Panama City Welcomes LAX FC, a New Semi-Pro Soccer Side With Global Vision

Panama City, Fla. — Soccer has a fresh heartbeat along the Gulf Coast with the arrival of LAX FC, a semi-professional outfit determined to keep local talent local while building a roster as diverse as the community it represents. Executive chairman Saqlain Wildman, a lifelong player who first touched a ball at age three, founded the club after noticing a gap: elite amateur competition existed everywhere from England to Jamaica, but not in his own backyard.

“We have semi-professional teams across the world — in England, Canada, and Jamaica — and I thought this would be the newest one to start here,” Wildman said.

The philosophy is straightforward: discipline first, everything else second. Recent tryouts were heavy on character evaluations. “If you have a love for the sport and discipline, we can teach you whatever else you need to know. But if you don’t have discipline, we can’t teach that,” Wildman explained.

That approach paid dividends in Year 1. LAX FC finished second in the Arkansas-Oklahoma division of the United Premier Soccer League and reached the playoff final, an achievement Wildman calls “huge” for an expansion side that cobbled together players from multiple states and countries. “Many teams have been in UPSL for seven or eight years and never made the playoffs,” he noted.

Diversity is woven into the club’s DNA. The current squad features athletes from Jamaica, South Africa, Peru, Miami, and Bay County itself, and locker-room conversations cross religious lines—Muslims, Jews, and Christians share meals and community-outreach duties. “LAX FC welcomes all cultures,” Wildman said.

Home matches and training sessions unfold at Callaway Recreational Complex, where the team works three days a week. The 2024 slate is ambitious: UPSL league play, friendlies against USL opposition, and a European tour that will see LAX FC face academy sides from Granada, Malaga City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain in Spain.

Players reside at Emerald Park Apartments, nicknamed the “LAX Hub.” “Everyone eventually moves to Bay County. Once they’re accepted, they move in within a week or two,” Wildman said. While full salaries are not yet in place, match-day incentives can be lucrative—MVP bonuses have reached $400 a game. Wildman projects that entry into the National Independent Soccer Association next year will trigger weekly wages ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on ability.

Jaheim Blake, a Jamaican center-back and wing-back, embodies the club’s promise of second chances. After arriving in the United States in 2022, Blake became the first player offered a LAX FC contract. “It felt like God giving me another chance to chase my dream of becoming a professional footballer,” he said. Injuries restricted him to two appearances last season, but he is back in training and eyeing a larger role. “I’m recovering and hoping to get more playtime to prove to myself and the world that I can do it.”

Rebuilding is the theme of the offseason; only four members of last year’s 27-man roster remain. Wildman’s willingness to overhaul the squad is no surprise to Blake. “Coach isn’t afraid of numbers. Last season, he paid $14,000 to register in UPSL without a single player. Some might call it delusional, but you have to be delusional to make it in life,” Blake said. “This season, he’s being very selective with players because our goal is to win trophies.”

Youth development is another pillar. LAX FC academy teams reached multiple finals last season, reinforcing Wildman’s belief that Bay County youngsters can pursue professional careers without leaving home.

Fans can follow the club at https://www.lax-global.com/usa, on Instagram and Facebook as LAX FC Soccer, or by calling 850-348-0768.