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Media Kit: Archived Press Releases
Shockers Players Meet Superstars from English Premiership Champions Chelsea
August 8, 2006Two New Orleans Shell Shockers players have rubbed shoulders with the biggest names in world soccer after meeting the star-studded Chelsea team.
Ex-Jesuit and LSU pupil and current captain PJ Kee, 24, from New Orleans, and English defender Nick Beasant, 20, met up with the glamorous club at their luxury hotel in Chicago. Chelsea - who boast the most expensive squad ever assembled in the history of soccer - were in the Windy City for an exhibition game against the MLS All-Stars.
The night before the match Kee and Beasant mingled with World Cup standouts like Michael Ballack of Germany, Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko and Petr Cech from the Czech Republic. They also talked with assistant manager Steve Clarke, a Chelsea legend who lined-up for the London side for 11 years.
Then they got the chance to meet coach Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese national who has led Chelsea to back-to-back English Premiership league titles since taking charge two years ago, and present him with a Shell Shockers replica shirt.
The next morning the pair was invited on a team stroll around Chicago's Magnificent Mile, and handed Chelsea captain John Terry a specially-printed Shell Shockers jersey featuring his squad number 26. They also received complimentary tickets for prime seats on the halfway line for the game at the new stadium of MLS side Chicago Fire.
Kee said Tuesday: "It was a truly unbelievable experience. When I was learning to play soccer in New Orleans never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever meet the biggest stars in the world."
Beasant added: "We spent quite a while talking to staff and players, and Steve Clarke and John Terry in particular were keen to know how things were in New Orleans and how the Shell Shockers were doing.
"We offered Jose Mourinho a choice of the white home top or the black away one and he said he preferred the white, so I'll be watching their games on TV closely to see if he is wearing it!"
A Chelsea spokesman said: "We wanted to do something to show our support not only for the Shell Shockers, but also the soccer fans who are struggling to rebuild their lives in post-Katrina New Orleans. We were delighted Nick and PJ could join us in Chicago."