse, and that’s a trigger when you say that,” Radice said.
Acosta was not at the meeting on Thursday to defend himself and has not returned phone calls and messages from the Independent. Radice said coaching soccer isn’t a hobby for Acosta – it’s his job.
“He’s a very humble guy,” Radice said. “He’s upset because this guy’s destroying his reputation.”
Rodriguez,on Friday night, spoke to the Independent after this story initially ran, as well, and denied U.S. Club Soccer had dismissed his complaint; instead, it applied jurisdiction to FYSA as a procedural matter. He said Radice mischaracterized the scope, the number, and the nature of complaints about Acosta.
Rodriguez also said he found it “perplexing” that Cato, a board member of the Athletic Advisory Board, would make statements in support of Acosta without having reviewed or asked for any evidence or spoken to any dissenting families.
“At every step, the Club has externally characterized our concerns as isolated or overstated,” he said. “At every step, we learned that it was worse and more systematic than we initially understood. Over the last three months, after going public, we have heard from many families describing near identical experiences.”
Emotions ran hot at Thursday’s meeting at the Community Center and at one point, Hofferberth alerted the police officer about one man who had disrupted the meeting three times, upset with de la Fuente and Diaube — criticizing Acosta.
Key Biscayne Soccer Club President Marcelo Radice speaks at the Village Athletic Advisory Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 where the practices of coach Hernan Acosta were discussed. Radice says Acosta is being unfairly maligned and is a good coach. Parks Director Todd Hofferberth sits listening. (KBI Photo/John Pacenti)
Salama asked the board how much longer Acosta would remain under investigation.
“The Village already conducted an investigation, and they later let our kids keep their coach. In fact, his complaints led to a new set of rules, rules that met all of his demands. And yet, here we are again, this time, the accusations are even more serious,” she said.
Several of Acosta’s former players also spoke on behalf of the coach.
“He pushed us all very hard, because he loved us. He loved us all, and he wanted the best for us, and he was a great person,” said Carlo Liverani, 14.
Jeronimo Barabona, 12, said, “Hernan has been the best coach I’ve ever had, and he has taught me respect, discipline, and responsibility are the most important things.”
Editor’s Note: This story corrects the age of Rodriguez’s son and includes new comments from Rodriguez.
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JOHN PACENTI is a correspondent of the Key Biscayne Independent. John has worked for The Associated Press, the Palm Beach Post, Daily Business Review, and WPTV-TV.
The driver of a stolen car crashed into Lightning’s Boxing Club in Oakland early New Year’s Day after colliding with another car — sending two people to the hospital — then fleeing on foot. The estimated repair costs are between $50,000 and $1000,000.
As KTVU reports, a boxing ring used by heavyweight champion George Foreman in the 1980s sustained extensive damage after a car thief crashed into Lightning’s Boxing Club on 5845 MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland at some point in the early hours Thursday morning. Kris Lopez, who co-owns the gym with his wife Denise Lopez, said the impact of the crash was forceful.
“It’s like an earthquake,” Kris Lopez told KTVU. “The force knocked over the ring stairs and pushed the ring out of place.”
Per KRON4, the Lopezes are raising funds for the repairs and staff payroll through GoFundMe, which was close to $10,000 Sunday morning. According to the fundraiser’s page, the boxing ring will need to be replaced.
Per KTVU, the gym has played a crucial role in supporting underserved youth in the community, some of whom have become professional boxers.
“Dear Oakland Community, we have given our all to this city for the better good—mentoring youth, creating positive members of society, and even producing the occasional boxing champion,” the fundraiser’s page states. “Your donation will help us continue this important work and keep our doors open for the next generation. Please give what you can so we can get back to saving the community and inspiring our youth through the sport of boxing!”
Per NBC Bay Area, the boxing club is temporarily relocating to Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, a local nightclub and event space in Oakland’s Black Arts and Business District, but the Lopezes hope to reopen as soon as possible.
