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Monday, July 2

TAMPA, FL – The extensive Super Y-League regular season scouting process and subsequent SYL ODP National Camps comes to a head Tuesday, July 10 when the Super Y Select ‘90’s and 92’s embark on a life altering, 13 day pilgrimage into the heart of soccer in Germany.

The teams, made up of the top players in the Super Y-League system, will be called upon to represent the state of youth soccer in the United States as they face the professional youth academies of TSV 1860 Munich (Germany), Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) and SSV Jahn Regensburg (Germany). Both teams will also train and compete extensively with the Bayerischer Fussball Verband E.V. (Bavarian Soccer Association). The tour concludes Monday, July 23.

"These annual tours of Europe are yet another example of USL’s emphasis on the importance of international development," said USL President Francisco Marcos. "The most important component missing in the maturation process of American players is a lack of meaningful international competition. Players should take advantage of every opportunity to compete internationally. The Super-Y-League Select Team tours are one more step in the process of making USL a true international organization."

The 2006 version of the tours set the bar extremely high in regards to opening the eyes of the players involved to the professionalized youth systems in Switzerland and Germany. The high point of the tours was the Super Y-League’s involvement with the Peace Team – a mixed squad of nine Israelis and nine Palestinians brought together under the guidance of United Nations Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace Adolf Ogi, the former President of Switzerland.

“The increased level of play at the Super Y-League ODP National Camps this past January has the coaching staff extremely excited to see what these boys can do against the best Germany, Bavaria and the Czech Republic has to offer,” said Super Y-League ODP Coordinator Sean Trask. “Given the overall success of the 2006 tours, we are particularly interested on improving our on-field results in 2007. Going into this second tour, our coaches are well aware of the German styles of play and how to best combat those tactics. We expect to perform at a very high level.”

The Coaches
John Hannan
The Assistant Director of Coaching for the number one ranked youth club in the Super Y-League, the Chicago Magic, will coach the ’92 Super Y-League Select Team. Hannan served as the Super Y-League Assistant Technical Director during the Super Y-League National ODP Camps in January and as the ODP National Staff Scout of the Midwest Division during the 2006 Super Y-League regular season. He attended the 2006 tours of Switzerland with the ’91 Super Y-League Select Team.

Victor Pastora
Hannan’s assistant coach during the ’92 team’s tour is Victor Pastora, Head Coach of the 2006 Super-20 League Championship side Kendall SC. Pastora serves as the Director of Coaching with Kendall SC. The Miami based club annually churns out technically superior players such as Bryan Arguez, the 2007 MLS SuperDraft pick of D.C. United and Gary Lewis, currently attending the University of North Carolina.

Neil Megson
A former USL First Division star and coach with the Seattle Sounders will serve as the Head Coach on the ’90 team’s tour. Megson is one of the best known names in Pacific Northwest soccer. A member of the U.S. Men’s National Team in 1998, he was named A-League coach of the year in 2000. He currently coaches with Northwest Super Y-League power, Washington Crossfire.

Scott Cannon
The President and Director of Coaching with Black Watch Rhode Island of the Super Y-League’s New England Division will serve as the ’90 Super Y-League Select Team Assistant Coach. As a player at the University of Evansville, he led the number one ranked Division I team to the Final Four. A ten-year professional, he was recognized with such honors as All-Rookie, All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year and Team Captain while playing in the MLS, A-League, and the NPSL. At the International level, Scott has represented the United States National Team on three continents.

The Tour - Monday, July 9
After arriving in New York City from various parts of the country, both teams depart JKF International Airport.

Tuesday, July 10
Parting ways upon landing, the ’90 SYL Select Team heads to Lower Bavaria. The team will complete a light training session in the afternoon. The ‘92’s travel to Regensburg for training.

Wednesday, July 11
The ‘90’s enjoy a morning sightseeing session prior to their afternoon match with FC Viktoria Plzen. The ‘92’s get right down to business with a morning session designed to prepare the side for their match with SSV Jahn Regensburg.

