The Fireballs are coached and trained by Rade Martinovic
Coaches Profile:
Rade began his professional soccer career in 1969. At the age of 16 he signed with FK Radnicki in Kragujevac, Yugoslavia his homeland. He played there for 10 years until 1979. During this time Rade continued his education and received a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering from Kragujevac Tech. He also has a Soccer Coaching Degree from the University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Prior to and during Rade’s professional career playing in the Yugoslav Federal Football League, he was also a member of the Yugoslavia Junior National Team, Yugoslavia U-21 National Team and the Yugoslavia Olympic National Team. In 1967, his Junior National team won a Silver Medal in the UEFA Cup played in Istanbul, Turkey. His U-21 National team won a Gold Medal in the European Cup played in Rijeka, Croatia in 1971. Rade played 42 games representing his country.
Rade came to the USA in 1979 and signed with the Philadelphia Fury playing in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and Metro Indoor Soccer League (MISL). From 1981 to 1983 he played with the Montreal Manic (later changed to Montreal Impact). They were also in the NASL and MISL. During his professional career Rade played in over 1000 games. He competed with and against some of the greatest soccer players, including Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia, Gurd Muller, Johan Cruyff, Alan Ball and George Best.
From 1984 to 1993 Rade coached at his former club FK Radnicki. During this time he coached the Junior League team to the U-14 Yugoslavia National Cup and was also the Head Coach of the Professional League Team. Rade also coached for the Yugoslavia Football Association. He was a National Soccer Camp Instructor, Part of the National Youth Team Coaching Staff and a National Youth Team Selector. 1994 brought Rade back to the USA where he has since been coaching youth soccer in the Chicago suburbs.
Rade currently holds a FIFA Coaching License, UEFA International Youth Coaching License and a USSF National Coaching License.
2008 Spring Results
4/6 Fireballs 2 Chicago FC Elite 0
4/19 Fireballs 2 HSC 0
4/20 Fireballs 3 Rockford Dactyls 1
4/26 NSR Region II Cup CHAMPIONS
Fireballs 2 LCU Red 0
Fireballs 3 West Michigan Fire 0
Fireballs 2 Grand Rapids Crew Jrs 0
Fireballs 1 Team Chicago Blue Dolphins 0
5/1 Fireballs 1 Plainfield 1
5/4 Fireballs 0 FC United 0
5/15 Fireballs 4 FV Strikers 0
5/18 State Cup Fireballs 6 TCSA 0
5/24 Midwest Cup Tournament CHAMPIONS
Fireballs 6 Illinois Fusion 0
Fireballs 3 Rockford Dactyls 0
Fireballs 4 Cedar River SA 0
Fireballs 2 Sockers FC 0
5/27 State Cup Fireballs 1 Plainfield 0
5/31 State Cup Semifinal Fireballs 2 TC Blue Dolphins 1
6/1 State Cup Final Fireballs 0 Eclipse Select 1 pk's
6/8 Fireballs 1 Barrington 0
Fall 2007 IWSL 14AB Schedule
Date Time Home Team Name Score Away Team Name Score
9/9 3:00pm FIREBALLS 2 AJAX F.C. CHICAGO 1
9/16 3:00pm SCHAUMBURG SONICS 93/94 0 FIREBALLS 8
9/23 3:00pm FIREBALLS 4 BERWYN BLAZERS U-14 0
9/30 12:00pm WINDY CITY PRIDE 42 0 FIREBALLS 3
10/7 4:00pm FIREBALLS 1 IUSC TM XTREME (timechange)2
10/14 1:00pm KICKERS SC U14 PREMIER 1 FIREBALLS 3
10/21 3:00pm FIREBALLS 3 CHICAGO BLAST U14 RED 1
10/13 3:00pm CAROL STREAM PANTHERS 2 FIREBALLS 8
10/22 7:30pm FIREBALLS 4 GALAXY 93-94 BLUE 0
11/11 9:30am IUSC TM XTREME 1 FIREBALLS 0
Fall 2006 IWSL Results
9/10/06 Fireballs 3 @ Lake Forest 0
9/23/06 Eclipse Select 1 @ Fireballs 2
9/24/06 Fireballs 3 @ Strikers FV 0
10/1/06 Chicago Wind 0 @ Fireballs 3
10/8/06 Fireballs 1 @ HSC Hawks 1
10/12/06 Fireballs 3 @ ASC Eagles 0
10/15/06 Plainfield Legends 0 @ Fireballs 1
10/22/06 Libertyville 1 @ Fireballs 1
11/05/06 Glenview 0 @ Fireballs 1
11/12/05 Fireballs 1 @ Eclipse Select 0
Congratulations Fireballs on a successful Fall season. 2nd place in U-14 AB division
Fireballs represent Illinois at the TORO BOOYAH BATTLE OF CHAMPIONS
Over Memorial Day weekend the NSA Fireballs traveled to Omaha, NE to compete in the first annual Toro Booyah Battle of Champions. The Fireballs competed against the #1 ranked teams in Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa, and the #4 ranked team in Missouri. All of the teams are ranked in the Top 25 of Region II. Despite playing with only 13 girls for 2 games and 14 for the other 3, the Fireballs finished in 4th place out of 6 teams. The coaches and parents are very proud of you for playing hard the entire weekend. We would also like to thank the parents and coaches of Toro Booyah for putting on a first class tournament and making us feel welcome. We look forward to next year.
FIREBALLS CLAIM 6th STRAIGHT A-DIVISION TITLE AND 7th OVERALL
With a 1-0 win over Glenview on 11/5/06 the NSA Premier Fireballs captured their 6th consecutive IWSL A-League Championship. This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work that the players and coaches put in week after week to play the game of soccer at the highest level. The Fireballs look forward to continued success in the future.
Congratulations Fireballs on a successful 2006 Spring season!!!
Ranked #14 in the nation! (note: rankings are very subjective, but we are honored to be recognized)
5th consecutive IWSL A-Division Championship!
Fewest goals allowed in League play for 5th consecutive season!
Undefeated at NSR Region II Cup! Best of Midwest semifinalists!
Only nationally ranked U-11 girls team from Illinois to beat a team ranked in the top-20 nationally!
Congratulations Fireballs on a spectacular 2005 Fall season!!!
Ranked #1 in state! (note: rankings are very subjective, but we are honored to be recognized)
Undefeated IWSL Season!
4th consecutive IWSL A-Division Championship!
IWSL Fall 2005 Sportsmanship Award
2005 CELTIC CUP CHAMPIONS
2005 Powerhouse Invitational Finalists
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS OF END OF SPRING SEASON 2008
Overall record 2003-2008 W-L-D 127-19-27
2008 IL State Cup Finalist
7 Regular Season IWSL A-League Championships
1st Place Spring 2008 IWSL Champions League
IWSL Fall 2005 and Fall 2004 Sportsmanship Award
Tournament Championships:
NSR Region 2 Cup 2008
Midwest Cup 2008
Palatine Celtic Cup 2003, 2005
Mid America Cup 2004, Best of the Midwest Fall 2003, Libertyville Cup 2003
Best of the Midwest Finalist, Spring 2005, Semifinalists Spring 2006
Powerhouse Invitational Finalist 2005, 2006
NSA currently has players from many of the western and southern suburbs of Chicago. We always keep a position open on our team for girls moving into the Chicagoland area who are interested in joining our team. Please contact Coach Rade for more information: coach@nsafireballs.com
We are always looking to play friendlies with competitive boys or girls teams. Please contact Coach Rade for more information: coach@nsafireballs.com
