8/2/07 -- BUCKS UZOIGWE SIGNS WITH FIRST DIVISION CHARLESTON; WANTS TO LEAVE BUCKS WITH BACK TO BACK TITLES
Last chance to see the Bucks scoring machine in Michigan?
(August 2, 2007) -- Michigan Bucks owner Dan Duggan announced that All Premier Development League (PDL) striker Kenny Uzoigwe has committed to join the Charleston Battery of United Soccer League First Division, jumping two rungs on the professional soccer ladder, at the conclusion of the Bucks 2007 season. The USL-1 is the leagues highest level of soccer and is just one division below Major League Soccer (MLS) in this country’s soccer hierarchy. Although Uzoigwe did not appear to be overly excited about his exit from the Bucks team, he welcomes the opportunity to show what he can do at a higher level. “The opportunity to play in the First Division is exciting, but it is the furthest thing from my mind right now. All I care about is bringing home back to back championships for the Bucks and my teammates. This is the club I love and will die for. Hopefully, I can earn another championship ring here and then move down to Charleston to do the same there,” said the talented forward from Toledo. Duggan confirmed that there were over a half dozen teams bidding on Kenny’s services all season long and that together they decided that the Battery was the right fit for Uzoigwe. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Uzoigwe will join the Battery on the Monday following the conclusion of the Bucks season. Kenny leads the Bucks with 17 goals and 5 assists this year.
The Bucks host the Brooklyn Knights this Saturday, August 4 at Lake Orion High School (7:30 kick off) in one of two National Semi-Final matches to determine this year’s Championship match. All final four teams (including Fresno Fuego and Laredo Heat) have put in bids to host the prestigious final, which will be shown nationally Saturday, August 11 on Fox Soccer Channel. The USL is scheduled to make the formal announcement by Friday. Added Duggan, “if we don’t win Saturday and the bid to host the finals, then this will be the last time our fans in Michigan will get to see this powerful scoring machine in action. I am not only referring to Kenny. This year’s seniors, Khelli Dube (Coastal Carolina), Ty Shipalane (Lindsey Wilson), Eric Brunner (Ohio State) and Xavier Balc (Ohio State) are all on the radar screen for the MLS Super Draft in January. With Kenny going to Charleston, our league leading offensive arsenal is all moving on to a higher level of soccer. I would encourage any one who has ever wanted to see a high level soccer match to come out on Saturday night.”
The Bucks have led the 63 team USL in scoring in each of the last two seasons and are averaging over three goals a game this year. The connection developed between the four attacking players that lead the team are all back from last year when they helped bring home the Bucks first North American title in twelve years.Junior Nate Jafta (Lindsey Wilson), who was also All Conference and All PDL the each of the past two seasons, is healthy and ready to run the Bucks engine that produces all the spectacular goals the Bucks have scored this year. Jafta leads the team in assists (11), to go with seven goals of his own.
Tickets for Saturday night’s Semifinal match are only $10 Adults (16 and over) and $5 Youth (under 5 free) and are available at the gate at Lake Orion High School. For further information and directions to LOHS, please visit the Bucks web site at buckssoccer.com.
