Pali Blues News Release - www.bluessoccerclub.com
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
LOS ANGELES – The Pali Blues are excited to announce the addition of forward Edite Fernandes of the Portuguese National Team to the squad for the 2013 season. Currently with Portuguese side Valadares Gaia FC, Fernandes will not be available for the opening game of the season on May 18.
“Edite is a special player and a perfect fit for the team we have this year,” Blues head coach Charlie Naimo said. “Her soccer IQ and creativity in the final third combined with our possession-oriented style should make us an attractive yet dangerous team.”
Fernandes is arguably one of the Portugal’s greatest all-time players in national team history. She earned her first cap on February 28, 1998 at the age of 18, and has played a total of 109 matches while scoring 34 goals.
Currently, Fernandes is playing with Valadares Gaia FC, a new team which she has helped propel into the final of the Portuguese Cup, scoring 54 goals this season. The match will be played on May 19.
Fernandes, a 2011 W-League All-League selection, talked about her decision to play for the Blues this year.
“The Pali Blues are a strong club with a good history in the W-League, always featuring good players,” she said. “The goals and objectives of the team are what attracted me. It’s a winning team, and I could only see myself in a team like this one.”
Fernandes will arrive in Los Angeles on May 22 after the Portuguese league championship.