Thursday, July 12
Following their first playing experience in European soil, both teams look to tighten up their tactics and learn from their miscues in a day dedicated entirely to training and sightseeing.

Friday, July 13
Returning to competition both teams compete against a Bavarian Soccer Association team. The ‘90’s face the Regional Select Team of Lower Bavaria. The ‘92’s take on the Regional Select Team of East Bavaria.

Saturday, July 14
Shifting sites, the ‘90’s travel from Lower Bavaria to join the ‘92’s in Regensburg. The ‘92’s spend the day training in the morning and sightseeing in the afternoon.

Sunday, July 15
Now in unison, both teams return to Munich to tour Allianz Arena, home to Bundesliga clubs TSV 1860 Munich and FC Bayern München. The stadium was known as FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich during the 2006 World Cup.

Monday, July 16
Perhaps the ultimate highlight of the ’90 tour, the ’90 Super Y-League Select Team squares off with the youth academy of the world famous TSV 1860 Munich. The ‘92’s play a match against the Bavarian Regional Select ‘B’ Team.

Tuesday, July 17
Another day dedicated to post-match training, both teams train extensively before visiting the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. The remarkable structure dates back to May, 13 1868. It is the most photographed building in Germany, one of the nations greatest tourist attractions.

Wednesday, July 18
The ‘90’s enjoy a second day of training, the first and only day of the tour devoted entirely to training. The ‘92’s hone their skills against the Bavarian Regional Select ‘A’ Team in preparation of their most anticipated match against the youth academy of TSV 1860 Munich.

Thursday, July 19
Parting ways for a second time, the ‘90’s have their go at the ‘90 Bavarian Regional Select ‘B’ Team. The ‘92’s travel to Oberammergau for training, the site of the next day’s match with 1860 Munich.

Friday, July 20
Both teams find themselves in the middle of a three day run of matches. Today the ‘90’s take on the ’89 Full Bavarian Select Team while the ‘92’s get their shot at 1860 Munich.

Saturday, July 21
Their third match in as many days, the ‘90’s look to cap of their European tour with a victory over their counterparts, the ’90 Bavarian Regional Select ‘A’ Team. The ‘92’s face the Bavarian Regional Select South Team. Both competitions mark the live action finale for both teams.

Sunday, July 22
Both teams return to Munich for their return flight to JFK in New York.

Monday, July 23
Teams return to the U.S.

The Players 

Super Y-League Select ‘90’s
Marc Godelman	Parsippany SC
Philip Da Silva	San Francisco United SC
Alexander Klein	Washington Crossfire
Jordan Michael	Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Anthony Arena	Washington Crossfire
Justin Yasutake	DVSC
Ahmed Sheta	Northern Virginia Royals
John Wargo	Cleveland Soccer Academy
Caleb Shaw	Seacoast United
Charles Pettys	Ohio Elite Soccer Academy
Corey Hertzog	Reading Rage
Mackenzie Pridham	De Anza SC
Milan Tica	Chicago Magic
Cody Clark	Ohio Elite Soccer Academy
Jordan Maman	Chicago Magic
Jesse Ortiz	Chicago Magic
Cesar Rocha	Santa Cruz County Breakers
Fernando Monge	Washington Crossfire

Super Y-League Select ‘92’s
Daniel Sangster	BW Rhode Island
Dzenan Catic	Kalamazoo Kingdom
Jacob Doyle	Northern Virginia Royals
Leron Haywood	Brooklyn Knights
Zachary Haapaoja	TSF Academy
Reed Losee	VardarStars
Dominick Sarle	New York Rough Riders
Jose Garibay Jr.	Washington Crossfire
Angel Acevedo	Santa Rosa United
Giovanni Tacconelli	South Jersey Barons
Christopher Benedict	TSF Academy
Bradley McIntosh	Washington Crossfire
Billy McGuinness	Chicago Magic
Tommy Duquette	Michigan Wolves
Matt Ducci	Chicago Magic
Mitchell Albrecht	Chicago Magic
McKenzy Scott	South Jersey Barons
Jack Ryan	Washington Crossfire