Things are picking up in the Aztex office. Right now I am listening to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers/Foo Fighters and working on the player registration process, game day operations, launching our ticketing system and finalizing the details on our USL-1 open tryouts. In case you haven’t heard, our first tryout will be held in Ventura County California on January 10-11th 2009. Our second tryout will be held in Austin Texas on February 7-8th 2009. For further information please go to www.austinaztex.com and click on the USL-1 Tryout Link.
In 2009 I will be working with The University of Texas’s Sport Management Department on several projects. A lot of it will revolve around our future stadium plans and research on the soccer culture in the Austin area. I know this will evolve into a great relationship. We just need to take it slow to make sure we build a strong foundation. I will also be spending some time with the Houston Dynamo’s Director of Operations. This will be a great way for me to compare game day plans, pick his brain on some things and learn from past mistakes. Plus it won’t be bad to be there while they are hosting part of the InterLiga 2009.
The InterLiga 2009 will determine two Mexican club berths for Copa Libertadores known as "Mexico 2" and "Mexico 3". The other spot known as "Mexico 1" has been awarded to San Luis de Potosi due to the club's finish as SuperLider of the Mexican Torneo de Apertura 2008, or the regular season champions of the current Mexican season.
Group A - Toluca, UAG, Morelia, Pachuca
Group B - Tigres UANL, CD Guadalajara, Atlas, América
I hope all of you have a happy holidays and a happy new year!
Alex Wolf
Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Busy weekend...
It's quiet here in the office today - Phil and Adrian have gone to join Wolfgang and Bobby in Dallas for the 2008 NCAA Men's College Cup. There should be a good show of talent including Aztex alumni Austin da Luz playing for the defending champions, Wake Forest. The games are being televised on ESPN2. From there, Adrian will travel to Charleston for the USL Men's Player Showcase hosted by the Battery. From the USL website: "This year’s edition of the USL Men’s Player Showcase drew more than 250 applicants from an elite pool of collegiate and international talent. As with previous showcase events, the majority of selected players are drawn from USL’s Premier Development League with 68 of the 90 players having PDL experience.'
Back here in Austin, Ron Dennie and some of the Aztex PDL players will be making an appearance at the 3x3 Live Soccer tournament at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock tomorrow (12/13) See the website for details.
We are busy putting the final details together for the season ticket packages and we hope to have some t-shirts with the new logo for sale in both Soccer USA stores next week - just in time for Christmas!
Lastly, I just wanted to publicly thank Sarah Hawkins of Concordia University, one of our interns, for all her hard work these past months - we'll miss her!
Kay
Back here in Austin, Ron Dennie and some of the Aztex PDL players will be making an appearance at the 3x3 Live Soccer tournament at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock tomorrow (12/13) See the website for details.
We are busy putting the final details together for the season ticket packages and we hope to have some t-shirts with the new logo for sale in both Soccer USA stores next week - just in time for Christmas!
Lastly, I just wanted to publicly thank Sarah Hawkins of Concordia University, one of our interns, for all her hard work these past months - we'll miss her!
Kay
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Notes from the Coach
Well… it has been 9 months, 1 week, and 5 days since it was announced that I agreed to become the first-ever head coach of the Austin Aztex. What have I been doing since I arrived in the States, you might ask? Well, I have traveled the length and breadth of your beautiful country—north to south, east to west. “I’ve been everywhere, man.” I have watched youth football, college football, pro football, playoffs, showcases, combines, all in the pursuit of players to try and make our first season in pro football a great success.
As you are probably aware, last week we signed Kieron Bernard, making him our second signing after goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo. Two down, 25 to go! I can assure you all, Phil and I are extremely busy talking and negotiating with agents, college coaches and players to fill our roster with quality and motivated players.
With the USL and MLS seasons now done, it seems quite strange that we are just starting to get down to what I call “proper management,” signing players, organizing tryouts, travel arrangements, hotels, training ground equipment etc. You name it, we’re doing it! As you can see, we are extremely busy here but I could not be happier. This is what I do as a “proper job.” Last week we finally answered the question I have been asked most since I arrived, “Where are you going to play?” The answer is Nelson Field. We tried for House Park but unfortunately the locker rooms are being rebuilt and will not be ready until our 2009 season is well under way.
Adrian Heath
Thursday, December 4, 2008
A smooth transition...
Since joining the Austin Aztex in a full time role as their Camp Director and Youth Club Liaison this past August, my daily routine has changed dramatically.
