South Florida Soccer News: Marine Stadium, NASL, Strikers, MLS and more.

Happy Valentines Day! This week's South Florida Soccer news starts with the Strikers Name Announcement event which is this coming Thursday, February 17th at 5:00 PM. It's going to be on Fort Lauderdale Beach at Las Olas and A1A. Be sure to wear Strikers colors, Ultras scarves and be ready to cheer! Let's go Strikers!

See the attached flyer for more info. NASL

In case you didn't hear about it the USSF has granted provisional division 2 status to the NASL for 2011. After years and years of letting USL run division 2 at their whim, now, USSF decides they will impose tough standards. Meanwhile, USL still claims they are division 2 without meeting the standards... You want to hear a sad display of hate? Listen to this podcast from a Rhino's/USL fan boy. Funny, because most people I know in Rochester hate the idea that they will be playing Div 3 this year. I don't think this guy speaks for the the average Joe fan. My take is that we can't take sides in this issue, we need MLS, USL and NASL to work together for the sake of U.S. Soccer.

The USSF will have a teleconference today at 1 pm. We will keep you updated.



MLS

Alex Pineda Chacon was mentioned at the MLS site in their section "What Ever Happened To:". As most of you in South Florida may remember Pineda Chacon had a wonderful year in 2001 with the Fusion where he guided the team to the best record in the league winning the Supporters Shield while registering 19 goals and 9 assists for the team (leading the league in goals and points)and was recognized with the MLS MVP Award.

Today Alex is an assistant coach with NASL side Atlanta Silverbacks.

“Ray Hudson told me, ‘Alex, you wait on the bench, see what the level is and then maybe you can jump in [later in the game],” he remembered.

With 17 minutes left and the Fusion down 1-0, Hudson called him over.

“My heart was beating so hard, you know?” he said. “But I asked, ‘Any specific information?’ Hudson just said, ‘Alex: Enjoy it. Jump in and enjoy.’”

Boy did he ever.

Read more HERE

Following is a video of his Hat Trick against DC United in 2001:

Miami Marine Stadium

NBC Miami has a little piece about the Miami Marine Stadium and a contest they have for the design of a floating stage. They mention Football in Miami and Beyond and a piece that was made a few months back concerning an idea to put a floating soccer field at the site for a possible Major League Soccer team in Miami. You can also see the picture designed by Miami Ultras member Derek Reese. We encourage people to go ahead and submit their stage designs to this noble cause and why not? Submit a stadium design too! For more information about the stadium visit and support the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium



The Art of Diving

Yes, Diving has become part of the beautiful game. It seems some players should be acting in Hollywood as their performances are so believable that sometimes you need to go back and put it in slow motion to see that there really was no contact. I feel bad for the referees that make the calls. Here is a site that specializes in "The Dive" called the Diving Board.

Check out this terrible dive:

NASL News: Abundis and Pineda Chacon to coach Atlanta. Shore signs with Strikers

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. Abundis, a first-time coach, will take the helm of the Silverbacks immediately.

Abundis, 37, is best known for the 17 years he spent competing at the top levels of international soccer. As part of the Mexican national team from 1996 to 2001, he appeared in 47 games and scored 10 goals, representing Mexico in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup.

As early as 1992, Abundis made a name for himself as the top player for Toluca, a club in Mexico's top soccer division. He totaled 270 appearances and notched 80 goals there, and he also played for Mexican clubs Atlante, Pachuca, CF Monterrey, and Querétaro. In 2006, he played a season for Major League Soccer's New England Revolution. Since arriving in Georgia, Abundis has led youth soccer clinics and become a respected part of the Atlanta community.

"José is a very talented player, but he has also demonstrated that he has the energy, the passion, and the leadership to succeed in coaching," said Director of Soccer RODRIGO RIOS. "We're honored to have him here, and we know Atlanta will welcome him enthusiastically."

Joining Abundis on the coaching staff will be Assistant Coach Alex Pineda Chacon who returns to the Atlanta Silverbacks after previous stints with the organization, both as a player and an assistant coach. Chacón, who played for over 10 years on the Honduran national team, was named Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player in 2001.

Read more HERE
following is a video of Jose Manuel Abundis in action:

Here are goals by Alex Pineda Chacon with the Miami Fusion:


Shore signs with the Strikers
The Strikers announced this week the re-signing of coach Daryl Shore. Shore came in last season and turned the team around. I'm sure the fans will be happy to see coach Shore back.
Here is what the Strikers had to say:

The Strikers have announced today that they have agreed to a contract extension with head coach, Daryl Shore. As per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“I am grateful that Traffic Sports has given me the opportunity to return and lead our team as we embark on a new era. I understand what the Strikers mean to South Florida soccer and I can promise that we will be one of the hardest working clubs in the NASL, with the goal of making the playoffs and bringing a winning mentality back to this team. We want to build on the success we enjoyed late last season by returning a good core group of players from last year’s team and bringing in new players that are going to help us achieve our goals. The Strikers legacy is powerful in South Florida, and we are ready and humbled to follow in the footsteps of some of the game's greats," said Head Coach Daryl Shore.

Shore, 41, is a New York native who graduated from South Plantation High School, in Plantation, Florida. He played in college as a goalkeeper for Birmingham-Southern College and went on to play professionally for the Birmingham Grasshoppers and the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers. After managing professional organizations all over the country such as the New Orleans Storm and the Lehigh Valley Steam, he began a ten-year tenure for the Chicago Fire as an assistant coach. Shore served as an assistant to four head coaches with Chicago, including Bob Bradley, Juan Carlos Osorio and former Striker Dennis Hamlett . He also played a significant role in the growth of the Fire’s player development program. He was hired last July as the head coach for the Blues.

Read more at www.miamifc.com