Kalamazoo Kingdom Soccer, Inc.
May 25, 2006
For immediate release:
KINGDOM DEFENDER NAMED TO PDL TEAM OF THE WEEK
The 2-nil win the Kingdom netted in its match against Chicago Fire Premier Sunday earned Premier Development League Team of the Week honors for Kingdom defender Mbwana Johnson.
Described by Head Coach Stu Riddle as, “an aggressive central defender,” Johnson led the team’s defense to give
Chicago a rare at-home defeat Sunday and the Kingdom a 2-1 at-home victory May 19 over the Cleveland Internationals.
Riddle said an outstanding team effort and stellar performances by Johnson, Kingdom striker Pablo Moreira, and goalkeeper Jeff Engelbrecht gave the team the two-win weekend. Moreira scored both goals Friday and picked up his third for the season Sunday. Engelbrecht was in goal for both wins and earned his first shutout in Sunday’s match.
Heading into Friday’s match against the Fort Wayne Fever (0-2-0) at
Fort Wayne , Riddle said he expects the Kingdom’s (2-1-0) strong defensive and offensive showing will improve as the team continues to meld. Several key players, including Engelbrecht, Moreira, and Johnson, just arrived in town last week.
“After winning twice last weekend the challenge for us now is to continue to move forward, and that starts with tomorrow’s very important match at
Fort Wayne ,” Riddle said. “Despite some indifferent results,
Fort Wayne will provide very tough opposition for us. We will have to be at our best if we can take anything from the match. We have our whole squad in town now, and competition for places in the starting line up is fierce, which will only benefit us as a team”
The Kingdom competes in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League. For more information about USL, visit the league’s website at: www.uslsoccer.com
The Kingdom’s next home game is June 9 versus the West Michigan Edge. Most Kingdom home games are played at Mayors'
Riverfront
Park located on Business Loop I-94 and
Mills Street
, across from Red Arrow Golf Course. Tickets are $3 pre-game and are available at
Kingdom
Indoor
Center in
Portage and Gazelle Sports Downtown Kalamazoo. Tickets are $5 at the gate.
, across from Red Arrow Golf Course.
For more information about Kingdom Soccer call 269-226-2000
Mbwana Johnson
|
PDL Team of the Week—May 24, 2006—www.uslsoccer.com
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Pos
|
Name
|
Team
|
Highlights
|
|
|
G
|
Sergio Saccoccio
|
San Diego
|
Two PK saves, shutout in two road wins
|
|
|
D
|
Paul Pessina
|
Atlanta
|
Two goals in win and draw
|
|
|
D
|
Mbwana Johnson
|
Kalamazoo
|
Led Kingdom to 2-0 win at
Chicago
|
|
|
D
|
Tim Jepson
|
Southern California
|
Led Seahorses to 3-0 win at
Orange
County
|
|
|
D
|
Dave Horst
|
Virginia Beach
|
Led Submariners to 3-0 win over
Ocean
City
|
|
|
M
|
David McGuire
|
Cape Cod
|
Two goals, assist in pair of wins
|
|
|
M
|
Charles Altcheck
|
Westchester
|
Two goals in 2-1 win over
Richmond
|
|
|
M
|
JD Warman
|
Kansas City
|
Game-winner in 2-1 win at
St Louis
|
|
*
|
F
|
Kenny Uzoigwe
|
Michigan
|
Hat-trick as sub in 4-1 win over
Fort Wayne
|
|
|
F
|
Freddy Moojen
|
Augusta
|
Hat-trick in 3-2 win over Ajax Orlando
|
|
|
F
|
Isaias Bardales
|
San Diego
|
Hat-trick in first 28 minutes of 3-1 win at
California
|