Before as a local youth club coach, I was in the home office throughout the day and at the fields every night and weekend. These days I'm a bona fide nine t0 fiver battling the Austin traffic! Instead of meeting nightly with the kids teaching them soccer skills, I'm now spending my days meeting with local youth club officials and coaches in an effort to build working relationships within our community.
Honestly, it has been a smooth transition and that is very much down to all the local club officials and coaches that have gone out of their way to set aside time out of their busy schedule to meet with me and the Austin Aztex. Yes, pro soccer has arrived in Austin and it is here for everyone to enjoy. I'm looking forward to continuing to have dialogue with all the youth clubs as we work together to grow the beautiful game in our community.
Finally, Aztex Soccer Camps begin this Holiday season. Our first camp will run December 22, 23, 24 out at the WAYA fields off Cesar Chavez near Town Lake, while the second camp will run December 29, 30, 31 out at The Quarries of Hyde Park Baptist Church off the Mopac turnaround just north of Braker Lane. Both camps will run from 8:30-Noon and all campers will receive first-class instruction from professional Aztex players and camp staff, a soccer ball, camp t-shirt, and stadium scarf.
Ron Dennie
Before as a local youth club coach, I was in the home office throughout the day and at the fields every night and weekend. These days I'm a bona fide nine t0 fiver battling the Austin traffic! Instead of meeting nightly with the kids teaching them soccer skills, I'm now spending my days meeting with local youth club officials and coaches in an effort to build working relationships within our community.
Honestly, it has been a smooth transition and that is very much down to all the local club officials and coaches that have gone out of their way to set aside time out of their busy schedule to meet with me and the Austin Aztex. Yes, pro soccer has arrived in Austin and it is here for everyone to enjoy. I'm looking forward to continuing to have dialogue with all the youth clubs as we work together to grow the beautiful game in our community.
Finally, Aztex Soccer Camps begin this Holiday season. Our first camp will run December 22, 23, 24 out at the WAYA fields off Cesar Chavez near Town Lake, while the second camp will run December 29, 30, 31 out at The Quarries of Hyde Park Baptist Church off the Mopac turnaround just north of Braker Lane. Both camps will run from 8:30-Noon and all campers will receive first-class instruction from professional Aztex players and camp staff, a soccer ball, camp t-shirt, and stadium scarf.
Ron Dennie
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
New website, new partnership, and Tony Pulis
Hello everyone!
Just wanted to give you all a quick update about what's been going on in the Aztex offices. As many of you have noticed, we updated our web site yesterday. We're all very pleased with the new look. This will allow us to keep a much tidier website and hopefully it will be much easier for you to navigate. We're still tweaking it so bear with us and check back often for updates and the latest information on the Aztex!
Speaking of latest information, yesterday, in conjunction with our website relaunch, we announced our new partnership with Rayados from Club de Futbol Monterrey. This partnership will be very similar to our relationship with Stoke City in that we will serve as a feeder club for Monterrey. In addition, both teams will share players, best practices, as well as play exhibition games.
And speaking of Stoke, hope everyone had a chance to see Stoke City Manager Tony Pulis last night on Fox Football Fone-In on Fox Soccer Channel. Pulis, who pulled a latenighter (1 am UK time), was interviewed by the two show hosts and actually answered viewer questions for more than a half hour on the show. It was a great interview. We are currently trying to get a copy of the interview to post on our web site.
Kyle Dalton
Just wanted to give you all a quick update about what's been going on in the Aztex offices. As many of you have noticed, we updated our web site yesterday. We're all very pleased with the new look. This will allow us to keep a much tidier website and hopefully it will be much easier for you to navigate. We're still tweaking it so bear with us and check back often for updates and the latest information on the Aztex!
Speaking of latest information, yesterday, in conjunction with our website relaunch, we announced our new partnership with Rayados from Club de Futbol Monterrey. This partnership will be very similar to our relationship with Stoke City in that we will serve as a feeder club for Monterrey. In addition, both teams will share players, best practices, as well as play exhibition games.
And speaking of Stoke, hope everyone had a chance to see Stoke City Manager Tony Pulis last night on Fox Football Fone-In on Fox Soccer Channel. Pulis, who pulled a latenighter (1 am UK time), was interviewed by the two show hosts and actually answered viewer questions for more than a half hour on the show. It was a great interview. We are currently trying to get a copy of the interview to post on our web site.
Kyle Dalton
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