Sahara Gunners
Football Club
Buffalo's pride and a beacon of ambition — uniting the city through the beautiful game since 2001.
Sahara Gunners FC is Buffalo's premier amateur soccer club with a vision to bring professional soccer to the Queen City. Founded in 2001, the team has grown from a small local club into a competitive squad in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), attracting talented players from universities and local leagues across Western New York.
Our founder and captain, Kovan Dalil, immigrated to Buffalo from the Kurdistan region of Iraq, bringing with him a lifelong passion for soccer. After years of playing in youth academies abroad and growing successful local businesses, Kovan turned his focus to building a high-level soccer team where players from Buffalo and surrounding areas can develop their skills and compete at the national level.
Sahara Gunners FC is proud to have the support of our local community and friends in professional sports. Players from the Buffalo Bills have helped sponsor and promote the team, contributing to field rentals, uniforms, and other essential needs. Our mission is more than just soccer — it's about creating opportunities, fostering talent, and uniting Buffalo's diverse community through the beautiful game.
From our early days in the UPSL to competing in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Sahara Gunners FC continues to grow, driven by ambition, teamwork, and the dream of putting Buffalo on the American soccer map.
Join us as we chase excellence, support local talent,
and bring professional soccer to Buffalo.