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Media Kit: Archived Press Releases
Shell Shockers Kick-off Campaign on Saturday
May 5, 2006
The New Orleans Shell Shockers kick-off their fourth season tomorrow (NOTE: SATURDAY) with a testing game in Laredo.
They travel to west Texas to take on The Heat, last year’s conference runners-up who scored four goals against the Austin Lightening to win their first game of this campaign.
It is a tough opener for the Premier Development League team who next weekend face a daunting double header away to league champions El Paso. And the game not only counts towards vital league points but also acts as a qualifier for the US Open Cup.
But Shell Shockers Head Coach Kenny Farrell is relishing the challenge and is convinced his side have both the talent and determination to make it to the national finals.
He said: “I am confident we will do well and man-for-man I think we have better players. But it’s always tough when you are on the road and we will approach this game a little bit conservatively.
“Our away record is not as good as it should be because in the past we have tended to be too cavalier and then we go a goal behind and end up chasing the game.”
It is the first competitive game the outfit have played in nine months, and despite the difficulties posed for a minor league franchise in post-Katrina New Orleans Kenny is upbeat about his side’s chances of success this season.
He has been busy strengthening his roster and this season it will have more of an international make-up: Two young players from English Premier League outfit Reading are due to arrive this weekend, an Irish duo came in on Thursday and seven Hondurans have been added to the squad. Former Costa Rican star Martine Montero meanwhile has been promoted to assistant coach.
But Kenny has made sure the club’s heart is centered on a local core representing the cream of New Orleans’ soccer talent. He said: “Ex-Jesuit PJ Kee will be captain, and I am grateful to have Nick Lambert from Brother Martin High School back because his injury in the first game of last season was a massive blow to us.
“Pre-season they have been blending well with the foreigners like Pablo Araya from Chile who scored 11 goals last campaign. He will be a better player with a season under his belt and won’t let defenders intimidate him like they sometimes did last year.
“This year the Shell Shockers are not just representing soccer but are a symbol of the rebirth of a whole city. We are dedicated to New Orleans and need to give the people something they can be proud of, and we are determined to win the championship not just for ourselves but for the community and the success-starved sports fans of New Orleans. This is a massive year for us.”
The Shell Shockers first home game will be at Pan American Stadium on Saturday May 20 at 5pm against the DFW Tornados.