Reunion de apoderados deja saldo muy positivo

Foto de la presentación del resumen de la Liga

Liga Nacional de Futbol de PR Comunicado de Prensa

El pasado sábado 13 de noviembre en las excelentes facilidades de Logan's Irish Pub en Río Piedras, se llevó a cabo un almuerzo con los apoderados de los clubes de la Liga Nacional de Fútbol.

En la misma se discutieron aspectos relacionados al torneo, Play off, entre otras cosas.

El director del torneo el Sr. Oscar Rosa brindo un detallado informe de lo acontecido en la Liga e indico sentirse muy contento de como se dio la liga y exorto a los clubes a continuar mejorando para el próximo torneo.

Joe Serralta, presidente de la Fedración Puertorriqueña de Fútbol explico donde nace la idea de la Liga Nacional y de la oportunidad que ha tenido Puerto Rico sobre otros paises al ser parte de este programa.

También hizo un breve pero completo resumen del desarrollo de las selecciones de Puerto Rico y la importante mejora que ambas selecciones han hecho desde que comenzó como presidente en la Federación.

Uno de los puntos más importantes que el Sr. Serralta explicó, fue el de los Juveniles Sub 17 que van a entrar en acción el próximo año antes de cada partido de la Liga Nacional de Fútbol.

Para este mes de diciembre se llevará a cabo la copa Navidad para las categorias juveniles como antesala al proximo torneo de la Liga, que promete ser Histórico.

Ya tenemos 5 clasificados.

El Grupo A-Este ya tiene a sus 3 pilares clasificados que son Leones de Maunabo (actual puntero), Bayamon FC y Gallitos UPR.

Queda por difinir en la última fecha quien sera el lider y pasara directamente a las semifinales. Si Leones pierde por más de 3 goles y Bayamón gana, Bayamón pasaria como primero, pero si Maunabo gana, empata o la diferencia entre ambos juegos no le da una ventaja de 3 goles a Bayamón, entonces Maunabo, quien aseguro su pase hace 3 fechas, entonces pasaria como puntero de grupo.

El grupo B-Oeste esta aún más dificil.

Entre Quintana, actual puntero y Yaguez ocurre lo mismo que en el grupo A, aunque con una diferencia de 10 goles a favor de Quintana.

Pero, lo que esta candente es el último pase de ese grupo entre dos de los equipos más competitivos del norte, de echo cuando Huracan de Manati y Fenix de Vega Baja juegan la canchas se llenan, ya que estos equipos son el Clasico del Norte.

Pues ahora estan luchando por lograr la clasificación de la última plaza disponible para los Play off. Manati le lleva 3 puntos a Vega Baja, pero necesita ganar o empatar para asegurar su boleto en los Play Off. Vega Baja esta obligado a ganar y que Manati pierda, porque por diferencia de goles entonces entraria en los elegidos para definir la Liga Nacional.

Vega Baja juega sábado contra el ya eliminado equipo de los Pumas de Guayanilla y Manti se enfrenta al poderoso equipo de Quintana.

Sera un fin de semana espectacular, asique pendiente a la pagina que estaremos actualizando resultados y comentarios en vivo.

USL statement regarding Tampa, Baltimore

USL News Release

Friday, November 20, 2009

TAMPA – In response to the Team Owner’s Association (TOA) announcement that the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore will be joining a prospective new professional soccer league, United Soccer Leagues (USL) has issued the following statement:

“Both the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore have contractual commitments to USL to play in the 2010 USL First Division (USL-1) season. USL will pursue all actions to protect its interests and those of the USL-1 teams from any breach of contract caused by Tampa and Baltimore.”

“USL further believes TOA is tortuously interfering with USL-1 team owners that are contractually obligated to participate in the 2010 season. TOA has made several misleading statements in a variety of press releases to taint the reputation of USL and its long history of developing the sport of soccer in the United States and Canada. USL will vigorously defend its legal interests against the TOA’s tortuous interference in contractual relationships with its team owners.”