“I just want to keep the boxers going,” Kris Lopez told NBC Bay Area. “We have a nationally ranked amateur boxer, and of course my son and all the other kids who need this place to participate in something positive.”
“I’ve had so many people tell me, your husband changed my life,” Denise Lopez told KTVU. “That makes it worth doing.”
Authorities are still searching for the suspect in the crash.
FARGO — A move to take a youth initiative out of the purview of the city of Fargo is expected to expand student civic engagement, the city said.
The City Commission voted Monday, Dec. 22, to give Fargo Public Schools oversight of the Fargo Youth Initiative, an advisory body made up of local high school students.
Commissioners have been discussing over recent weeks whether certain boards are effective or viable. The city’s Planning Department previously coordinated Fargo Youth Initiative events.
“It really did take a village to find a new home for this, but I think it’s the next iteration of greatness,” Commissioner Denise Kolpack said at the meeting.
Isabella Meyer, chair of FYI and a senior at Fargo North High School, told commissioners many decisions are made for youth without involving them.
“The Fargo Youth Initiative has been a great way for us to be able to share our voice and our opinions on what actually works and what we actually need,” Meyer said.
The youth advisory group will now be housed within Fargo Public Schools and will include liaison representatives from the Fargo City Commission, the FPS Board of Education and the Fargo Park Board, with potential for expansion.
The group will meet at and receive administrative support from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley.
Fargo School Board vice president Robin Nelson speaks during a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Robin Nelson, Boys & Girls Clubs CEO and Fargo School Board vice president, became involved in the Fargo Youth Initiative as it was created in 2013.
She said connecting the high school students with School Board, Park Board and city representatives will provide for even better opportunities.
“Now that they’ve got some more direction, it’s really ignited their excitement,” Nelson said.
Liaisons are expected to be Kolpack from the City Commission, Kristin Nelson from the Fargo School Board and Zoë Absey from the Park Board.
Proposed areas of focus for the Fargo Youth Initiative include education relating to North Dakota Century Code, open meeting regulations and local governance and policies.
Advocacy opportunities include raising the profile of youth public health issues and youth homelessness and speaking out on city, parks and school policies and initiatives.
Community impact ideas could include organizing student-led events or service projects, and regularly attending and participating in local government meetings.
“Youth are a big percentage of our population, so the more they can learn about how our city governments work and serve as a conduit and voice for youth so they are heard at those elected levels, is beneficial,” Robin Nelson said.
A goal is to achieve a total of 15 members on the Fargo Youth Initiative, which plans to continue to meet monthly.
Huebner is a 35+ year veteran of broadcast and print journalism in Fargo-Moorhead.
LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Young athletes showed they could perform under pressure as they competed in the Elks Hoop Shoot competition.
The Northwest Ohio District brought winners from 10 different Elks lodge Hoop Shoot competitions to Ohio State Lima for the next step in the national contest.
The Elks have hosted the Hoop Shoot program for 52 years. Boys and girls ages 8 through 13 were divided into three age groups to see who could sink the most baskets.
While organizers hope the event is fun for the participants, they also emphasize the importance of developing skills through practice.
“They’re our future, and you don’t know who’s going to be able to benefit from all the practice that they put in, and further their careers in basketball, not only in the high school level, but in college and perhaps the professionals. We want them to increase their skill level and also show the sportsmanship and the camaraderie with the other shooters and enjoy the time that they have with this program,” says Jean Zink, Northwest Ohio District Elks Hoop Shoot Competition.
The top boys and girls from each age group in the Northwest Ohio District will advance to the state competition in February.
Copyright 2025 by Lima Communications Corporation. All rights reserved.
Since the Vegas Golden Knights arrived in 2017, youth hockey participation in Southern Nevada has more than doubled, according to USA Hockey and local youth programs. While that growth has created new opportunities, it has also strained existing facilities.
Usufzy said programs like learn-to-skate and youth leagues are reaching capacity, and without additional infrastructure, families may be forced to look elsewhere for competitive opportunities.
