Head for the Hills
Fadi Tatar, founder and president of The Hills Club Futbol.
Chaldean-owned Hills Club Futbol team bursts onto the soccer scene
By Steve Stein
In the same year the World Cup dominated soccer headlines, the debut of a semi-professional club team founded by a 22-year-old Chaldean American made waves closer to home.
Former high school, club, and college soccer goalie turned soccer advocate and entrepreneur Fadi Tatar of Sterling Heights is the driving force behind the Hills Club Futbol team, based in the Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, and Bloomfield Hills area.
Three Chaldean players—Jackson Gano, Andy Goro, and Kreistian Hirmiz—are part of the team’s all-college-player roster. Founded in 2025, Hills Club Futbol competes in the Premier Division of the prestigious Michigan Premier Soccer League (MPSL).
“Starting a club team from the ground up at age 22 has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve taken on, but also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” said Tatar, who was born in Iraq.
“One of the best parts about doing this is doing it as a Chaldean. There’s a different level of pride that comes with representing your community while welcoming players, supporters and partners from all backgrounds and creating an inclusive environment that represents the diversity of metro Detroit.
“Soccer has the power to unite people, create lifelong friendships, and inspire future generations.”
Tatar said growing up in the Chaldean community, he witnessed the talent, passion, and love for soccer shared by so many and wanted to build something that reflected that spirit.
That vision is reflected in the club’s commitments:
• Representing the Chaldean community with pride.
• Creating opportunities for local soccer talent.
• Building a strong, professional club culture.
• Inspiring youth through leadership and visibility.
Gano, a University of Olivet junior from Shelby Township, is an occasional starter at left back for the Olivet men’s soccer team.
“I was looking for a summer team to play on, and this one felt welcoming—like family,” said Gano, a Utica High School graduate. “The training is intense, and there’s a great culture. Everyone is supportive, whether or not you’re having your best day on and off the field.”
Helping players achieve their soccer dreams is one of Tatar’s primary goals.
“The club was created with the belief that talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not come equally to everyone,” he said.
“Throughout my soccer journey, I saw countless players with the ability, work ethic, and passion to succeed, but many never received the opportunities they deserved.
“Some were overlooked because they came from smaller programs, lacked the right connections, or simply weren’t given a platform to showcase their talent when it mattered most. I founded the Hills to help change that.”
The club’s first game produced a memory Tatar will never forget. Hills defeated Imlay City FC 2-1 in a State Cup match on May 22, winning on a late goal.
“Seeing our players, staff, and supporters celebrate together after everything it took to get to that point was something I’ll never forget,” he said. “It truly felt like the beginning of something special.”
Another milestone came on June 21, when Hills upset Michigan Athletic FC 2-1 in an MPSL match. Michigan Athletic entered the game undefeated at 4-0 and sat atop the Premier Division standings.
Dressed in distinctive black, gold, and aqua marble uniforms and coached by Christian Sipley, Hills is playing its home matches this season at Oakland University. The club plans to move to Birmingham Brother Rice High School next season.
Future plans also include launching a women’s team.
When he’s not focused on soccer, Tatar is focused on his education. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business at Walsh College in Troy.
Tatar previously earned an associate degree in business administration from Macomb Community College after graduating from Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights.
For more information about Hills Club Futbol, visit the team’s Instagram page, @thehillscf.