08/31/2026
As many of you may already know, our own Coach Osman “Ossie” Orlando will be undergoing a medical procedure on Tuesday, September 1st. During this time, I would like to ask our WCU family to come together and support Coach Ossie and his family with our thoughts, prayers, encouragement, and, for those who are able, financial support during his recovery.
We are incredibly fortunate to have Coach Ossie as part of our technical staff. He is our WCU Development Academy Director and is truly one of the best player developers and talent nurturers I have had the privilege of working with. His impact reaches across every phase of a soccer player’s journey - from the earliest Discovery and Foundation stages through high school, college, professional, and national team levels. But Coach Ossie’s story goes far beyond soccer.
Born in Ghana, Coach Ossie grew up without many of the opportunities and resources that young players have today. There were no readily available fields, soccer shoes, or even soccer balls. But what he did have was determination, commitment, a deep love for the game, mental strength, and an incredible willingness to find a way forward. As a young boy, he would play with whatever he could find - tennis balls, lemons, and, whenever he was fortunate enough to have one, a real soccer ball.
His hard work and determination eventually earned him an opportunity that changed his life. At just 17 years old, Coach Ossie was signed by a team in Ghana’s most established league. Only a year later, he became the starting left winger for the Ghana National Team. He went on to play alongside and against some of the best players in Africa, competing in major Africa Cup and World Cup competitions. In 1974, Coach Ossie made the decision to come to the US - the land of opportunity - to pursue his dream of playing soccer professionally.
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