“We’ve seen incredible growth, but without places to support it, that growth can stall,” she said. “We want kids to be able to play and develop right here in Las Vegas.”
To meet that demand, the foundation has launched a capital campaign to build the Las Vegas Community Sports Complex, the first nonprofit community ice rink and multi-sport facility of its kind in Southern Nevada.
The proposed complex would feature two NHL-sized ice rinks and a versatile indoor turf field designed for sports like soccer and lacrosse, . The goal is to create affordable programming and expand scholarship opportunities for families across the valley.
The Jake Kielb Hockey Foundation’s capital campaign is entirely community-driven. Those interested in learning more or supporting the project can find additional information at HelpVegasPlay.com.
Usufzy hopes the project will ultimately give every child — regardless of background a place to play, grow, and belong.
The organization that governs Nordic ski events in New England said it is seeing considerable growth in interest in the sport. The executive director of NENSA, the New England Nordic Ski Association, was a guest on this week’s episode of NBC5 In Depth.”The sport of cross-country skiing is much younger than alpine skiing in America, I think it’s fair to say,” said Heidi Lange of NENSA. “But we are seeing incredible growth and success at all levels.”On the Jan. 4 episode of NBC5 In Depth, Lange said the fame and success of Jessie Diggins, who won three Olympic medals in cross-country skiing and an array of other championships, has helped attract young athletes to the sport.”We see a lot of glitter at our races,” Lange said, referring to how Diggins popularized wearing glitter on her face during competitions. “We see kids embracing that joy and the sportsmanship that she emulates. And it goes deeper than that, of course. Jessie is an incredible mentor and role model in so many ways. She’s so willing to be open and vulnerable and very transparent about her journey, not just celebrating the successes, but sharing what she’s experiencing through challenges and struggles. And I think that has had a very powerful influence on skiers as they’re developing and navigating what are hopefully long journeys in the sport.”Lange told NBC5 In Depth that over the past two Olympic cycles, 50% of U.S. Olympic team members in Nordic skiing had an affiliation with a New England program. She went on to say that a closer examination of the numbers revealed that 30% of that population grew up in NENSA’s youth and junior programming in New England. “We’re incredibly proud of that,” Lange said. “It’s early to say yet for this year, but trends are tracking in a similar fashion.”Lange provided other encouraging signs for the future of the sport in the NBC5 In Depth interview. She also discussed advancements in snowmaking technology for Nordic ski areas, and offered recommendations of what fans of the Olympics should watch for in the Nordic competitions at the upcoming Winter Games.The video atop this article has the full interview with NENSA’s Heidi Lange that aired on the Jan. 4 episode of NBC5 In Depth.Previous coverage: Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins discusses climate activism
LYME, N.H. —
The organization that governs Nordic ski events in New England said it is seeing considerable growth in interest in the sport. The executive director of NENSA, the New England Nordic Ski Association, was a guest on this week’s episode of NBC5 In Depth.
“The sport of cross-country skiing is much younger than alpine skiing in America, I think it’s fair to say,” said Heidi Lange of NENSA. “But we are seeing incredible growth and success at all levels.”
On the Jan. 4 episode of NBC5 In Depth, Lange said the fame and success of Jessie Diggins, who won three Olympic medals in cross-country skiing and an array of other championships, has helped attract young athletes to the sport.
“We see a lot of glitter at our races,” Lange said, referring to how Diggins popularized wearing glitter on her face during competitions. “We see kids embracing that joy and the sportsmanship that she emulates. And it goes deeper than that, of course. Jessie is an incredible mentor and role model in so many ways. She’s so willing to be open and vulnerable and very transparent about her journey, not just celebrating the successes, but sharing what she’s experiencing through challenges and struggles. And I think that has had a very powerful influence on skiers as they’re developing and navigating what are hopefully long journeys in the sport.”
