MEET THE TEAM
SAM AL-BASITH
Founder & CEO
Sam Al-Basith is the founder of so.LA and the driving force behind its football methodology, culture and long-term vision.
Born and raised in South London, Sam played for West Ham United FC’s Academy (Under 12-Under 16) & Cardiff City FC (Under 16-Under 18s). Sam spent 11 years at the LA Galaxy working across multiple stages of the club's player-development pathway. For nine years Sam was a head coach in the LA Galaxy Academy. His experience included leading the U11, U12 and U13 age groups, working with older Academy teams including the U15, U16 and U18 groups. Sam also gained experience with LA Galaxy II as a volunteer Assistant Coach in 2016-2017.
Sam holds a U.S. Soccer A License, UEFA B License, and Elite Formation Coaching License, a professional development program connected to Major League Soccer and the French Football Federation. He also holds a master's degree in business (MBA).
Sam consulted and built an at-home technical skills project with MLS Next and MLS Go in partnership with Team Snap in January-April 2026, and consults City SC South Bay with player development.
His approach combines supporting people, building community, technical development, football intelligence, mindset, creativity, positive energy and individual mentorship.
Sam's work is driven by the belief that football can be used to develop more than footballers. Through so.LA, his ambition is to create environments that develop confident, curious and courageous young people while building a community that genuinely cares about each individual's journey.
JOSE RIVERA
Lead Coach
Jose Rivera is a central part of the personality, energy and football culture of so.LA.
Jose played for FC Dallas’s Academy and also represented the US Youth National Team.
As a Lead Coach, Jose works closely with players across so.LA's weekly development environments, camps, clinics and individual-development programs.
Jose's ability to connect with players is a major part of what he brings to the environment. He combines coaching with personality, humor and an authentic love for football, helping create spaces where players feel comfortable enough to express themselves while understanding that they are there to work and improve.
IMMAN BAINS
Program Manager
Imman Bains brings a combination of football coaching, player development and program operations to so.LA.
A UEFA B licensed coach, Imman's background includes football education in the United Kingdom and experience coaching and delivering youth soccer programming in the United States. He studied at the University of South Wales and has continued building his career within the Los Angeles soccer landscape.
Alongside his role with so.LA, Imman works within LA Galaxy's Soccer Programming department, where the club currently lists him as Coordinator, Soccer Programming.
At so.LA, Imman helps turn ideas into experiences.
His work is a blend of programming, operations, family communication, camps and events, facilities, partnerships and player opportunities.
ADRIENNE RICHARDSON
Program Coordinator & Player Experience
Adrienne Richardson brings the perspective of an elite player into the everyday so.LA environment.
Before joining so.LA, Adrienne competed at the highest levels of American youth and collegiate soccer. She went on to play NCAA Division I soccer at Florida State University and Louisiana State University (LSU).
At LSU, Adrienne became an important attacking player, including a 2018 season in which she led the Tigers in goals and points during part of the campaign and earned All-Louisiana First Team recognition.
That playing background gives Adrienne an important perspective when working within so.LA.
She understands the journey from talented young player to high-performance environments — the expectations, challenges, sacrifices and confidence required along the way.
At so.LA, Adrienne's role extends across program coordination, operations and player experience. She supports registration, attendance, player information, family communication, merchandise, events and the details that allow programs to run smoothly.
Most importantly, she helps ensure that the experience remains centered around the player.
Her presence also gives young players — particularly aspiring female footballers — access to someone who has personally navigated elite youth and Division I collegiate environments.
TUNDE BENSON
Coach & Community Lead
Tunde Benson represents something fundamental to so.LA:
Football should have soul.
Tunde brings energy, warmth and a strong sense of community to the environment. His ability to connect with young players helps make so.LA a place where players aren't simply attending another training session — they feel that they belong.
Tunde allows the players to feel seen, supported and confident enough to express themselves.
Tunde brings enthusiasm and encouragement while still challenging players to compete, work and grow.
Tunde embodies the community side of so.LA and the idea of We the Village: development is strongest when people genuinely care about one another.