River 'N' Roar

50 More days Lions fans! 50 more days until your South Bend Lions, kick off the season on May 15th against Kalamazoo FC. Its been a long wait, and, this is a very exciting time. 

So, on todays episode. We decided to introduce you to someone who will be kicking a ball in Kalamazoo, and his name is Amass Amankona. Amass comes to the Bend, all the say from Ghana. He came to the US in 2013 to play soccer for The University of Dayton, where he played from 2013- 2015. Helping them win a A-10 Conference Championship in 2015. 

In 2016 Amass was selected 3rd overall in the MLS Super Draft by Real Salt Lake. While there, he played several pre-season games with them. So, I am excited to see the experience he brings to the Lions, for sure!

It was a pleasure speaking to Amass, and super excited to have him join the team, and #RepTheBend with all of us this summer. There is a lot more to Amass, that you will learn in this episode. However, one thing is for sure... I will have to find a way to beat him in Ping Pong, and Foosball. 

Don't forget to check out https://www.southbendlions.com/ for all your Lion's news.

AND, go to https://repthebend.com/ for the Lions all new Lineup of HUMMEL Apparel!

Also you can find the Lion's on Social Media below

Twitter- @SouthBendLions

Instagram- @SouthBendLions

Also, if you have any suggestions for the podcast, or there is something you would want to hear. Feel free to reach out to RiverNRoarPod@gmail.com, or hit us up on Twitter @RiverNRoar

Happy Sunday everyone! We are back on River 'N' Roar with another introduction on the eSports side of things. Today, we have the "FIFA Crew". Yes, currently it is only 2 people, but they are 2 awesome guys to chat with, and #RepTheBend for us in FIFA. 

We are talking to with Colton, and Devin today on the show. They are currently in the middle of a FIFA tournament that has taken the lower league soccer scene by storm, The Lower League eCup.

 In the inaugural one, Devin represented us on PC, and was in the PC grouping for the tournament. He did not make it past the group stage, but this time around seems to be a force to be reckoned with, and has secured a 1st round bye, and straight to the semi's. He is a man of few words, but lets his results obviously do all the talking. He talks about how he got into soccer, and Fifa, and what he loves about representing us in the Lower League eCup, and now The South Bend Lions eSports squad. 

Then we have Colton, the man of many names (Streambro, Casaba) and many words. Colton is representing us in the Playstation division, and has had some amazing results on his way to the 2nd round of the playoffs. Colton talks about his love for Man City, why he chooses to play as them in the tournament, and the tough road ahead, as it looks like he may have to play the favorite in the tournament, to get to the promise land. He also talks about his passion to represent the Lions in eSports, and what it means to him to do so on this squad. 

They both play their respected playoff matches today, see below. 

Devin is playing Oakland County FC today at 3pm, which is a special matchup, as it will for sure fuel the rivalry between The Lions, and Oakland County on the real pitch for sure. 

Coltons match is at 9pm, so a little late soccer on your Sunday schedule. He is going up against The Magic City Brigade, the supporters group for Birmingham Legion. 

Both games can be seen on the Lions Twitch- SBNLions

South Bend Lions eSports

Twitter- @SBNLIONS

Instagram- @SBNLIONS

Twitch- @SBNLIONS

Don't forget to check out https://www.southbendlions.com/ for all your Lion's news.

Also you can find the Lion's on Social Media below

Twitter- @SouthBendLions

Instagram- @SouthBendLions

Also, if you have any suggestions for the podcast, or there is something you would want to hear. Feel free to reach out to RiverNRoarPod@gmail.com, or hit us up on Twitter @RiverNRoar

What's going on Lions fans. Hope you all had an amazing Holiday season, and everyone is staying safe here in the Bend. Today, we wanted to introduce you to a group of guys Repping the Bend, but not in a soccer sense. 

Yes, the Lions did a thing, and started an eSports team. So, we wanted to introduce you to the guys that are playing for us on the Rocket League side. We have Jose aka Vibing, Austin aka Little Saucetin (He has another nickname you will learn about) Burdden aka Jordan, and Ryan aka Bootz. 

They came on to explain a bit of what Rocket League actually is, and how it is played. How the competition they are in (Indy Gaming League) works, and how they prepare each week, and introduce themselves to the community a bit. I myself have really enjoyed getting to know them, and I am sure they will represent South Bend to the fullest. 

Check the team out, and look for announcements below!

South Bend Lions eSports

Twitter- @SBNLIONS

Instagram- @SBNLIONS

Twitch- @SBNLIONS

Don't forget to check out https://www.southbendlions.com/ for all your Lion's news.

Also you can find the Lion's on Social Media below

Twitter- @SouthBendLions

Instagram- @SouthBendLions

Also, if you have any suggestions for the podcast, or there is something you would want to hear. Feel free to reach out to RiverNRoarPod@gmail.com, or hit us up on Twitter @RiverNRoar

Today we welcomed Thiago Pinto onto the show. Thiago is the Technical Director of your South Bend Lion's, as well as the head coach of The Bethel University Pilot's Soccer team here in South Bend. 

