Sonoma
County's got Sol
Soccer team
will feature past and present standouts
Story by Bruce Meadow
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
January 22, 2004
When Hugo Perez
was just a little guy, he played "baby futbol" in his native El Salvador.
It was in this
setting that people wise in the ways of soccer watched the 6-year-old Perez
and saw something special.
"The idea was to
identify promising players," said Perez, now 40 and the first coach of the
Sonoma County Sol, a new elite team that starts play in April.
"I was fortunate
to get an opportunity to be seen early and in a way, that is what we're
doing here," said Perez, an attacking midfielder who starred professionally
and played on the U.S. National Team. Most recently he has been an assistant
coach at USF and a youth coach.
Perez will be
among those on hand today for the public launching of the Sol, an amateur
team intended to bridge the gap between top-level American professional
soccer and the college and community ranks.
The Sol will play
in the two-year-old Men's Premier Soccer League, which has two six-team
divisions. Sol are in the Pacific Division with Chico, Salinas, Sacramento,
Reno and San Diego. It will draw from college and junior college ranks,
elite youth teams, adult leagues and anyone who impresses Perez.
Team organizers
meet with the public at 7 tonight to explain the program and formally launch
fund-raising efforts. The meeting is at Sports City on Piner Road in Santa
Rosa.
This isn't exactly
"baby futbol." When tryouts are held in February, the roster will be open to
a few top youth players, although the rest will be older. So top high school
players have a shot.
The roster will
include 28 players, 16-18 on the travel squad.
"The idea is to
provide attractive soccer for the community and give these kids an
opportunity to be seen," said Perez.
The regular season
will consist of 18 games with home games at Sonoma State. The first home
match is April 17 vs. Sacramento.
Andrew Ziemer, one
of the four Ziemer brothers active in soccer in Sonoma County, is club
president.
"This is not a pro
team ... players will not be paid," said Ziemer, who has played soccer
internationally and at SSU. "This will not affect anybody's amateur
eligibility."
What it will do,
according to Perez, Ziemer and any coach you talk to, is intensify soccer
competition and act as an early season training aid.
"This is great
training," said Ziemer. "It's a chance for these players to compete with and
against outstanding talent they might not normally see on such a regular
basis."
Dave Shaffer, a
successful youth coach and coach of the Montgomery High boys, is excited
about the prospect of prep players competing at this level.
"I would love a
kid of mine to make this team," said Shaffer. "They can still play with
youth teams and it's a great opportunity to see how they can do against
outstanding competition."
"This is a great
thing for the county," said Analy boys coach Peter Meechan. "Competing with
players who are physically, technically and mentally more mature can only
help a young player."
Justin Selander, a
former Cardinal Newman High star who later played at UCLA, will be at
tryouts.
"I can't believe I
may be one of the 'old guys' on the team," said Selander, 27, who played for
the Chico Rooks last year. "I expect to make the team and be a consistent
starter," he said.
Selander said that
having "somebody like Hugo Perez to coach is awesome."
Another former
local star, Piner's Gabe Rood, will also try out and is expected to make the
team. A four-year midfielder at USF, Rood will also be youth coordinator for
the Sol.
"This was my dream
in high school, to have a team like this to play on," said Rood, 24, who
left his job as a stockbroker to concentrate on soccer.
"This can be a
jump-start for players," said Rood, assistant on Piner High's section
champion boys team last season. "I still think I have a chance to play at
the A League level, maybe even MLS."
Ziemer said the
Sol has developed a marketing strategy for potential sponsors. "We're
looking for long-term stability," he said. "We want to grow our base of fans
and sponsors each year.
"We're already in
negotiation with sponsors," Ziemer said.
The Sol will reach
out to the soccer-rich Latino community.
"There was talk of
forming a similar team for Latinos, and they asked me to coach it," said
Ziemer. "But this team will include everybody and we want it to appeal to
everybody."
If the Sol is
successful, Ziemer expects to start a women's team next season.
"I'm not nervous
about this succeeding," said Ziemer. "This is for the kids."
ALL ABOUT THE SOL
Head coach: Hugo
Perez
Assistant coach:
Sergio Lopez
League: Men's
Premier Soccer League, 12 teams. Pacific Division -- Sonoma County, Chico,
Sacramento, Reno, San Diego, Salinas; Southwest Division -- Idaho Falls,
Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Tucson, Phoenix, Las Vegas.
Season: Regular
season starts April 16-17, ends July 23-24; top eight teams make the
playoffs.
Home field: Sonoma
State
Roster: 28
players, 16-18 on travel squad
Tryouts: Open
tryout Feb. 8, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Sonoma Academy (Luther Burbank Center); Feb.
15, 4-6 p.m., Lucchesi Park, Petaluma; Feb. 18, 8-10 p.m., Lucchesi Park,
Petaluma. Fee for tryouts is $5.
Executive board:
Andrew Ziemer, president; Ramiro Briseno, vice president; Susana Gonzales,
secretary; Juan Arias, general manager; Salvador Sahagun, treasurer;
Christopher Ziemer, public relations; Juan Lojas, director of promotions.
Tickets: Adults
$7, kids 13 and older $5, 12 and under free. Season tickets $50 (10 games),
children and students $35. Membership $100 adults, $250 family, $25 youth;
memberships include T-shirt, season pass, inclusion as founding club
members.
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