Cape Coral (FL), February 3, 2017 – Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC is pleased to announce the launch of a Women’s team in partnership with Dutch Women’s Premier League club ADO Den Haag Women. The Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC team will compete in the US Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL).
You want to play in our Women's team? Sign up here for our Try-out on March 12th.
The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is an independent highly competitive national league, which primary focus is the development of highly competitive premier women's soccer teams. WPSL was formed in 1998 and is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the ruling body of soccer in the United States and FIFA the world's governing body for soccer. It is currently the 2nd highest league in the USA one tier below the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC will play in the Sunshine Conference with nine other teams in Florida. The first league game will be played on Saturday June 3, 2017. The location of the home stadium and schedule details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Jouko Gorissen of Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC, is very pleased with the newest addition to the club: “Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC is proud to be part of the WPSL and is delighted to partner with Dutch Women Premier League club ADO Den Haag Women. They have established a very good reputation in the Netherlands in women’s soccer and they will be able to provide valuable expertise and resources to the club.”
Vincent de Weger, Director of Soccer Operations, also commented on the launch: “Playing in the WPSL is the next step in our mission to be a “Gateway to Professional Soccer”. Competing with our team in this league will not only help the development of all the players in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers region but also provide opportunities to become professional. It will also make the club bigger as a family with our academy players supporting our Lions. We will have players from Europe but most importantly also players from local clubs, schools and universities.”
Jerry Zanelli, League Commissioner of the WPSL, is excited about the participation of the Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC. "The Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC is the second Dutch Lions team in the WPSL. Not only do we get another Dutch Lions FC organization in the WPSL, but also an opportunity for players to play in Europe through the partnership with ADO Den Haag Women.”
Kees Punt, CEO of ADO Den Haag Women and co-owner of Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC, shared the excitement: “We very much welcome the partnership and consider it of added value to our technical staff and the players of both our two teams. We will also seek to establish a partnership with local universities. It will be educational for all parties involved but also a lot of fun.”
The try-outs for the Woman’s team will be held on March 12th (4pm) and April 9th (4pm). Try- outs will be at North Fort Myers Community Park.
Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC was founded in April 2015 in Cape Coral as the 5th Dutch Lions FC club. The Dutch Lions FC wants to be a leading institute in developing players and strives to be a “Gateway to Professional Soccer” and help players fulfill their dreams of becoming professional soccer players in the USA and/or Europe. Both for Men and Women. In recent years four women signed contracts in Europe to play professionally after playing for the Dayton Dutch Lions FC Women’s team.
Are you interest in playing for our Women's team? Sign up here for our Try-out on March 12.
For more information please contact:
Vincent de Weger, Director of Soccer Operations
Florida Gulf Coast Dutch Lions FC
C: 239-728-4882
