Samba begin 2008 and their fifth season in the NPSL
| The Salinas Valley Samba
begin their 2008 and fifth season in the National Premier Soccer
League with a pair of weekend games against local rivals in San Jose
and Santa Cruz. The game against
Real San Jose is set for this Friday, May 2, 7:30 pm at Yerba
Buena High School in San Jose. Real San Jose finished last in our
division in 2007, but new additions to their roster promise to make
them a lot tougher side in 2008. Saturday, May 3, 3pm at Cabrillo College, the Samba will face the Santa Cruz Breakers whose roster features a number of ex Samba players including Tommy Hernandez, Mark Hogenhout and the ever dangerous Ivan Campos. This promises to be a hard fought yet mutually respectful game with plenty of physical (and verbal) action on the field. The Samba are very fortunate to again be led by Coach Artie Cairel who is renowned for his quick-strike counter attacking offensive style, and for his ability to motivate players to play to their very highest level. Defensively, the back row will again be anchored by the tough .fifth-year veteran Nick Lackey, with assistance from newcomers ( and ex SCC Breaker players) Kyle Millerick and Jake True. The mid-field will be run by Kyle Satow, the Brazilian Guido Graziosi, and by the sensational 17 year old son of Coach Cairel: Joseph Cairel. The Samba's first home game will be against the Sonoma County Sol on Sunday, May 25- 3pm at Salinas High School. See you on the pitch! <back to samba home page> |