Indoor game at LEC, NSL to play local all-star team Sept. 10
The National Soccer League, a new summer professional indoor soccer league, announced Wednesday it has selected Laredo and the Laredo Entertainment Center as the site and venue for its 2005 Indoor Soccer Challenge.
The game features the NSL All-Stars against the Laredo All-Stars. The event, which will take place Sept. 10, at 7:30 p.m., will be the first public event for the NSL, which intends to begin league play in June 2007.
The NSL All-Stars will consist of experienced indoor veterans assembled by NSL founder Sydney Nusinov. The Laredo All-Stars will feature the top talent from the 'Los Dos Laredos' area.
"We're here to put on a show for the people of Laredo and give them a taste of what they've been missing," Nusinov said.
"As a new league this will also allow us to showcase the sport for prospective new owners, many of whom have not seen pro indoor live before."
The game is a partnership between the NSL, Vaswani Soccer Ventures, and the LEC.
"I want to personally thank Shashi Vaswani and Craig Baltzer for their outstanding work in bringing indoor soccer to Laredo. Hopefully, this will be the first of many indoor games at the fantastic LEC," Nusinov added.
"We are pleased to host the National Soccer League's inaugural Exhibition Showcase at the Laredo Entertainment Center," said Baltzer, general manager of the LEC.
"In our ongoing efforts to bring fresh entertainment options to the area, we feel that this game is a natural offering for both the new and established soccer fans in our region.
"The excitement is building for indoor soccer, and we look forward to measuring its success in Laredo on Sept. 10."
Vaswani Soccer Ventures, LLC chairman and Laredo Heat owner and Club President, Vaswani, said, "In an effort to assist the National Soccer League in this exhibition game, Vaswani Soccer Ventures will provide a team that will consist of some Laredo Heat SC players and other local and Nuevo Laredo athletes."
"The Heat's involvement in this match will be strictly that of providing an opposing team for the NSL All-Stars and as Mr. Nusinov mentioned, assist him in showcasing his league to a potential audience of investors and spectators.
"This event is strictly an exhibition game and, in fact, we will be the visiting team. Hopefully we can assist Mr. Nusinov in getting his league headed in the right direction."
"I want to personally invite all Heat fans to this exhibition match at the LEC. We will honor the 2005 Heat SC players at halftime for their second place finish in the PDL's Southern Conference," Vaswani said.
Tickets for the game will be priced at $8 to $25 and will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at the LEC Box Office and through all Ticketmaster outlets.