Lange told NBC5 In Depth that over the past two Olympic cycles, 50% of U.S. Olympic team members in Nordic skiing had an affiliation with a New England program. She went on to say that a closer examination of the numbers revealed that 30% of that population grew up in NENSA’s youth and junior programming in New England.
“We’re incredibly proud of that,” Lange said. “It’s early to say yet for this year, but trends are tracking in a similar fashion.”
Lange provided other encouraging signs for the future of the sport in the NBC5 In Depth interview. She also discussed advancements in snowmaking technology for Nordic ski areas, and offered recommendations of what fans of the Olympics should watch for in the Nordic competitions at the upcoming Winter Games.
The video atop this article has the full interview with NENSA’s Heidi Lange that aired on the Jan. 4 episode of NBC5 In Depth.
Burbank defeated Upland 73-33 in a nonleague game. (Photo by Rick Assad)
By Rick Assad
Employing a smothering defense and a smoldering shooting display proved a perfect recipe for the Burbank High boys’ basketball team on Saturday night.
Facing a good Upland team that had height and length but was short on shooting played into the hosts’ favor as the Bulldogs routed the Highlanders 73-33 in a nonleague game.
Burbank scored 20 points or more in the second and third periods and nailed 19 of 28 shots for 67.8 percent in those two frames.
Burbank drained 10 three-pointers with six treys coming in the second half.
Three players scored in double figures and were paced by junior shooting guard Avo Papikyan with a game-high 20 points and was followed by senior point guard Cris Ong with 13 points and junior point guard Jon Ong with 12.
Burbank sank 29 of 52 from the field for 55.2 percent during the game while holding Upland to 11 of 61 for 18 percent.
The Bulldogs made 14 of 28 for 50 percent in the first half and led 36-17 and the Highlanders shot 25 percent after converting six of 24.
Burbank dashed in front 16-9 after the first period and then were off to the races.
Steve Eshleman is Burbank’s head coach and believes this was his team’s finest hour to date.
“That might be our best offensive game that we have had all year and we shot the ball really well, but really what spurred us was our defensive strength that we had throughout the game,” he said.
Eshleman also liked another important aspect of the game.
“We rebounded and got the ball out and when we ran, and then created offense to our defense and getting the ball out and going tonight was probably our best 32 minutes that we put together and that’s great for the kids,” he stated.
The Bulldogs (10-4) outrebounded Upland (8-9) 44-33 including 19-13 in the second half.
Imani Smith-Young, a junior small forward, scored all of his seven points in the opening period.
Papikyan tallied 12 points in the second quarter and that included three of his four from three-point range.
Cris Ong, after scoring five points that included a trey in the opening frame, added six points in the second period as the Bulldogs converted eight of 14 for 57.1 percent from the floor.
Ong’s basket with 5:15 remaining in the second period made it 22-9, Papikyan’s three-pointer increased the cushion to 25-9 with 4:52 on the clock and Ong’s bucket saw the Bulldogs pull ahead 29-9 with 3:25 left.
Senior small forward Anthony Jawiche found his range in the third quarter with nine points and also drilled a three-pointer as Burbank dashed ahead 62-29 heading to the fourth period.
Jon Ong dropped eight points in the same quarter, Papikyan added five points and Ong’s hoop with 6:35 left saw the Bulldogs march ahead 43-17.
In the fourth period, Blake Finnigan, a senior wing, scored five of his seven points and added a three-pointer.
Junior wing Jason Campos canned a three-pointer in the fourth quarter and senior small forward Giordan Lewis dropped two points in the second period for the Bulldogs.
Senior wing Collin Heard paced the Highlanders with nine points and they all came on three-pointers and Cooper Omness, a senior wing for Upland scored five points.
Assistant coach Tighe Eshelman is in agreement with his father’s assessment of the team.
“We’ve been lacking a full 32-minute effort so far this year. We’ve had good wins by getting ahead of people and holding on for dear life,” he said. “Tonight, we really executed the game plan throughout four quarters, which is a great step for us leading back into [Pacific] League play.”
