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

South Florida Soccer news: MLS Miami, DC United, Strikers and more.

South Florida is a magnet for Soccer news and will continue to make headlines as Major League Soccer teams get ready for preseason training in our area.

D.C. United
The first team to pay a visit to our area will be D.C. United as they announced the club's preseason schedule this week. DC visits Fort Lauderdale, where they will train from February 1 until February 12. During United's stay in Florida. We hope one of the teams they play will be local NASL team Miami FC / Strikers.
We do know United will play two exhibitions in Florida, vs. the Canadian under-20 national team and an opponent to be determined.
DC has a few players on trial, one known in our area is forward Abe Thompson who played for Miami FC last season and helped the Blues gain a 7 game unbeaten streak at the end of the season (which still stands). Other notable players are goalkeepers Chase Harrison, Joe Willis (third-round draft pick from Denver); midfielder Brandon Barklage; defender Chris Korb (second-round pick from Akron); and forward Blake Brettschneider (supplemental pick from South Carolina).

MLS Miami
While the Cosmos keep making news in the big apple, the same could be said of Miami, as the buzz continues following MLS Commissioner Don Garber's visit to South Florida. Now, another possible investor has poped out as MLS's very own site reports Boca Juniors of Argentina have been in talks to bring a team to the league.
South Florida, after New York, seems to have the most possible investors lined up. Rumored investors are Miami FC owners Traffic, Brightstar owner Marcelo Claure, Galaxy player David Beckham and now Boca Juniors.

Do you want to help bring MLS to South Florida? Visit http://www.mlsmiamibid.com/ and sign up for season ticket dedications. It's just a promise that if Miami gets a team that you will buy season tickets. So far we have collected over 1,000.
You can also follow MLS Miami Bid on facebook and twitter
Email : info@mlsmiamibid.com

Strikers
The Strikers will have open tryouts this weekend January 22 and 23 at Ft Lauderdale Stadium. If you are an aspiring player and have not received a confirmation email from someone inside the Strikers front office or from PayPal, you DO NOT have a guaranteed spot at the tryout. Be sure to contact Ignacio Rodriguez at (305) 496-7780 or email Ignacio@miamifc.com

Miami Ultras
Are you a passionate Soccer fan who wants to be part of something special? Join the Miami Ultras, South Florida soccer supporters as they get ready to follow the Strikers in 2011! It's free, just visit www.miamisoccerfan.com and sign up for more information. You can also join their facebook page.

Strikers / Miami FC players on the move? NASL AGM info

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.
Fortunately, player movements have already begun. Word out of Lockhart Stadium (via sources) is that a number of players have been asked to return and a few others have not.

Christian Gomez was seen in Philadelphia a few weeks ago, generating buzz that the former DC United star is on his way to the Union. His play at Miami FC this season was solid, enough so that he received the Fans Player of the year award. Still, no official word out on his possible move but we have learned that Gomez has not closed the door at a possible return to South Florida.

As we all know, Paulo Araujo Jr. was with Real Salt Lake on Loan and had an impressive run scoring 2 goals in their last match versus Mexican side Cruz Azul. Looks like Paulo is destined for bigger things. JP Rodrigues was also on loan with DC United and also played coming on as a substitute. JP is now taking part in the Gold Cup elimination phase where he represents Guyana. He is also set to play Indoor soccer with MISL side Milwaukee Wave. There is no word yet on if any of these players will make the jump to MLS. Stay tuned.

Aaron Hohlbein has returned to the Kansas City Wizards. Chukwudi "Chucky" Chijindu and Gerson Mayen have returned to Chivas USA. No word yet on whether they will stay with their teams or will return to Miami FC/Strikers next season.

Our sources have indicated the following players will not be returning to the team:
Players out:
2 Euzébio Andrade Silva Neto D
19 Jair Cabas M/F
17 Sean Cameron M Playing Gold Cup elimination phase with Guyana.
4 Cristiano Dias D
23 Bryan Dominguez M
3 Zach Kirby D Recovering from season ending injury. Weighing options, has multiple offers.
15 Paulo Henrique Le Petit M Will play with the Omaha Vipers (MISL Indoor Soccer)
40 Caleb Patterson-Sewell GK
20 Bryan Perez M - Will play with The Missouri Comets (MISL Indoor Soccer)
11 Edward Santeliz F - Will play with the Chicago Riot (MISL Indoor Soccer)
16 Kyle Veris D

Players on the list to return:
8 Lennon Eduardo Carvalho Celestino M
Out of all the Brazilians on the team, next to Paulo Jr, Lennon seemed to be the only one that consistently performed.
6 Chris Gbandi D
Chris brought experience and leadership to the team.
24 Matt Glaeser GK
Matt was an important part of the unbeaten streak at the end of the season.
14 Jarryd Goldberg M
The "Hammer", a fan favorite, did not play as much as fans would have liked this season but he always played with heart.
7 Stefan Jerome F
This young forward is the future of the team and American soccer. Look for him to get more playing time.
27 Martyn Lancaster D
Another fan favorite, Martyn can show the youngsters a thing or two about work ethic. A solid player all around.
12 Mike Randolph D
Great at the flanks, Mike used his speed to cut through the opposing sides.
21 Brian Shriver M/F
Brian started to find his playing form at the end of the season. Looking forward to seeing him with the Strikers.

