Strikers defender and 2009 player of the year Zach Kirby has announced he will retire from soccer
today after multiple injuries which have kept him out of many games in his career. Known to the
fans as "Beowulf", Zach was one of the best players on the team and considered by many too good to
be playing 2nd division soccer.
The second-division NASL side Miami FC changed its name, changed its colors, and moved 30 miles up
the road to become the latest incarnation of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. There was a ceremony in
Fort Lauderdale to unveil the new identity of the team. The Strikers will play in Lockhart Stadium
in the northern end of the city, which was the home to soccer in South Florida during the Strikers'
heyday in the 70s and early 80s, and then restored to its former glory for the MLS' Miami Fusion in
the late 90s.
Before the Union won the rights to Chris Agorsor they announced that Eduardo Coudet had been
waived, thus ending weeks of speculation about his status with the club. The addition of Agorsor
combined with the subtraction of Coudet means that the club's roster remains at 25 players.
Today is a big day for NASL as they are poised to receive or get denied the approval of the
Division 2 status they seek.
The NASL is confident they have met the standards imposed by the USSF, so much so that member teams
continue to move forward signing players and making announcements. That being said the Strikers
have organized an event.
Lot's of soccer news this week!
We start with the Strikers re-signing 3 players yesterday. Here is what the team had to say:
The Strikers announced today that they have resigned forward/midfielder Martin Nuñez,
midfielder Lennon Celestino, and forward Brian Shriver for the 2011 season.
Calling all supporters groups! Calling all Miami Ultras, Southern Legion, South Florida Football
Fanaticos, Hooligans, Striker Likers, anyone who loves Soccer in South Florida!
It's time we all get together and meet each other. No matter if we don't agree and want to be
different entities.
After the decision made by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), that revoked their
preliminary sanctioning of the North American Soccer Leagues (NASL) for Division 2 soccer, the NASL
teams supporters groups united and sent a letter to USSF President Sunil Gulati.
Their message follows:
The New York Cosmos don't need Major League Soccer. But MLS needs the Cosmos.
The Cosmos flexed their muscles in recent weeks with the announcement of Eric Cantona and Cobi
Jones joining the organization. The subsequent media blitz across the big apple further showed how
the Cosmos brand still has allure even after 30 years since they last played in the old North
American Soccer League.
The Atlanta Silverbacks announced that Mexican Jose Manuel Abundis is their new coach. They also
announced that one time Miami Fusion star Alex Pineda Chacon will be the assistant coach. Check it
out:
The Atlanta Silverbacks announced today that JOSÉ MANUEL ABUNDIS will join the club as
its head coach.
Amidst our discussions over USL-PRO and the USSF soccer pyramid, the NASL released some good
news this week and announced its 2011 season schedule.
The NASL, now composed of eight clubs, will have each club play 28 games and face each opponent
four times. The season runs from April 9 through September 24, with the top six teams making the
playoffs.
Miami FC's (Soon to be Strikers) PR Manager Ignacio Rodriguez was on Daniel Feuerstein's
"Feuerstein's Fire Episode #40" yesterday along with FC Tampa fan and Ralph's Mob member Garrett
Tozier.
Following you will be able to listen to it but it starts off talking about the world Cup and the
awarding of the 2022 event in Qatar and the possible changing of the schedule to accommodate the
World Cup to the Winter.
Think you have what it takes to be a Professional Soccer player?
The Strikers announced that they will be hosting their sixth annual open tryouts (Their
first as the Strikers) for aspiring soccer players over a two-day span from January 22th to the
23rd at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, home of South Florida's only men's professional soccer
team.
You want to support soccer in South Florida? Start by getting season tickets for the new Strikers!
It's the best deal in town. As you can see from the picture, I got the first seat in section 120
which is the area designated to the Miami Ultras and all (noisy) supporters groups. So if you want
to be loud, bring your drums, horns and your voices and get ready to make some noise!
The new Strikers have big shoes to fill. Their prior name sakes were for the most part powerhouses,
with star players, great attendance and a record that boasts never missing the playoffs. Will this
new incarnation be up to par?
Traffic (owners of the new Strikers) have given us quite a few quality players in Romario, Zinho,
Christian Gomez, among others.
A long time ago in a Galaxy far, far away, there were two MLS teams South of Washington DC... But
that is no more.
