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:

The Strikers Official Name Announcement this Thursday 2/17/11

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.

The Strikers Name Announcement event is coming this Thursday, February 17th at 5:00 PM. It's going to be held at Fort Lauderdale Beach at Las Olas and A1A.
See the attached flyer for more info: We urge soccer fans to attend this event and show their support for local soccer.
Let's go Strikers!

South Florida Soccer News: Strikers, WPS, MLS and more.

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.
“We are happy to have all three players back. Lennon brings a strong defensive midfield presence. Both Brian and Martin give us good attacking options. Both are versatile enough to play forward or attacking midfield. Again we are happy to have all three players as we continue to maintain our core group from last season," said Head Coach Daryl Shore.

Last week the team also announced the addition of one time Miami Fusion Captain Jim Rooney as assistant coach.

Rooney began his professional career in South Florida with the Miami Fusion in the MLS. The American midfielder made 67 appearances for the club from 1999 – 2001 scoring 12 goals in the process. Rooney also spent time with the New York MetroStars (now the New York Red Bulls) and the New England Revolution. Rooney served as team captain of the Fusion during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

Looks like the team is starting to take shape, can't wait for the season to start! Do you want to support soccer in South Florida?
Tickets for the Strikers 2011 are on Sale Now! Call today for pricing and availability. Founding Season Ticket Holder Specials Available! Call 954.829.9213 or e-mail info@miamifc.com

WPS
News about the Washington Freedom coming to South Florida to play a few games and the addition of Brazilian star Marta joining the team was all over rumorville. Unfortunately the later seems to not be the case. Marta signed with expansion team Western New York. The Freedom however will be coming to South Florida to a yet to be determined stadium.
The Freedom has 2 high profile American players in forward Abby Wambach and Goalkeeper Hope Solo who appears to have recently signed with the team. In addition the team has many international players such as Japanese midfielder Homare Sawa who has scored 72 goals in 152 caps with Japanese WNT. Australian Forward Lisa De Vanna who has scored 23 goals in 62 caps with Australian WNT and Norwegian forward Lene Mykjaland, just to name a few. We hope to have more information about the team and where they will play soon.

MLS
One time Miami FC forward Paulo Junior saw a few minutes with his new team Real Salt Lake in their practice game versus the Seattle Sounders. (Game ended 3-3). More info HERE (in Spanish)

Former MLS player and South Florida resident Mark Chung gets a mention on the latest edition of What Ever Happened To...

Charlie Davies has been practicing with DC United. He just might sign with the team. DC United is in town for pre season training. Full report by Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald.

DC United will play a scrimmage today against Florida International University at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, time will be at 4 pm. It will be open to the public!

For more South Florida soccer news you can follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/footballsoccerm

Don Garber meets Miami Ultras and more in pictures by Burrito

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. What you expect from a dog? So check out the picture Burrito bring you:

Here is a picture of Dan Courtemanche with Don Garber with Miami Ultras scarf. They look nice, si?
Notice how Don laugh... He like Wonder Woman in TV with chains! Muy Caliente!

El Don feel very patriotic with Uncle Sam in TV screen, Viva USA carajo! (Dan looks like he falling asleep!)

Burrito no know El Don was Star Trek Fan, here with Mister Sulu.

Here El Don try to say "Live long and prosper" to Mister Sock! Burrito mean Mister Spock!

And of course said the horse, here with Spock and el Capitan Kirk! (They also want MLS in Miami)

El Comisionado say he also like Star Wars, here with Obi Wan and Luke.

El Garber say he grow up watching Mister Rourke and Tatu on Fanasy Island!

El Don smiles and compares his teeths with King Kong!

Here you see Godzilla, King of all monsters!

Don with David Beckham... is Becks giving the middle finger? Ay Chihuahua!

Mister Don say he want to bring MLS to Miami cause Abe Vigoda says so!

Finally best picture evers! El Comissionado Don Garber with Burrito!

Burrito hope you all enjoy these pictures commemoratings the 1 month anniversarys since El Don came to South Florida.
Now Senor Garber, Give Burrito his MLS team back alreadys!
Hasta los Huevos amigos!
Su amigo el perro mas chido!
Burrito!

You can follow Burrito on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Burritofutbol

If you want to help bring Major League Soccer back to South Florida please support us by going to our web page and sign up.
http://www.mlsmiamibid.com/
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and twitter:
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You have suggestions? Want more information?
Email : info@mlsmiamibid.com

Calling all South Florida Soccer Fans! Meeting this Saturday in Hollywood.

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. We all have one thing in common, we all love the beautiful game.

We will be discussing many subjects from MLS to the NASL to the WPS and so on. Come by and help us organize, give us your thoughts. Help us grow!

Following is a note from the Miami Ultras, South Florida Soccer Supporters group President Pieter Brown.

We will be having our Miami Ultras pre-season planning meeting this Saturday, Feb 5th at 12pm @ Hollywood Ale House.
We will be talking about this upcoming Strikers season, the 24 Hour Soccer-a-Thon, plus any other Ultras upcoming events.
Such as a proposed road trip to Atlanta on April 23 to watch Strikers vs. Silverbacks.
Help make this supporters group the best there is.

Hollywood Ale House is located at:
3215 Oakwood Blvd.
Hollywood, FL 33020
--
Thanks and VAAAAAAMOS MIAMI!
Pieter Brown
Miami Ultras President
www.miamisoccerfan.com
www.mlsmiamibid.com

If you want more information you can email me at:
footballsoccerm@gmail.com

We hope to see you there!

