USL News Release
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – USL announced today that the men’s Mid-South Super-20 League Division has continued expand for its inaugural 2012 season. Joining the eight previously announced clubs will be the Corpus Christi Fuel and Halcones USA.
The Corpus Christi Fuel, based out of Corpus Christi, Texas, is operated by Patrick Esqueda. The club was established in 2010 and has primarily focused on offering adult amateur playing opportunities, but by adding a team in the Super-20 league the club is beginning to enter the field of player development.
The Fuel believe the Super-20 League provides the perfect opportunity to prepare kids for a successful soccer career by putting them in a professionally run environment.
“We can prepare them for college and now they also have a lot more professional opportunities these days,” Esqueda said. “Playing in a pro atmosphere is important; that way when they get to college they have already played at that level.”
Despite this being the first season of the Mid South Division, the Fuel have high expectations for the Super-20 League’s expansion into Texas.
“USL brings a lot to the table with just the name itself; you know it’s going to be quality,” Esqueda said. “I know we’re going to be playing against good quality clubs that have been around for a while. We know we’re going to be facing stiff opposition.”
Among that competition will be Halcones USA, based out of Roma, Texas. Halcones USA is affiliated with a lower division club in Mexico, Club Deportivo Halcones de Saltillo. Halcones USA will add the Super-20 League to its other programs which currently range from youth to adult amateur soccer.
By adding the Super-20 League Halcones is looking to offer its players new opportunities to play at a higher level. Halcones USA has already proven themselves as a developer of top talent and the Super-20 League will further their opportunities to continue that trend.
“Right now we have four professional coaches and we have exported more than 15 players to different professional teams,” Halcones USA President Alexander Saenz said.
With the level of play of the Super-20 League, Halcones USA is confident it is providing its players with opportunities to move on to a higher level, and that those opportunities will only grow.
“The Super-20 League is a great opportunity to play in the best level in the USA,” Saenz said.