BOTHELL, WA — Sporting Seattle FC is ready to host their first-ever home match in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). They will do it on Sunday April 6 at 2 PM against the team that is destined to be their local rivals, Inter United FC of Tukwila.

Sporting owner Victor Perez has been working for years on his dream of joining the NPSL. “I have been hungry and looking for something greater,” Perez tells goalWA.net. His club, then called Rairdon.com, had been a big success on the pitch both locally and at regional tournaments. “I have been at it (trying to get into the NPSL) for three years.” The toughest part was finding enough interested owners to form a Northwest Division in the national league. The NPSL starts life in our region with four clubs: Sporting, Inter, Spartans of Vancouver WA, and Gorge FC from Hood River, Oregon.

Sporting hired former USL Sounder Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar as its first head coach. Then it was time to pick a name, design a crest and find a home venue. Perez loves where the club ended up: Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell. “We wanted something different from Starfire, since we have played there for the last five or six years,” says Perez. “Pop Keeney is the ideal place for us, so I never gave up trying to make that happen.”

Alcaraz-Cuellar says soccer fans with have a good time when they come out to Bothell. “(We will display) High intensity and quality soccer. Fans will have lots to cheer about. Our playing style will be what soccer fans enjoy-dynamic and creative in the attack, defensively very organized and disciplined. Our team consists of skilled and smart soccer players who know how to play simple and spontaneously creative when the opportunity presents itself.”

Sporting’s roster (see it here) is a blend of talented locals. Among the guys expected to entertain and excel are Cornelio Leremie, Victor Garcia and Connor Moe. Moe was a player first and then a coach at Montana State Billings. “Moe is one of the strongest defenders in all of Seattle,” owner Perez declares. “He’s tall, physical and his knowledge of the game is great.”

Leremie is a midfielder that Perez really likes. “He deserves to play at the highest level. He’s a very disciplined midfielder who is a lot of fun to watch play the game.”

Garcia is a 22-year-old striker from Mexico who is already scoring in the pre-season. “You’ll see lots of goals from this kid,” Perez promises.

The launch of Seattle Sporting was crucial in bringing the NPSL to the northwest. Now the club sets its sights on building an audience in Bothell, and competing in the league and beyond.

“We want to win our conference so we can play other teams from around the country (in the playoffs),” says Perez. “We want to find great sponsors and build academy teams for boys and girls.” Perez also has a long-term dream that Sporting can thrive to the point where he can consider applying to the NASL (North American Soccer League.)

www.facebook.com/seattlesportingfc

www.SportingSeattleFC.com

www.facebook.com/internationalunitedfc

www.InterUnitedFC.com

www.NPSL.info



goalWA.net Local Soccer News is sponsored by Pro Roofing Northwest, Kirkland, Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond, Woodinville, Federal Way, Everett, Snohomish, Issaquah, Renton, Kent, Bothell, Edmonds Washington roofing company.