BOCA RATON, FL (November 13, 2007) - Schulz Academy U17 Boys will attempt to win a fourth consecutive USL Super Y-League North American Championship when they travel to Tampa Florida for the 2007 Super Y-League North American Finals to be held at the Ed Radice Soccer Complex from November 15-20. Also accompanying the U17 Boys will be the U17 Girls who qualified for the Finals for the first time, the U14 Boys who were semi-finalist in the 2006 edition, and the U16 Boys who will be looking to win their first SYL North American Finals Championship. Ranked number 7 in the preliminary USL First Eleven Club Rankings, Schulz Academy will be looking to improve their rankings with the 4 teams qualified. A Finals win by any of the 4 teams will push Schulz up the rankings.
Schulz Academy has done extremely well over the past year by having 17 players involved in National Youth teams call-ups. However their success as a club could work against them at the SYL North American Finals. Four Schulz Academy players who are in the U.S. Soccer U17 Residency Program will not travel and participate with the Academy in Tampa due to National Team restrictions. The U14 Boys will be without the services of Stephan Jerome and Bryan Sylvestre, while the U16 Boys will not have Donovan Henry.
"We will miss these players...", said Dr. Josef Schulz, "...but their obligation to the U.S. National Team takes priority. The positive side is that this creates a great opportunity for other players in the Academy to show what they can do. I expect rising stars like U14 players Sekani Sinclair and Michael Hornet and U16 players Alex Bidos and Hasini Sinclair to have big tournaments."
As the club prepares for the North American Finals, there is a buzz of excitement in the air. The players all seem to understand the importance of the event as over the years they have seen what great opportunities can come out of these Finals.
"The whole club is very excited as we prepare to go to Tampa. We learned this past weekend that former Schulz Academy player Josmer Altidore, only 18 years old, was called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team for the game against South Africa. The club is also excited about Matt Luzunaris, another Schulz Academy player just 18 years old, who is travelling to Austria to play for a 1st Division team. Then the news of Dr. Skender Fani who is one of the biggest agents in all of Europe who will provide his knowledge and connections to help Schulz Academy players who wish to play in Europe. All of these things happening all at once and coinciding with the North American Finals is simply great for the club and great for all the players." states Dr. Josef Schulz.