Today South Florida soccer fans are still working to bring MLS back to our area by contacting
potential investors and sponsors.
In a perfect world the Strikers would be headed to MLS.
Miami FC was able to bring together some of South Florida's most notable soccer legends this past
Thursday, December 2, 2010 at Chima Brazilian Steakhouse in Ft Lauderdale.
It was an electric atmosphere! Hearing the stories, laughter and watching these legends
of the game reconnect was special.
Closed after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the Miami Marine Stadium could perhaps be the most
spectacular Soccer Stadium in the United States if investors are found interested in such a
project.
New life has already started to sprout as a group called Friends of Marine Stadium have dedicated
themselves to reviving this architectural wonder.
Yes folks, the Strikers are back in 2011! I already bought my season ticket and so should you!
Tommy Knapp brings us this special; good only till this Friday December 3rd! 14 regular season
games for only $99!!! What? That's just over 7 bucks per game...
Check it out:Tons of events are being planned out as we speak.
The news is in, the new North American Soccer League has been sanctioned (More on that HERE) or
should I say 'Provisionally' sanctioned, whatever that means. The USSF says the official
sanctioning will be in February. So unless there is some major drama, it's all good.
Ex Miami FC player Gale Agbossoumonde had his first cap for the U.S. National team today (on his
birthday) as the USA beat South Africa 1-0. Five players made their national team debuts with Juan
Agudelo and Mikkel Diskerud coming off the bench to create the game's only goal.
Join the City of Fort Lauderdale, Miami FC and the Commissioning Committee of the United States
Navy Destroyer USS JASON DUNHAM (DDG 109) at a Veterans Day Ceremony to honor the men and women who
have valiantly served in the United States Armed Forces. The ceremony will celebrate the
commissioning of the ship and pay special tribute to its namesake, Marine Corps Corporal Jason
Dunham, Medal of Honor Recipient, who died in 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom bravely
sacrificing his own life to save the lives of his fellow Marines.
Our rivals in Tampa have already announced a list of players returning for the 2011 season. Miami
FC has still not transformed into the Strikers, nor are there any signs that this has started.
Leading only to speculation and concern by those of us that follow the team. Perhaps they are
waiting for NASL to be sanctioned as a Division 2 league by the USSF.
The North American Soccer League will hold it's Annual General Meeting tomorrow in Miami's Mandarin
Oriental Hotel on Biscayne Bay. The event takes place on November 7 and 8 and will bring together
representatives from all existing NASL teams starting with the current Champions Puerto Rico
Islanders, Carolina RailHawks, Montreal Impact, Miami FC Blues, FC Tampa Bay, Crystal Palace
Baltimore and new expansion team FC Edmonton.
Hola amigos! Burrito get the biggest interview of his career as a soccer blogging dawg! Si, this is
an interview with the one and only Mister Fake David Beckham! Burrito ax him about Futbol, Mexican
food, underwear, and if it really hurt to be so pretty. But most important, if he really want to
bring MLS back to South Florida.
Hola Amigos! Burrito been in the dawg house (Liter-ally) lately. Pero no problem, He back now!
It's been almost a month since MLS Commisionado El Don Garber came to South Florida to talk to
Burrito's compadres the Miami Ultras. Burrito was mad cause they no let in dawgs to Hotel pero
Burrito was able to steal pictures from Uncle Ed's cell phone and si the picture not good qualities
pero thats life.
The Miami Ultras, South Florida soccer fans were mentioned on MLS the Daily today.
It's all due to the meeting they will have with MLS Commissioner Don Garber this coming Saturday.
We will have a full report.
Also this weekend is the MLS Combine which is taking place this weekend. South Florida Soccer fans
need to come out and support!
The U.S. National Team is ready to travel back to South Africa, this time to face Bafana Bafana
in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup. As of Thursday, Bob Bradley has announced the squad of 18 that
will be heading to Cape Town. Let's take a look:
The two goalkeepers who will be going with the squad are Brad Guzan of Aston Villa and 24 year
old Dominic Cervi, who currently is a reserve over at Scottish giants Celtic.
Earlier this week, the Houston Dynamo started their roster re-tooling with the addition of a central defender, Eric Brunner. Brunner was acquired from the Portland Timbers in exchange for allocation money. No further details of the trade were released.
Brunner is a five year veteran in MLS, getting his start in 2008 as the 16th pick in the SuperDraft to the New York Red Bulls.