We discussed his current season with Bethel, and the obstacles of coaching a college soccer team during a pandemic. How that changes his approach, and what differences he has to make to his style in order to accommodate for it. Currently as the season stands now Bethel is sitting at 11W-1D-3L with 4 games remaining, as well as the NCAA Tournament. 

We spoke about the prospect of seeing some Bethel players on the Lion's roster come the start of the season, and I particularly am lobbying for a specific player out of NYC Rolphson Clervoix. So hopefully he can make the team, and come on the show sometime soon. We will be watching!

When we got into the Lion's side of things, you can tell Thiago is very excited, and enthusiastic about coaching, and helping the team grow within the community. He is very excited for the U-18 teams to get started, Men's, and Women's sides. However, Thiago see's this as an opportunity to use Football as a universal language, and bring a community together, after a hard time. Which is why he knocked this out of the park, and we love speaking with him. 

All in all, we had a blast speaking, and whoever comes on after Thiago, has some big shoes to fill that is for sure. 

Don't forget to check out https://www.southbendlions.com/ for all your Lion's news.

Also you can find the Lion's on Social Media below

Twitter- @SouthBendLions

Instagram- @SouthBendLions

Also, if you have any suggestions for the podcast, or there is something you would want to hear. Feel free to reach out to RiverNRoarPod@gmail.com, or hit us up on Twitter @RiverNRoar

Today, I sat down with Mark Bradley. A UEFA Mentor for Fan Engagement at the Barca Innovation Hub, and the creator of his own initiative called, The Fan Experience Co. 

The Barca Innovation Hub, is an amazing initiative started by FC Barcelona, and given their club motto "Mes Que Un Club" meaning "More Than a Club" you would not be surprised. This initiative which started in 2017, is an educational pathway, in many realms, such as Sports Marketing, Sports Management, Fan Engagement, and several other classes. 

In Mark's class in Fan Experience, he references 2 teams based here in the US. One being the Philadelphia Union of the MLS. The other being none other than your South Bend Lion's. I wanted to sit down with him, and get his take on why he chose to use the Lion's as a bench mark in fan engagement, and what he thought the Lion's were doing correct, especially during this tough time.  

With Mark being a Sunderland FC fan, he has some great stories to tell, including his own, on being a fan of a club that has had its ups, and downs. For those of you, who have seen the documentary on YouTube "Sunderland till I die" you will get it.  We had a great conversation about this, and it really makes you think, just how important a team can be to a smaller community, a hard working community. Just like we have here in South Bend. 

We also spoke about the opportunity all teams, and organizations have now, at this point. With Covid shutting things down. Everyone now has the opportunity to turn their game day experience, and fan engagement around, and make their stadium, and their team the place to be. Start something organic, and create an experience like no other. 

I really enjoyed talking to Mark, and with this being something I am specifically passionate about myself. I am excited to see how the Lion's continue their journey in this arena, and continue to show South Bend, that this is more than just Soccer. 

Don't forget to check out Mark's website below!

WEBSITE- https://fanexperienceco.com/

They also have a podcast as well.... hoping I get on there soon :) So give them a listen, and a follow. 

PODCAST- https://fanexperienceco.com/resources/podcasts/

If you are interested in checking out the Barca Innovation Hub. Please use the link below!

BARCA INNOVATION HUB- https://barcainnovationhub.com/

RIVER 'N' ROAR Official Podcast of your South Bend Lion's

TWITTER- @RiverNRoar

River 'N' Roar is back, and we know it has been a while. We wanted to get you guys some updates, on what your South Bend Lion's have been up to, since there was no season, and no soccer played at all really. 

The good thing is, everything is full steam ahead for "Season 2" I guess we can call it. So, who better to have on the show than our Chief Progress Officer Monika Scott, and everyone's favorite Chief Happiness Officer Matt Bellina. 

These two are constantly working to keep the Lion's out there, and spreading the word to the community. Their is a lot of exciting things happening this year, that possibly without the cancellation of the season, would not have been pushed forward. Now, not only do we have a Men's U-18 team, but also a Women's U-18 team in the mix, which is awesome, and look forward to seeing both in action, and training. 

Matt is hard at work, getting a website up and running about the history of soccer here in South Bend, and I can promise you, there is no one better to head that charge. The website would act, as sort of a Wikipedia of stories, people, and anything South Bend Soccer related. 

Also, a little news about teams being added to our division, which will make for some amazing rivalries. Kalamazoo, and Fort Wayne being added will make this season awesome, and full of some amazing matches. 

Don't forget to check out https://www.southbendlions.com/ for all your Lion's news. 

Also you can find the Lion's on Social Media below

Twitter- @SouthBendLions

Instagram- @SouthBendLions

Also, if you have any suggestions for the podcast, or there is something you would want to hear. Feel free to reach out to RiverNRoarPod@gmail.com, or hit us up on Twitter @RiverNRoar