March 4 – The US third tier National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) league, which has just started its Spring season having completed an inaugural Fall season last year, will have a new team in 2021 with the New Jersey Teamsters Football Club (NJTFC).
NJTFC will take the current NISA roster to nine teams, though both Atlanta SC and NY Cosmos who are not playing in the current Spring season are affiliated to the league and, if they play, will take the league to 11 clubs.
Founded in 2017, NJTFC is owned by Sibrena Stowe-Geraldino, makes history as the first female African American principal owner of a professional soccer team in the US, and husband Alexsi Geraldino, the first Dominican American professional soccer club owner in the US.
The team played its first season in the UPSL and starting this month will hold a series of trials and start to play friendlies in preparation for a 2021 debut, playing home matches at the Don Ahern Veterans Stadium Bayonne, New Jersey.
Stowe-Geraldino said: “The league shares our core values and we all are change agents in American soccer who believe in the spirit of excellence, integrity and inclusion. Our region has a tremendous amount of talent and we are looking forward to providing players with the opportunity to try out and play professional soccer.”
A club statement said: “New Jersey Teamsters Football Club’s mission is to become an open and multicultural club, respected in the US and around the world for its achievements in sports and its values which coincides with the club operating with the ‘Spirit of Excellence’ on and off the pitch, and contributing to fulfilling the expectations of its supporters.”
NISA played its inaugural Fall season last year in a two conference eight-team format that was reduced to seven teams when Philadelphia Fury pulled out. It’s Spring season has now played one round of matches in an eight team league.
Teams debuting include Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC, Michigan Stars and Oakland Roots. They join California United Strikers, San Diego 1904, Stumptown Athletic, and LA Force who played in the Fall season.
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