Tampa, Baltimore to join new pro league

November 20, 2009

Vancouver Whitecaps Press Release

The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore have joined the new professional soccer league announced last week, beginning play in the United States and Canada in April 2010.

The addition of Tampa Bay and Baltimore brings the new league to nine teams, as they join the owners of the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, St. Louis Soccer United and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

A name for the new league will be announced next week. The new league is also active in its search for a full-time commissioner and will introduce an extensive marketing campaign in the coming months.

"Tampa and Baltimore joining our efforts is a testament to our game plan, our current ownership strength and our promise for the future. The ownership groups of both teams share our vision for soccer in North America and we are thrilled to welcome them to our new league," said Joey Saputo, chairman of the board of governors and president of the Montreal Impact.

"As we start a new team and build a strong franchise in Tampa, it’s important that our group of team owners learn from past mistakes in North American soccer and focus on building a strong league, as well," said Andrew Nestor, owner and president of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. "With this new team-owned and controlled league which consists of some of the most established teams in North American soccer, we are excited about our team and collective future."

"Crystal Palace Baltimore is pleased and honoured to join and be a part of what we see as the future of North American soccer. We are particularly excited about the structure of a team-controlled and owned league, especially when you look at the quality of owners that we have in this league and the impressive history of the clubs," said Pete Medd, co-owner of Crystal Palace Baltimore. "We are proud to be one of the founding members and believe it’s the right league, at the right time for us and for soccer in North America."

TEAM AND OWNERSHIP BACKGROUND:

Tampa Bay Rowdies
The Tampa Bay Rowdies are owned by TBR Holdings, founded by Andrew Nestor and Hinds Howard. Nestor and Howard are the managing partners of Citrus Ventures, a venture firm and advisory merchant bank with operations in Boston, Houston and Tampa. Citrus Venture’s main portfolio companies are TBR Holdings and Curbstone Group, a unique money management firm. Tampa Bay’s ownership group also includes David Laxer, owner of the legendary Bern’s Steak House, voted number one steak house in the US in 2009 by Rachael Ray Magazine.

Rounding out Tampa’s ownership group is Don Kendall, founder of Houston-based hedge fund Kenmont Investments, and Jeff MacDonald, former professional soccer player and managing director at First Reserve Corporation, a multi-billion dollar private equity firm. The Tampa Bay Rowdies were Tampa’s first professional sports franchise originally founded in 1975 in the North American Soccer League and is recognized internationally as a significant part of soccer’s birth in the US.

Crystal Palace Baltimore
Crystal Palace FC USA was founded in 2006 with the help and guidance of the world-renowned Crystal Palace Football Club in the UK, one of the founding members of the Premier League, the richest sporting league in the world. Crystal Palace USA is the first professional soccer team in the USA with a direct link to a professional English football (soccer) team. Crystal Palace Football Club (UK) is a professional soccer club founded in 1905 in south London. Crystal Palace UK chairman, Simon Jordan, saw an opportunity not only to develop the footprint of Crystal Palace worldwide, but more specifically to tap into the under-appreciated pool of American soccer talent. Several senior and youth players from Crystal Palace USA have spent time training in London with the English team.

Founded in 2007, the club's senior professional team competed under the name Crystal Palace Baltimore in the 10-team Second Division of the United Soccer Leagues. CPFC made the semifinals in just their second year of existence in 2008. It was also 2008 when CPFC reached the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup in just their second year, putting them in the top eight of all soccer teams in America for 2008. Along the way, CPFC USA defeated Major League Soccer’s (MLS) New York Red Bulls (who later went on to finish in second place in MLS) 2-0 and tied MLS champion and league leading New England Revolution 1-1, only to lose a heartbreaking penalty shootout to just miss out on the semifinals.

Crystal Palace USA is owned by:

Randall Medd
Chairman of Crystal Palace USA. Owner of Rafeen Farm Stables, thoroughbred racehorse farm in Maryland. Currently a real estate investor and successful options trader. Randall resides in Delray Beach, Florida.

