2008 Men's Soccer
2008 Men's Soccer Coaches
Melvin Belong - Head Coach
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After spending five years as an assistant coach with the Bethel College Lady Wildcat soccer program, Coach Belong was named the new head coach for the men's soccer program at Bethel. In his five seasons with the Lady Wildcats, he helped the team qualify for the NAIA National Tournament for three consecutive years; in 2003, 2004, and 2005 with an "Elite Eight" finish in 2004. Over the five year period, the team compiled an overall record of 86-20-5.

Before joining the Lady Wildcat soccer program, Coach Belong worked as an assistant at Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky., helping direct their men's 2000 men's soccer team to the NAIA Region XII final.

As a native of Suriname, South America, Coach Belong was a member of the U-18 National Players Pool. Belong played collegiate soccer at Oklahoma Wesleyan University for two seasons before transferring to Bethel College for the remainder of his colligate career.He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bethel College and received a Master's degree in Education from Bethel in 2003. As a coach, Belong holds a NSCAA Advance National Diploma. He is involved with player development in McKenzie, Tenn. and the surrounding communities and conducts several soccer camps during the summer. In addition to English, Coach Belong is also fluent in Dutch.

Coach Belong resides in McKenzie, TN with his wife, Carol, and two sons, Melvin, Jr. and Melic.


Malang Jarju - Grad Assistant
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Malang Jarju is in his first season as a student assistant coach for both the Lady Wildcats and Wildcats at Bethel College. He is currently working on his B.S. degree in Physical Education while at Bethel. He is a native of Banjul, Gambia in West Africa, where he attended Nusrat High School. Jarju played for both the junior and senior national teams of Gambia. He was a member of the Bethel College Wildcats from 2003 to 2007. He owns the record for goals scored in a career at Bethel College at 56. He also holds the record for points in a career at 151 and assists in a career at 39. He was named All-TranSouth Conference first team, All-Region first team, and NAIA All-American Honorable Mention last season for the Wildcats.