USL News Release

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced that TKO Soccer Club has purchased franchise rights from USL to field teams in the Premier Development League (PDL) and W-League for play in 2008.

“We are very excited to make this announcement. These teams are an important part of our communities and will allow both boys and girls the opportunities they might not otherwise have” said Doug Hammerberg, TKO Club President. “This represents the next step in TKO’s history and a great opportunity for some of our top area soccer players.”

USL Executive Vice President & COO Tim Holt was equally enthusiastic about the addition of TKO.

“TKO has an over 20 year history in West Michigan and we are excited to have them as partners in the PDL and W-League beginning in May 2008. Kalamazoo has been a successful and important market for USL and we believe the club is a natural fit for our structure.”

The new PDL (men’s team) and W-League (women’s team) teams are expected to begin league play in May of 2008 and are tentatively planning on utilizing Mayors Riverfront Park as the home stadium.

“We have had some preliminary discussions with the City of Kalamazoo Staff regarding a lease agreement,” said Hammerberg. “Although it has not yet been finalized, it looks like it is on track and the City seems enthused about the potential of having both teams play games at the stadium.”

Mayors Riverfront Park seats 3,000 people for soccer and currently has a natural grass surface. The venue fits the requirements of the PDL and with both a PDL and W-League teams, could even be utilized in a double header format to maximize exposure for both franchises.

Although the beginning of team training and player selection is nearly a year away, the search for a coaching staff has already begun. TKO Technical Director Rich Labadie has begun to identify potential coaching candidates for both franchises.

“I am looking at both coaches within and outside of West Michigan,” said Labadie. “The committee and I want coaches that can not only field a competitive team, but also support our club growth and player development goals.”

It is expected that a preliminary list of candidates will be submitted to a Coach Selection Committee by May 1, 2007. Interviews and selection will be targeted for completion by July 1, 2007 so that the successful candidate(s) can begin to scout existing league teams and begin the process of identifying prospective players yet this season.

USL soccer in Kalamazoo was founded in 1996 with the Kalamazoo Kingdom, who operated a PDL team through the 2006 season. The Kingdom also had a sister team, the Quest, in the W-League from 1998-99 and featured a future star in current US Women’s National Team forward Lindsay Tarpley.

About TKO Soccer Club

TKO Soccer Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing outstanding opportunities for talented area soccer players to develop and compete. TKO started in 1983 and is the first and longest standing premier club in West Michigan. As a non-profit organization, the club can truly focus on player and team development- and do not form teams to strictly generate player revenue. The club is guided by a board that is primarily comprised of parents who have kids in the program. As an organization that has been established and active for over 20 years, the club is organized, responsible and consistent.

The club provides outstanding opportunities for ambitious and talented youth soccer players from throughout the Kalamazoo and West Michigan area. The club has boys and girls teams that play in the State Premier League from ages U13 – U18 and in the West Michigan Youth Soccer Association at the younger ages (U9 through U12). TKO prides itself on providing high quality, paid coaches and in the outstanding player development opportunity players receive as members of TKO.