Pete Medd
Former professional soccer player, Pete has his degree in economics and has been an entrepreneur in real estate, the mortgage industry, and internet marketing. Pete has coached at the senior college, junior college, youth and professional levels for 12 years. Pete was the youngest member of the USL Executive Committee.

Jim Cherneski
Professional soccer player for 10+ years, Jim is the founder of Crystal Palace FC USA. Jim is the head scout for North America for Crystal Palace UK as well as manages the first team in America while overseeing all the youth development for the American side.

Randall, Pete and Jim have teamed up on other soccer tour ventures in the past including bringing Sporting Lisbon and Crystal Palace FC to America.

Return To Whitecaps News

2009 USL SoccerFest kicks off today

Guide to the annual event in Tampa, FL

USL News Release

Thursday, November 19, 2009

USL SoccerFest Promo

TAMPA, FL -- The 2009 USL SoccerFest featuring the United Soccer Leagues’ Annual General Meeting and Super Y-League North American Finals kicks off today. The gathering of the organization’s professional and amateur league executives and coaches for league meetings will conclude November 22 while the competition for 10 youth championships continues through Tuesday, November 24.

Super Y-League clubs have already begun arriving in Tampa with Abbotsford paying a visit to the Ed Radice Sports complex Wednesday in their annual early arrival from the west coast. Their team managers will join over 100 others in downtown Tampa Thursday evening for the SYL Finals check-in and the USL SoccerFest Kickoff Social.

Additional spotlight functions include the USL Hall of Fame & Awards Dinner Friday evening and the Showcase Match festivities at the Ed Radice Complex Saturday evening. Local teams will also be participating in the USL Five-a-Side Frenzy Saturday and Sunday at Ed Radice.

SYL Finals tournament action includes group play Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Semifinals and consolation fixtures Monday. The 10 champions will be determined Tuesday morning at Ed Radice.

Guide to the USL SoccerFest...

USL AGM [+] RTP to feature USL [+] AGM is international destination [+]

USL Hall of Fame: 10 + Clubs [+] Cowlishaw [+] Conway [+] Schweitzer [+]

Super Y-League North American Finals: Standings/Scores [+] Top Boys Matches [+] Top Girls Matches [+]

Super Y-League North American Finals Previews:

U13B U14B U15B U16B U17B

U13G U14G U15G U16G U17G

The Return of the North American Soccer League?

Miami FC Registered Two NASL Trademark Claims on 11.16.2009
USLNews.com


According to a search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office records, North American Soccer League, LCC in Delaware filed two trademark claims on November 16th, 2009. They claims were marked c/o Miami FC 501 Brickell Key Drive, Suite 407 Miami FLORIDA 33131

As we know Miami FC is part of the TOA "Breakaway" second division that today was joined by the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore. This is not evidence of anything official but the timing is certainly interesting.

Below are screen shots of the trademark claims that allow North American Soccer League, LLC and details on what the trademarks allow:

Claim #1: G & S: Organizing sporting events, namely, soccer matches, competitions, and exhibitions; programming, production, and distribution of radio and television programs of soccer matches, competitions, and exhibitions; programming, production and distribution of CDs, DVDs, and films of soccer matches, competitions, and exhibitions; programming, production and distribution of television, radio and internet programs of soccer matches, competitions, and exhibitions via the Internet; providing a web site featuring information about soccer and soccer matches, competitions, and exhibitions; publication of printed matter; soccer fan club services; conducting soccer training camps and clinics; ticket reservation and booking services for soccer matches, competitions, and exhibitions.

Click to Enlarge Image

Claim #2 G & S: Clothing, namely, hats, headwear, caps, shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, jackets, shorts, bottoms, pants, warm up suits, wristbands, gloves, socks, footwear.

Click to Enlarge Image

UPDATE: We've found four additional trademark claims by Miami FC for the name "NASL" They are here, here, here and here.

UPDATE #2: Here is the NASL Trademark Application submitted by North American Soccer League, LLC it includes the old NASL logo...

