Top scorer from 2014 season returns; forward Hans Denissen will not be back.
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NEW YORK (January 28, 2015) – The New York Cosmos announced today that the team has signed forward Mads Stokkelien to a contract extension for the 2015 season. As per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
“I’m excited to return to the Cosmos,” Stokkelien said. “The club has made some strong additions in the offseason and I’m looking forward to getting back to work and meeting some of the new players.”
Stokkelien signed with the Cosmos in January 2014. The 24-year-old Norwegian striker posted team-high totals in goals (8) and assists (4) during the Cosmos’ 2014 North American Soccer League season. He appeared in every league match and scored twice during the club’s run through the 2014 U.S. Open Cup.
“Last season was Mads’ first season in the U.S. so he had to adapt to a new league,” said Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese. “However, he showed continued improvement throughout the season and was a key part of our attack, so we’re delighted to have him back.”
Before signing in New York, Stokkelien played for Norwegian side Stabæk. In 2013 he tallied 22 goals in 33 appearances, helping Stabæk achieve promotion to Norway’s first division, Tippeligaen. He made his Tippeligaen debut with IK Start in 2008, where he played alongside Cosmos defender Hunter Freeman for two seasons.
The team also announced that it did not reach agreement on a new contract with Hans Denissen. The Dutch forward registered three assists in 12 league appearances in 2014 but will not be returning in 2015.
Cosmos squad headed to Hong Kong to face South China Football Team.
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NEW YORK (Jan. 19, 2015) – The New York Cosmos announced today that the club will travel to Hong Kong to play South China Football Team in the Lunar New Year AET Cup at Hong Kong Stadium on Thursday, February 19 with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m. local time.
“It’s going to be a tremendous experience out in Asia for our players and coaching staff,” Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese said. “It’s great that we’ll be able to play South China Football Team there during the Lunar New Year and all the festivities surrounding it.”
The game will be a part of the club’s preseason training overseas in preparation for the 2015 North American Soccer League season commencing in April.
“We’re delighted that we have the opportunity to visit Hong Kong,” Cosmos Chief Operating Officer Erik Stover said. “We have an extensive preseason travel schedule planned for the team, which will be announced once logistics are finalized.”
South China Football Team, currently sitting in third place in the Hong Kong Premier League, was founded in 1904. The club has won the Hong Kong First Division league title a total of 41 times, most recently in the 2012-13 season.
The Lunar New Year Cup, also previously known as the Carlsberg Challenge or the Carlsberg Cup, is an annual football tournament organized in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Football Association since 1948. It is usually held on the first and the fourth day of the Chinese New Year as a part of the new year celebrations. The tournament was called the Carlsberg Cup between 1983 and 2006 as Carlsberg was the major sponsor of the event.
Since the 2007 edition of the event, the competition is officially known as the Lunar New Year Cup by the Hong Kong Football Association. This is because Carlsberg is now no longer the major sponsor but a mere co-sponsor. During 2011 and 2012, the name of the event was changed to Asian Challenge Cup.
In the period before and around WWII, Lunar New Year Cup was participated by Hong Kong teams and teams from mainland China. Since 1950, HKFA invited at least one overseas team to enter the competition. Before 1982, there were 3 exhibition matches in the tournament. The first two matches were usually participated by Hong Kong national football team, Hong Kong player team and Hong Kong League XI while Chinese XI played the last match.
In 1983, it was the first time to have a main sponsorship for the competition and the invited team number increased to three. From 1993 onwards, national teams rather than club teams were invited to participate in the competition.
樓主: JIMMYBOY
在線雷達
發表於 2015-1-28 12:01:42
