Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC start League play in USL PDL in May 2014
Cincinnati, September 12 2013 - The Dutch Lions FC is starting a second club in Ohio with the acquisition of the franchise rights for USL PDL in Cincinnati. The team will play under the name Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC and will start League play in May 2014 in the USL Premier Development League. The team will consist of top college players and several Dutch players and have a close partnership with the professional team in Dayton that plays in the USL Pro Division.
Different than the Dutch Lions FC clubs in Dayton and Houston (TEXAS), the Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC will not have a youth academy system but solely focus on a Men's team. President Mike Mossel of the Dutch Lions Capital Group BV and Dayton Dutch Lions FC commented on the acquisition: "Starting with the Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC feels like coming home. When Erik (Tammer) and I wanted to start a professional soccer club in the USA back in 2009, Cincinnati was our first choice since I went to Xavier University and played for the Cincinnati Riverhawks in the USL A-League. Back then I already saw the potential and need for a high level soccer team and professionally run organization. But at that point the Kings already had the license so we moved up north to Dayton. We are very happy to be there and the last year we have been exploring the option to start a PDL team there as well because I believe we miss out on the top college players (that have not graduated yet) since our team is professional. So they go to other PDL teams in the summer. We like to have the local top college players already in our system getting used to our style of play so we can get them in our pro team and possibly to MLS and/or Europe. When Cincinnati came available things kind of came together and we were able to get the franchise rights. The USL has been a great partner for us and the League is very strong with teams like Michigan Bucks, Chicago Fire and Forest City London. I can't wait to go back to my old school Xavier University and offer the local soccer community a high level of soccer and get people excited."
Koen Driessen with the new CDL FC game jersey
About United Soccer Leagues PDL
PDL
The top developmental Men’s League in North American, the 2013 PDL features 64 teams within four conferences throughout the United States and Canada. The PDL season consists of 14 regular season matches for each team, seven home and seven away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world.