Status unknown:
? 13 Danilio Martins F
A great addition at the end of the season, contributed to the final winning run.
?1 Lance Parker GK
Didn't get the chance to prove himself on the field as much as fans would have wanted.
? 9 Abe Thompson F
Abe started off slow but at the end of the season was on fire! Fans would love to see him back, but we want the Abe that we saw in the end.

***NASL Annual General Meeting in Miami
No real information on the AGM that took place this weekend. We hope to have some information soon. We can confirm the following teams attended Puerto Rico Islanders, Carolina RailHawks, Montreal Impact, Miami FC Blues, FC Tampa Bay, Crystal Palace Baltimore, FC Edmonton, AC St. Louis, Atlanta, NSC Minnesota Stars and San Antonio. The amount of teams or groups attending is a positive sign of things to come.

Our sources out of Austin tells us a minority owner of the now defunct Aztex was at the meeting and is looking at bringing a new team back to Austin by 2012.
Pictures by Robert Scorca

Miami FC's JP Rodrigues on loan to DC United?

Hola amigos! Burrito here with latest gossips.
You gots to love facebook! Just get players to add you on as a friend and they will eventuallys spill the refried beans on somethings the team they play for might want to keep secrets.
This time Burrito's amigo JP Rodriguez does it and here is what the carnal had to says today:

Wow how things change... Going on loan to D.C United! Leave bright and early in the morning! The soccer gods are on my side!

Si, this is second player to go on loan for Miami FC. The first was Burrito's amigo Paulo Jr. who went to Real Salt Lake.
Well, if its true JP then Burrito wish you much successeses and don't for get the little people (or in Burrito's case the little chihuahua!)
If you want to Join the JP Rodrigues Fan page on facebook go HERE
Hasta los huevos amigos!
Burrito

Picture by Robert Scorca

Miami FC signs Christian Gómez! Blues unveil their new 2010 Jersey

Yes, its true! Miami FC sign Argentine Christian Gómez!

Gómez will be a true general on the pitch for the Blues, something they lacked in past seasons. The former DC United playmaker was not offered a new contract with MLS this season and their loss is our gain!

Christian began playing at 17 with Argentine club Nueva Chicago, a 2nd division team at the time. He played with the team from 1991 to 1996, appearing in 155 games and scoring 46 goals. In 1997 Gómez moved to Independiente and played for them from 1997 to 1999, scoring 12 goals. He went on to Argentinos Juniors, returning to Nueva Chicago, where he would help the team earn promotion to the first division, scoring 14 goals. He returned to Independiente in 2002 and went on to Arsenal de Sarandí, where he would play in 30 games, scoring 6 goals, between 2002 and 2004.

In 2004 he came to D.C. United where they reached the MLS Cup. In 2005 Gómez was named to the MLS Best XI. In 2006 Gómez won the MLS Honda MVP award. In the 2007 he scored 10 goals and 9 assists. Gomez was named an MLS All-Star in 2005, 2006 and 2007. In 2008 he went on to the Colorado Rapids but was traded back to D.C. United during the 2009 pre-season.

The Blues now have a player that can be the face of the team. Check out the original press release HERE
Vamos Miami! Let's go Blues!

Last night Miami FC unveiled their 2010 jersey at America's Backyard in Ft Lauderdale. Check it out folks! Picture by Victor Palkaninec. For more pictures check out MiamiFC2
or check out MiamiSoccerFan.com

DC United's old Captain Marco "El Diablo"Etcheverry to coach Aucas in Ecuador

Marco Antonio "El Diablo" Etcheverry is the new coach of Sociedad Deportiva Aucas. He has promised to take the popular Ecuadorian club into the First Division next year.

Aucas is a football club from the city of Quito in northern Ecuador. The team is named after the Aucas tribe, who are also called Huaorani.
Despite the team's popularity, Aucas has never won an Ecuadorian championship. Known players who have played for Aucas include Argentinian and nationalized Ecuadorian and Ex Dallas forward Ariel Graziani, forward Nicolas Asencio, Ecuador international defender Giovanny Espinoza, and the Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita.

Etcheverry was presented as the new coach of Aucas by club president, Ramiro Montenegro.
El Diablo, known here in the States for his years with DC United also played for Barcelona and Emelec of Ecuador, between 1997 and 1999.

On November 12 2008, at a press conference in Quito, Ecuador, the President of S.D Aucas, Dr. Ramiro Montenegro announced a 25 year deal with North American firm, Sports LED Media, The deal will see Sports LED Media managing all rights of the team including players, sponsorships, television, and ticketing. Aucas also owns it's own stadium with a 22,000 capacity

For more on Aucas:
http://www.aucas.com/
http://www.aucas.com.ec/