Pontiac, MI (July 26, 2008) - As the post season begins, the regular season awards start being handed out by the United Soccer League’s (USL) home office in Tampa, FL. The number one seeded Michigan Bucks dominated the Central Conference First XI with four players selected from coaches and general managers of the 67 team league. Leading the way for the Bucks were attacking midfielder Nate Jafta (South Africa, Lindsey Wilson College) and forward Kenny Uzoigwe (Toledo) who are being honored for the third consecutive year with the side. Joining the dynamic duo are Bucks captain Mike Holody (Clarkston, University of Michigan) with his second consecutive selection and first time honoree, goalkeeper Steve Clark (Mason, Oakland University) None of the other fifteen teams in the Conference placed more than one player on the starting eleven.
Speaking from his final training session Friday night before entering the playoffs Saturday, Bucks coach Dan Fitzgerald was pleased with the four selections and supported the voters decision. “All four of these players were a vital part of the team this season. Without them, we are not nearly the top seeded team in the PDL."
Uzoigwe finished the season in the top ten in scoring in the PDL for the third straight season with 10 goals and 3 assists (23 points) in 14 games. Jafta, hampered much of the season with hamstring problems actually competed in 11 games for the Bucks and finished with 9 assists to go along with his three goals (15 points). Although the crafty midfielder missed five games, he was a game changer in most of the matches he participated in. Clark had another stellar year in goal by leading the PDL with 13 wins, while putting together another undefeated season in the pipes. It has been over two years since Clark has been charged with a loss, going 33-0-8 since July 2006. Clark was in goal for last year’s PDL final that the Laredo Heat won in penalty kicks after the game ended 0-0 (and is officially recorded by the USL as a tie). Holody has been the backbone of the Bucks record setting three year run at centerback and has anchored a defense that has been in the top 3 in goals allowed in each of the past three seasons in the PDL. Holody also got the Bucks started this season by scoring the team’s first goal of the year back on May 17.
While Jafta, Clark and Holody will head back to finish their senior seasons in college beginning on August 15, Uzoigwe will stay on as the Bucks director of soccer camps and will live in Pontiac year round. Jafta turned down several offers from agents and Major League Soccer last season to skip his final year of college to join the pros. Clark and Holody have been on the MLS radar screen for the past two seasons all three players have trained with the Columbus Crew while playing for the Bucks. Following successful and healthy seasons this fall, all three players should be a part of the MLS Combine in December to increase their chances of being drafted to MLS in January.
The USL will be announcing the PDL All -Eleven as the top players from the PDL this season within the next week, along with PDL Player of the Year, which is usually announced at the banquet the night before the PDL Championship game (August 9 on Fox Soccer Channel). Last year both Uzoigwe and Jafta were part of this elite group, with Jafta repeating the honor from 2006 as well. To get further information on the Bucks playoff run and for tickets to Saturday’s double header playoff at Ultimate Soccer Arenas (5:30/ 7:30 games), please visit the web site at www.buckssoccer.com.
