NASL News: FC Edmonton Make Roster Moves, Silverbacks Transfer Schnorf to Swiss Club

While last season’s D2 playoff champion the Puerto Rico Islanders will meet the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the second leg of their semifinal series and 2011 regular season champions the Carolina RailHawks battle the NSC Minnesota Stars Saturday in the other semifinal matchup, other NASL teams are announcing roster changes for next season.

FC Edmonton, which lost out to the Strikers in the quarterfinal round of this year’s playoff, have decided to exercise the options of eleven 2011 Eddies while releasing another eleven before their camp opens on October 31.  Four players were already under contract for the 2012 season.

FC Edmonton now have goalkeepers David Monsalve and Lance Parker, defenders Paul Hamilton, Antonio Rago, Niko Saler and Andre Duberry, midfielders Ilja Van Leerdam,  Shaun Saiko, Chris Kooy and Dominic Oppong and forwards Kyle Porter, Michael Cox, Paul Craig, Kyle Yamada and Alex Semenets onboard for the 2012 season.

The club released veteran forwards Conrad Smith and Daniel Antoniuk, along with goalkeeper Jaswinder Gill, defenders Jeffrey Quijano, Alex Surprenant, Paul Matthijs, Eddy Sidra and John Jonke and midfielders Chris Lemire, Mutanda Kwesele and Sam Lam. “We want to thank these eleven players for their commitment and efforts for our club in 2011,” said general manager Tom Leip as quoted in OSC. “We wish them all the very best in their future careers and hope to see them on the pitch in 2012.”

Atlanta Silverbacks Transfer Mattias Schnorf to Swiss Club

A Tuesday press release from the Atlanta Silverbacks announced that Swiss defender Mattias Schnorf has been transferred back to his homeland to play for 3rd division Sport Club Young Fellows Juventus. Schnorf, 27, played in fifteen matches for the Silverbacks this season. In September he trialed with Chivas USA before being loaned to SYFJ on September 28.  His performance there persuaded the club to buy his contract from Atlanta.

“We really appreciate what Mattias contributed to the Silverbacks while he was here,” Director of Soccer Rodrigo Rios said. “But he wants to be in his home country for the time being, so allowing YF Juventus to buy out his contract was what was best, both for Mattias and for our team.”

Atlanta plays an October 19 friendly at Silverbacks Park against Mexican side Irapuato and star Cuauhtemoc Blanco. The legendary Blanco and Silverbacks’ Coach Jose Manuel Abundis were teammates on the Mexican national team, and the match should be fun for Atlanta fans. And in another nice move, the Silverbacks donated over $3,000 to the Metro Atlanta Boys & Girls Clubs from the sale of game worn jerseys.  Good on you, Silverbacks.

FC Tampa Bay Exec to be Inducted into St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame

Perry Van Der Beck, FC Tampa Bay’s Executive Vice President, Technical Director and Director of Player Development, was one of twelve inductees into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame Thursday evening. Van Der Beck was the first high school player drafted by the original NASL in 1978. He began his lengthy playing career with the Rowdies, and also earned 23 USMNT caps. The Aquinas High School graduate also played in the MISL with the St. Louis Steamers, Wichita Wings and Dallas Sidekicks.

“It is a great honor to be respected by the coaches and players that I grew up playing with back in St. Louis,” said Van Der Beck. “Having grown up and developed as a player there, this award is very, very special to me.” Van Der Beck will be joining a host of St. Louis stars who include not only 1950 World Cup heroes such as Harry Keough and Frank Borghi but players who also excelled in other sports, such as the Pittsburgh Pirates 1909 World Champions first baseman Bill Abstein and long-time NFL kicker Pat Leahy, who both were stars on the St. Louis soccer scene.

Montreal Impact Release

Although long-time D2 side the Montreal Impact will be playing in MLS next season, several players on their 2011 roster may be back in the NASL with different teams.  New head coach Jesse Marsch evaluated 28 players during a recent camp and decided that seven players won’t move on with the team into the MLS. Those seven include long-time Impact player David Testo, along with the more recently added Philippe Billy, Ali Gerba, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Cameron Knowles, Pierre-Rudolph Mayard and Marco Terminesi.

“Those decisions are not easy to take, but we must look forward,” added Impact sporting director Nick De Santis. “The league that we are joining in five months is completely different and the challenges that we face are heavy. These players are fierce competitors who fought for the well-being of the team, but they are not figuring into our future plans. We want to thank them for their contribution throughout the last few years in second division.”

Marsch and De Santis are headed on a South American scouting trip, while further evaluations on the other members of the 2011 Impact squad will be made over the next two months.

Click here if you missed last week’s player personnel moves at FC Tampa Bay.