Pontiac, MI (August 11 , 2008)- As much as the Michigan Bucks would like to be celebrating a PDL championship from this past weekend, they will find satisfaction in leading the United Soccer League’s (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) in All-PDL team selections with two of the eleven spots filled by the league’s regular season champions. Attacking midfielder Nate Jafta (South Africa/Lindsey Wilson College) was selected for the third consecutive season to the top eleven and was joined this year by centerback Mike Holody (Clarkston/University of Michigan). The PDL Top Eleven is chosen from over 1,600 players that play in the 67 team league throughout the and . 2008 is the 4th year in a row that the Bucks have had players chosen for the league’s highest team honor It is also the second consecutive year the club has had two players named to the Best XI. Last year Jafta was joined by Kenny Uzoigwe after being the lone representative for the Bucks in the 2006 championship season. Kevin Taylor (University of Michigan) was the Bucks lone 2005 All PDL representative.
Both of this year’s selections have garnered interest from Major League Soccer over the past two seasons, with both Jafta and Holody invited to train with the Columbus Crew. Jafta will be entering his senior season at Lindsey Wilson College (NAIA), while Holody will captain Michigan’s mens team during his final collegiate campaign. Bucks Chairman/CEO Dan Duggan expects both players to do well at the next level.
“Nate is probably the best player to ever play in the PDL,” said Duggan. “You might think I am impartial, but we believe he may be the first ever player to be chosen to the All-PDL team in three consecutive seasons -- something we may never see done again. Those votes come from the other 66 teams in the PDL. I wish he could have been healthy this entire season, so the country could have seen him play again in the final on TV. It just wasn’t meant to be. Given the right atmosphere and coaching staff, Nate has the tools to be a huge talent in Major League Soccer and the ability to make an impact in Europe.”
Holody has been the backbone of one of the greatest runs in PDL history the past three seasons that has led the Bucks to back to back PDL title games in 2006/2007 and to the best regular season record in 2008. Duggan is also very high on Holody’s MLS potential.
“The MLS draft is as much of a crap shoot as it is a science. Just when you think you have a sure talent, he doesn’t pan out. On the other hand, there are players that fly under the radar that given the right situation can become stars- see (former Bucks player) Kheli Dube (New England Revolution) as a prime example. If Mike has a decent season at Michigan this fall and stays healthy, he should be one of the highest rated center backs in the country coming into January’s MLS SuperDraft. Not only is he a solid player, but he is a good leader, reads the game well and has a desire and work rate that any MLS coach would love. I have seen players with not nearly the tools that Mike has get drafted in the first or second rounds over the past seasons,” said Duggan.
The Bucks have had 25 players drafted to MLS since their first selection, Jeremy Aldrich in 1999 (Miami Fusion) and should have another handful drafted this January.
On Saturday, the Buck’s Central Conference was represented well in the PDL Final, as the Thunder Bay Chill defeated the host Laredo Heat in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. This was the second year in a row the title match went to a shootout with the Bucks coming out on the short end in last year’s match against the same Laredo Heat. The Chill’s victory made it three PDL champions in the past four seasons that have come from what many believe to be the toughest conference in the league. Thunder Bay joins the Des Moines Menace (2005) and the Bucks (2006) as Central Conference champions over the past four seasons to hoist the PDL trophy. Thunder Bay became the first Canadian team to ever win the PDL title.
For more information about the Michigan Bucks, please visit our web site at www.buckssoccer.com.
