Brief preview: PR Islanders vs NSC Minnesota

April 21, 2010

For the 2010 season we will continue posting our match previews before each game (time permitting). Tonight’s season opener though is quite an interesting match to try and preview. On one hand, the Islanders haven’t had much of a pre-season and there really hasn’t been much communication roster-wise from the club’s front office. Then on the other, we have a Minnesota team in it’s first season.

Minnesota so far has played 2 games (both away) where they lost one to Vancouver (2-0) and won one against the Railhawks (1-0). Puerto Rico hasn’t played any DivII matches but won decisively in their Caribbean club competition match-up. With several key players back for the 2010 season (such as Delgado, Gaudette, Velez), and playing at home – the odds are that the Islanders will win their season opener tonight.

I would expect something around a 3-1 score – but then again, no one is quite sure yet what to expect of this 2010 version of the Islanders.

What are your predictions? Join the conversation on twitter: @pasionnaranja

2 Comments | islanders, Match Previews | Permalink
Posted by KVD

Puerto Rico Islanders roster 2010

April 21, 2010

Below you will find the current 2010 roster for the Puerto Rico Islanders as released by the team’s front office.

Number     -     Name     -     Position     -     Nationality

4  – Marco Velez – Defense – Puerto Rico

6  – Alexis Rivera – Defense  – Puerto Rico

3  – Richard Martinez – Defense – Puerto Rico

2  – Scott Jones  – Defense  – Puerto Rico

19  – Kevon Villaroel  – Defense – Trinidad & Tobago

21  – Logan Emory  – Defense  – USA

18  – Osei Telesford  – Midfield/Defense  – Trinidad & Tobago

5  – Noah Delgado  – Midfield  – USA/Puerto Rico

15  – Sandy Gbandi  – Midfield  – Liberia

8  – Christopher Nurse  – Midfield  – Guyana/UK

12  – Anthony Allison  – Midfield  – USA

16  – Joseph Salem  – Midfield  – USA

14  – Junior Sandoval  – Midfield  – Honduras

22  – Shaka Bangura  – Midfield/Forward  – Sierra Leone/USA

11  – Nicholas Addlery  – Forward  – Jamaica

10  – Kendall Jagdeosingh  – Forward  – Trinidad & Tobago

20  – Joshua Hansen  – Forward  – USA

7  – David Foley  – Forward  – UK

1  – William Gaudette – Goalkeeper  – USA

The following players are still in the process of finishing their registration and approval by the USSF DivII:

9  – Jonathan Faña Frias  – Midfield/Forward  – Dominican Republic

23  – Cody Laurendi  – Goalkeeper  – USA

13  – David Horst  – Defense  – USA

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Posted by KVD

One on One Interview with Alexis Rivera

October 6, 2009

Alexis-Rivera-Curet

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to sit down with Alexis Rivera and ask him some questions about the Islanders’ season as well as his future prospects. The interview was conducted before the USL-1 playoffs so it doesn’t reflect those results.

You can find the audio below: (in Spanish)

Interview with Alexis Rivera

One particularly interesting part is where Rivera mentions his dismay with the lack of minutes he’s had on the team in the past couple of seasons and his desire to move to another league or team if he can’t play regularly as part of the Islanders.

Leave a Comment » | islanders, Media, News | Permalink
Posted by KVD

One on One Interview with Marco Velez

October 6, 2009

090812marcoveleznt

We recently sat down with Islanders defender Marco Velez for a one on one interview. Velez is captain of the Puerto Rico national team and recently rejoined the Puerto Rico Islanders after spending 2 seasons with MLS club Toronto FC.

With all the team news and commitments recently we hadn’t been able to upload the interview until now. As it was conducted a few weeks ago, the interview doesn’t touch upon the most recent Islanders news and events.

You can find the audio below (in Spanish):

One on One Interview with Marco Velez

In the interview Marco talks about being back with the Islanders, the lost trust in Toronto, future plans, and a couple of things he thinks Puerto Rico needs in order to continue developing soccer effectively on the Island.

If you would like an English transcript, please let us know.

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Posted by KVD

Announcing the Winners of the PasionNaranja Fan Awards

September 30, 2009

littlebigplanet-trophy

With a higher than expected turnout, the 1st ever PasionNaranja Islanders Fan Awards accomplished what was originally intended – to involve a large number of ‘Tropa Naranja’ fans in selecting the players to receive honors for their accomplishments throughout the season. While some categories were very close calls, others were won by landslide votes. It is important to note that the fans are appreciative of the efforts of all our players and that these awards are simply a way to recognize outstanding performances and to encourage even more such performances in the future. Our hope is that these fan awards will become a yearly tradition in the Islanders fan community.

Now, to announce the winners:

Rookie of the Year – Nicholas Addlery

041809-VAN-PR62% of participants had little trouble in choosing the Jamaican international as rookie of the year. Coming from the Vancouver Whitecaps, Addlery immediately made a positive impact in both the USL and the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL).

…Continue reading

1 Comment | islanders, News, USL News | Permalink
Posted by KVD

Puerto Rico All-Stars vs Islanders?

September 18, 2009

Logo-PRSL

Last week, Puerto Rico Soccer League (PRSL) Commissioner Ramon Ayala revealed that the league is currently in talks with the Islanders for a possible exhibition match between the USL-1 club and an ‘All-Star’ team of PRSL players.

Ayala was quoted in the media as saying: “We are discussing the creation of an ‘all-star’ team of the PRSL for a friendly match against the Islanders in the near future”.

He then went on to say: “We have already consulted it with the president of the league (Miguel Roca) and all that’s missing is for it to be finalized. Soccer in Puerto Rico is going through a great moment and this would be part of the continued development.”

The Puerto Rico Soccer League just finished its second season of existence and finds itself attempting to increase its fan base on the Island. A friendly between the Islanders and an ‘all-star’ team of the PRSL would be a real treat for all Puerto Rico soccer fans – particularly those who are curious as to how the domestic league can matchup against the most important professional team on the Island.

With the Islanders currently focused on the USL-1 playoffs and the CONCACAF Champions League – a friendly would probably not be able to take place until after October, when the Islanders would be done with their season.

Leave a Comment » | Futbol PR, islanders | Permalink
Posted by KVD

The September schedule – a tough test for the Islanders

September 9, 2009

schedule_clipart

If the Islanders thought they had a tough schedule in July – with game after game on the road – September will be several times worse. Not only are the players starting to show signs of fatigue at this point in the season, but the Islanders will now be playing do-or-die matches in both the USL and the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL).

The schedule started this past Sunday (Sept, 6th) with the match against the Rhinos in Bayamon. Two days later on Tuesday, the Islanders hosted the Carolina RailHawks. The next day, they traveled from Puerto Rico to Minnesota to face the Thunder on Thursday night. The day after that match, the team travels from Minnesota to North Carolina to face the RailHawks on Thursday night. That’s 4 matches in 3 different cities in just 1 week.

After this, the Islanders travel back to Puerto Rico to face Cruz Azul next Tuesday in the CCL. A few days later – the team will then travel to Miami for their Saturday match, the Islanders’ last game of the regular season. Puerto Rico then travels back to Bayamon to face Saprissa the following Tuesday (Sept 22nd) for another CCL match.

…Continue reading

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Posted by KVD

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