Michigan Bucks News Release - www.buckssoccer.com
Monday, March 3, 2008
PONTIAC, MI -- The Michigan Bucks announced that their team leading scorer in each of the past two seasons will be back to lead the Bucks potent offensive attack for the 2008 season. Kenny Uzoigwe has agreed to not only join the Bucks back on the field, but will work full time with the organization developing Bucks camps and private trainings from the team’s new headquarters at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac.
Uzoigwe has been one of the United Soccer League’s (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) leading scorers the past two season and joined teammate Nate Jafta on the PDL All-League team last year, representing two of the top eleven players in the 2,000 player league. He was also a finalist for PDL Most Valuable Player in 2007. After helping the Bucks capture their first championship in 2006, the 6’3" striker from Toledo came within a penalty kick of matching the same feat, falling to the Laredo Heat in last August’s title match.
Uzoigwe signed a professional contract with the USL-1 Charleston Battery, where he finished the season in October. When reached by phone, Uzoigwe was ecstatic to be back with his old club.
"The past two years have been the greatest years of my life, playing with the Bucks," said the 29 year old striker. "The Bucks gave me the opportunity to get a taste of the First Division play after our season, and I am thankful for that. It was a great experience for me, but now it is time I made some career decisions. I want to be part of the Bucks organization and help the club continue to do things that no other PDL club has ever even thought of. I am looking forward to the challenge of building the private training and camp business, as well as playing in our new home this summer. I can’t wait to get started." Uzoigwe turned down several professional contract opportunities in both the First and Second Division to remain a Buck.
Bucks President of Operations, Kyle Karns will oversee Uzoigwe and the camp business at Ultimate Soccer Arenas and is also very much looking forward to having the charismatic Uzoigwe working full time with the Bucks.
"Kenny is magic with the kids. He has been a favorite at every camp he has ever worked," said Karns. "He shows an incredible amount of patience with the kids and loves every minute of being on the pitch with them."
Not only is Uzoigwe magic at camp, but he has led the Bucks in scoring the past two seasons, including a couple of highlight reel goals that had to be seen to be believed.
Coach Dan Fitzgerald is happy to have Kenny back for his third season, just to watch him play. "When Kenny is on the field, anything can happen; and usually does. He scored some magnificent goals last year coming off the bench for us in the second half. His game in Saginaw against Indiana was amazing to see him single handedly break a game open with two goals in a matter of minutes. He put on a memorable performance in Cleveland last year, when the Bucks were playing two men down and he scored once and nearly had two other goals in the last ten minutes. Those of us at Toyota Park last year saw the PDL goal of the year, when Kenny beat three defenders and scored the game winning goal from an impossible angle in the waning minutes of the game. Just for good measure, Kenny treated the home fans to a magic moment when he scored off a brilliant bicycle kick against Chicago in the playoffs in Lake Orion. The fans in Detroit are lucky to have him back this season. My life just got a bit easier as well."
Bucks CEO Dan Duggan was happy to re-sign Uzoigwe and sounded quite confident with the looks of the 2008 roster.
"We will be making further announcements in the upcoming weeks regarding other signees for this year’s squad. All I can promise you is that this year’s team will look very similar to last years; with several upgrades," said Duggan from London. "We will be bringing in some top international talent again this year that will complement our domestic college All-Americans. Kenny was really the last piece of the puzzle that was up in the air. With his commitment to return, we can put our focus on a couple of important role players necessary to have the level of success we are accustomed to having. It’s got the makings of a very exciting summer for the Bucks, beginning with our season opening game on May 17 when we play our first official match at Ultimate Soccer Arenas. That is shaping up to be a very special night."
The Michigan Bucks will begin their 13th PDL season this May with sixteen regular season games, US Open Cup qualifying, training and a home game against the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer and hopefully will conclude with four successful playoff games in late July and early August.
The Bucks will be hosting College Cup I on Saturday, March 29 from 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM at Ultimate Soccer Arenas. In the first match, Oakland University will take on Lewis University, followed by the University of Michigan against NAIA powerhouse Lindsey Wilson. The following Saturday, April 5 the Bucks will host College Cup II from 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM. There will be four games played in succession beginning with Oakland vs. Indiana University, Michigan vs. Michigan State, Michigan State vs. Oakland and Indiana vs. Michigan. All the Bucks coaching staff will be analyzing talent from each of these colleges to fill out the remaining few spots on the 2008 roster. Ticket information for both College Cup I and II will be released next week.
Uzoigwe will be leading his first Bucks Youth Soccer Camp the week of March 24-28 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas. Enrollment for both the half day and full day sessions are still available. Camp is open to all levels of youth, all ages for boys and girls and will go Monday- Friday 9:00- 12:30 half day, 9:00- 5:00 full day. All campers will receive top quality training on all aspects of the game in a competitive, yet fun environment. For more information about the Bucks camps and to register on line, please visit the Bucks web site at buckssoccer.com. You can also learn more about the Michigan Bucks, including the 2008 regular season schedule.