UPDATE #3: North American Soccer League, LLC was incorporated in the state of Delaware on September 22, 2009

Llegan los Cocodrilos de la UMET por primera vez a las semifinales

Jueves 19 de noviembre de 2009
Por Edwin R. Jusino/ futbolboricua.net

Mayagüez- Los Cocodrilos de la Universidad Metropolitana, el pasado miércoles 18 de Noviembre, pusieron un fin a la temporada de los Tarzanes del Colegio de Mayagüez al derrotarlos en sus casa 2-1 y en el global 3-1 luego de que la UMET se agenciara una victoria 1-0 en el primer partido de la serie.

Serian los Colegiales, quienes anotarían primero, ya que al minuto 18 de la primera mitad el joven Ramírez anotaría la primera y única diana de los mayagüezanos.

Al 42 el colombiano Jon Ivarguen pondría nuevamente a la UMET a la cabeza de la serie. Luego al minuto 20 de la segunda mitad, Ivarguen sentenciaría la serie al anotar nuevamente. Los colegiales comenzaron a sentir la presión, y la desesperación empezó a jugar con sus mentes. Frustrados pero sin rendirse tuvieron varias oportunidades que fallaron en capitalizar. Igualmente la UMET tuvo sus oportunidades pero jugaban más tranquilos y relajados.

Al minuto 28 de la segunda mitad el jugador de la UMET Carlos Pérez fue expulsado por doble amarilla al cometer una falta que ocasiono una bronca en la cancha.

Con esta victoria, la UMET llega a las semifinales por primera vez en su historia, dejando al subcampeón del 2008 en la carretera.

USL Statement regarding USL-1

USL News Release

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues issued the following statement regarding the USL First Division in response to the announcement of an application before the United States Soccer Federation for a new Division II Men’s Outdoor Professional League submitted, in part, by former USL-1 franchises.

Statement:

United Soccer Leagues, founded in 1986, continues to be the only organization with Division II and III Men’s Outdoor Professional Leagues sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, providing over 20 years of professional league management experience to its member clubs at all levels of the game.

The new ownership of NuRock Soccer Holdings has made a significant investment in United Soccer Leagues through its acquisition of the business and the retaining of strategic business partners such as Nike, Inc. and Premier Partnerships, which is led by the highly-respected duo of Alan Rothenberg and Randy Bernstein.

While USL does not oppose the right of an entity to affiliate with USSF per the governing organization’s bylaws, it does oppose the current application before the Federation on the grounds that there is misrepresentation, interference with USL business operations and substantial debt amongst the membership of the parties applying for certification.

Although USL is currently working with USL-1 member teams on reforming the structure of league management, USL’s ownership structure and franchise system has been, and will continue to be, in compliance with all USSF and FIFA statutes since its membership as a professional league with the USSF began in 1993.

There is no FIFA regulation stipulating that member leagues be owned by their respective clubs, and in many cases around the world, leagues consist of individual clubs that play in league competitions managed by the respective Federation such as the English leagues (excluding the Premiership), Bundesliga (Germany), La Liga (Spain) and Mexican Primera Division. While some management systems are similar, the models of ownership structure vary greatly throughout FIFA based on each country’s business regulations as well as respective regional confederation and federation guidelines and principles. While there are universal principles woven throughout FIFA, league ownership models are among concepts such as promotion/relegation and the prohibition of two equal-tiered leagues that are not mandated and not necessarily applicable for every federation, such as is the case in the United States. Every league in every federation has its own nuances that make it unique.

The ownership structure of United Soccer Leagues has played a crucial role in maintaining a stable foundation while advancing the sport over decades of growth through both prosperous and difficult financial times. This structure has allowed USL to support and maintain the operation of member clubs such as Montreal and Vancouver during times when the then ownership of the clubs were unable to continue operating, which would have had detrimental affects on both the competition and on all respective markets across the league. With continued financial difficulties being experienced by clubs all around the world as well franchises and leagues in various United States sports entities, USL believes its model, with upcoming reforms to better serve its teams, is an important aspect to a successful future in the USL First Division.