CALCUTTA - Area soccer players were given an opportunity to receive training from professional soccer coaches Joe Raduka and Joe Pavlek during a Cleveland United Soccer Camp which was held Monday through Friday at the East Liverpool youth soccer fields.

"We're teaching the kids to love the sport," camp founder Joe Raduka said.

Raduka began the camp in 1987 after a career in European soccer, the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. The Bastaji, Bosnia and Herzegovina native was captain of the the then Yugoslavia's junior national team when it earned the 1971 Euro Cup title. He was also a member of Serbia's top first division club, Red Star Belgrade.

"I've played in Germany, France, Belgium. Against teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid," Raduka said. "There everyone looks to be a professional, they give up on school. Only one to two percent make it though and those who don't are left struggling. That's what I like about here it's done through schools and the community. Kids go to school everyday and still have a degree if they don't make it professionally."

Since creating these camps over 20 years ago, Raduka has seen a change not only in the presence of soccer in the area but also with the number of girls playing the sport.

"Before when I would drive these roads, I would never see a kid with a ball kicking it. But, a couple of weeks ago I came here seen all these fields. It's growing like crazy," Raduka said.

According to Raduka during his first few years of running the camps he saw approximately 20 percent more female attendance than males, something he believes may have something to do with boys having the opportunity to play more contact sports.

One interesting thing about Raduka is his urging of players to try and participate in hockey and basketball during the winter months. He believes that these sports will help improve a soccer players ability due to the similarities in the zone concept and blocking.

Joining him for the camp were his former Cleveland Crunch player Joe Pavlek, son Marco Raduka, and his brother Boris Raduka, a coach in the Manchester United organization. Boris Raduka holds diplomas from the FIFA and the English Football Association, giving him immense insight into the sport.

Cleveland United teams range from U10-U18 and are fielded by some area players.