Capitals Join PDL League
Team to Bring Top-Notch Soccer to Baton Rouge
Monday, May 14, 2007
The Baton Rouge Capitals have announced that they will join United Soccer's Premier Development League, beginning play this year.
The establishment of a PDL team in Baton Rouge fills what was previously a void of quality soccer in the burgeoning soccer community. "We are excited to bring a higher-level of soccer to the city," said General Manager Gary Buete. "Baton Rouge is home to a very strong soccer community of over 5,000 members and we are looking forward to providing fans with entertainment and athletes with development opportunities."
Coaching the team through their inaugural season will be Coach Bo Cassidy. Cassidy, a veteran coach and collegiate player at UMass Amherst appears most excited about developing Louisiana's local talent. "Although home to several Division I sports, Baton Rouge is without a premier soccer team. I am looking forward to being a part of bringing quality soccer to Baton Rouge."
The Capitals will play in the highly competitive Mid-South Division of the Southern Conference which as animportant development opportunity for the league. A Capital's spokesman said,“The addition of Baton Rouge as the newest PDL team is the next step in creating a Gulf Coast Conference for the United Soccer League. Baton Rouge will join Mississippi Brilla and the New Orleans Shell Shockers as the base from which this new conference can be built. We want to develop the game regionally and promote rivalries between the different cities along the Gulf Coast. There is too much talent here not to do this."
The Baton Rouge Capitals are the product of a successful partnership with the Baton Rouge Soccer Association. The collaboration of both organizations fills what was previously a void in the development of local talent.
The Capitals hope to blend that talent with international and veteran soccer stars to form a team that will be highly competitive during season games this summer. Open tryouts were held on March 9th and 16th, and again on March 11th.
Though the tryouts were held at the Burbank Soccer Complex; the Capitals will call Olympia stadium home. The Capitals will faced the formidable Dallas Ft. Worth tornados in their first home game at Olympia stadium which took place on May 12 at 7pm. Although there was a very strong showing this first-year team, the Capitals lost 0-2.
Capitals team and ticket information, as well as news, can be viewed online at http://www.brcapitals.com. Questions may be directed to General Manager Gary Buete who can be reached via e-mail at gbuete@brsa.org or by telephone at (225) 924-2157.
If you'd like additional information about this topic or for sponsorship opportunities please contact James Vilas at (225) 769-7100 or email James at jvilas@vita90.com