NASL Supporters Groups Unite and send a letter to the USSF.

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:

February 1, 2011

President Sunil Gulati
U.S. Soccer Federation
1801 S. Prairie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616

Dear President Gulati,

As supporters of North American Soccer League (NASL) clubs, we would like to voice our concern regarding the recent decision by your Federation to rescind the provisional Division 2 status of the NASL. We are personally appalled by the decision of the Federation to deny second division sanctioning to the NASL. Many fans were positively encouraged by the interest the USSF paid to second division soccer this season, and were pleased by the new standards put in place to ensure stability and continuity at the second division level. We thank the USSF for the interest and leadership you have provided during 2010 to stabilize and maintain second division.

Should our community be deprived of high level, but affordable entertainment in the form of NASL soccer for 2011, fans will be starved of access to the beautiful game. Without professional soccer in our community, many fans may simply move on to other sports and an opportunity to continue the upward trajectory of interest in soccer here at home will be lost.

For our youth soccer community, it is imperative that the NASL play at the second division level this season. The USSF is striving to improve soccer in the United States and improve our national team. But if we deny young fans in five key American soccer markets local heroes to emulate and a club to support, we potentially lose a generation of kids who can help make the United States the best we can be in World Soccer. The partner federations and communities in Canada and Puerto Rico would also be severely affected.

The loss of our league will also have an inevitable ripple effect that will hurt not only the US National Team program and supporter’s base, but also development of soccer throughout the CONCACAF region. The NASL serves as a competitive league where many nations throughout the region have players developing their talent. Having better players throughout our region will no doubt be beneficial to the development of US Soccer, providing stronger competition to challenge and grow the US Nation Team.

When our teams played in USL, we were never able to keep track of our opponents or the composition of the league. The NASL has been forthright and aggressive in its local marketing while pledging a needed stability at the second division level. The NASL’s ability to attract the type of investors the USSF wants involved in the sport based on the new second division standards also has local fans excited about the future of both our teams and the league we compete in. We feel ownership and a connection to our league, the NASL that we never felt for USL.

The teams of the NASL have already invested much time and resources to establish this second division league. This is the foundation for creating a stable second division in this country, as opposed to a league that benefits from the constant expansion and contraction of teams. We believe that it is time for the USSF to work for what is best for the future and stability of U.S. Soccer. The mission should be to further the game's roots in our communities by supporting soccer at all levels.

We hope you recognize the vital role second division soccer plays across North American and Puerto Rico. We ask that you reverse this shortsighted and damaging decision. Displacing fans and hurting the development of soccer in the United States should not be what the USSF is all about. Your role as a governing body is to promote the sport and grow the game. Working with the NASL to establish a long needed, stable second division is the type of positive development this sport sorely needs.

Sincerely,

Pieter Brown
President, Miami Ultras
Miami FC / Strikers Supporters

Steve Holler
President, Ralph’s Mob
FC Tampa Bay Supporters

Tim Hayes
On behalf of The Dark Clouds
NSC Minnesota Supporters

Kristian Vázquez-Díaz
President, Islanders Foreign Legion
Puerto Rico Islanders Supporters

Daniel Stroud
Member, Jailhawks Member
Carolina Railhawks Supporters

Chris Martz
Westside 109
Atlanta Silverbacks Supporters

Steven Beauregard
Member, Ultras Montréal
Montréal Impact Supporters

What are your thoughts concerning the USSF decision? Should NASL be sanctioned as Div 2?

Strikers re-sign Defenders Martyn Lancaster and Aaron Hohlbein

Today the Strikers announced the re-signing of two key defenders, It's a good sign of things to come for Striker Likers!
Here is a little about them:

English defender Martyn Lancaster. Lancaster was born November 10, 1980 in Wigan, England.

He began his career playing for Chester City in the English Football League and Football Conference between 1998 and 2003. Martyn continued his career playing for Leigh RMI, Northwich Victoria and Southport, Lancaster moved to the United States in 2006 to join Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Second Division. He later signed for the Atlanta Silverbacks in 2007 and then joined Scottish side Queen of the South. In 2009 he scored two goals for Queens, but left at the end of the season to signed for Swedish side Ljungskile. Martyn returned to the states to play with Miami FC of the USSF Division 2 Professional League.

With Miami FC, Lancaster became a fan favorite on and off the pitch. Martyn is one of those few players that always came by the Miami Ultras tailgates to say hi to the fans, be it before or after the games. A couple of the Ultras even wrote a piece called "Hanging out with Martyn Lancaster" over at the Ultras site. He is a class act and a true professional. We welcome the return of Martyn as a sign of things to come by the Strikers front office. Well done!
Following is a video of Martyn during his time at Atlanta:

The Strikers have signed Defender Aaron Hohlbein born August 16, 1985 in Middleton, Wisconsin.

Hohlbein played college soccer at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 2003 to 2006. Over four years he started in all 77 of his appearances and managed 6 goals and 7 assists. During his college years he also played with the Michigan Bucks of the United Soccer Leagues and the Princeton 56ers in the National Premier Soccer League.

He was drafted in the first round, 3rd overall, by the Kansas City Wizards in 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. On August 5, 2010 he was loaned to Miami FC for the remainder of the USSF D2 Pro League.

Hohlbein was chosen by the Columbus Crew with the second selection of stage 1 of the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft on December 08, 2010 but did not sign.
Following are video highlights of Aaron's interview with Kartik Krishnayer:


For more information go to www.miamifc.com