Desna Soccer Club finally returned to the Motherland.

Desna, a local Federal Way soccer club, began in Russia in 1999. The name “Desna” came from a river located in Central Russia. This year, Desna Soccer Club decided it was time to give back to the place it all began.

It developed a project that would involve an entire soccer team traveling to Russia. And, on July 3, Desna Soccer Club took 20 of its soccer players to Moscow, Russia for a two-day tournament hosted by North American Soccer where it finished first out of seven teams.

As a reward, Desna Soccer club got the opportunity to take the pitch alongside FC Saturn Ramenskoye, a prominent Russian Major League soccer club.

Along with opportunities to see the Moscow sights, Desna also had the opportunity to take part in local charity work visiting retirees and families in need. The two-week trip ended in Saint Petersburg, where the club got a couple days of down time, where they were able to experience the Russian culture

“The flight home was bittersweet for many of the participants,” Desna Soccer Club media director Valeriya Lisitsyna said. “They took home a lot of memories and friendships. The river of Desna is said to unite into the ocean, and the team went to Russia united and left stronger than before.” The trip to Russia was a success.”

Desna Soccer Club will hots its annual festival and soccer tournament from Aug. 18-20 at Saghalie Park.

For more information on Desna Soccer Club or the events, go to desnasoccer.org.