Coaches

Coach Youssef has over 30 years of playing and coaching experience. He holds a USSF national “B” coaching license and all Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) licenses. He currently coaches the Fusion FC GU16 team which plays in Division 1 of the Massachusetts Premier League (MAPLE), the Arlington Boys U14 Select team which plays in BAYS, the Arlington GU9 Select team which plays in BAYS,  and has coached and trained youth soccer teams over the last decade including Mass Youth Soccer District 4 Select teams. He is also a USSF-licensed referee. 

As founder of Focus Sports Management, he helped to establish New England’s largest adult coed soccer recreational league for Boston Ski and Sports Club with over 4000 annual participants and served as head referee for 10 years. Coach Youssef has played soccer at the advanced club, college and semi-professional levels and is currently playing in a competitive league.

Coach Betsy is currently assistant coach for the Fusion FC GU16 team and coached the Arlington High School Junior Varsity team in the fall of 2011.

She was head coach of the Arlington Boys U14 Select team which played in BAYS in 2010/11. She has coached other Arlington youth soccer teams and holds a USSF "D" coaching license. 

Coach Betsy played three years on the varsity squad at Arlington High School, two years as a league all-star. She played two years on the Mass Youth Soccer District 4 Select team. She has played in soccer tournaments in Germany and Holland, and trained with a Division 1 collegiate team. She currently plays soccer competitively in co-ed and women's leagues. 

Assistant Coach Omar Afifi

Coach Omar has played soccer at the recreational and semi-professional levels for over 23 years. He served as captain of the Cairo University team for three years, led his team to a second place finish in Egypt’s Company Cup in 2001, and recently played on a Division 1 semi-professional team which won the Massachusetts State Cup in 2005. 

Coach Omar holds a USSF “E” license, and has been an assistant coach at the premier and recreational youth levels over the last several years. He is a USSF-licensed referee.

Assistant Coach Balash Salamatbakhsh

Coach Balash brings a variety of playing and coaching experience to Fusion FC. He played for the Oatley RSL Club in Sydney, Australia with teammate Ernie Campel (former Australian national team striker) and for the State League in Sydney. His team placed first in a tournament at the University of New South Wales. Coach Balash is currently playing for the Arlington Pond Dawgz.

Coach Balash has coached a number of youth teams placing well in district competitions in Sydney Australia, and has also coached local youth in Swampscott and Arlington, MA.