Our Story.
JAHBAT FC was founded in 1996 by Franz Calixte, Kevin Francis, and Jean Gregoire to address the need for a top flight men’s Pro-Am soccer team in the Evanston and Rogers Park area. Chicago has a rich history of semiprofessional soccer, but the Evanston and Rogers Park community was never represented in a single team. Thus, JAHBAT was created to fill the gap. JAHBAT stands for Jamaica America Haiti Belize Asia Trinidad, the cultural backgrounds of the team’s first players. The team still boasts a diverse roster today, and for that reason, is unlike any other team in Chicago, and perfectly suited to represent our community. Today JAHBAT FC competes in the prestigious National Soccer League of Chicago, and across the nation in tournament play.
JAHBAT FC 2010 Chicago Beach Soccer Fest. Mens Champions
JAHBAT is a fixture of the local scene, coaching at area high schools (ETHS, Walter Payton, and Niles North) and youth clubs (Team Evanston, Chicago Makers, Chicago Sockers). Our players have played at the highest levels collegiately, and some of us are pursuing professional careers in the NISL, CSL, the Danish Super Liga, England’s Coca Cola League 2, and traveled with Nike's various street soccer campaigns. The JAHBAT family is expansive. With some of the younger players away at school for the first time and some of the older ones now raising families, you’re never quite sure who will show up for a given training session. JAHBAT practice is where the highest level players come to work out, and where younger players are mentored - a vibrant, cross-cultural community group that has formed around our passion for the beautiful game of soccer. Currently, we are expanding our work within the community, coaching with area youth who might not otherwise have the opportunity to be exposed to soccer. This past summer we had our first community camps, and we hope to partner with District 65 schools and local community centers to institute after school programs in the coming year. This year we will field a high school team that will compete in the NSL’s second division, providing the highest level coaching in an atmosphere of advanced competition.