The Sporting Kansas City player pathway consists of full-time professionals and aspiring teenagers alike.

Thursday offered a glimpse of both groups coming together, as four members of Sporting Kansas City’s first team—Yohan Croizet, Nico Hasler, Benny Feilhaber and Gerso Fernandes—visited an Academy training session at Swope Soccer Village.

The MLS veterans offered words of encouragement and inspiration to Academy players, who are preparing for the stretch run of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season.

Croizet and Hasler met with the Sporting KC U-14s and U-15s, while Feilhaber and Gerso caught up with the U-17s and U-19s. In addition to shedding insight on the keys to success on and off the pitch, the Sporting players stayed to watch training and conversed with Academy coaches.

See below for a collection of photos from the special occasion.