The Dutch Lions FC is starting a second club in Ohio with the acquisition of the Premier Development League franchise in Cincinnati. The team will play under the name Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC and will start league play in May 2014. The team will consist of top college players and several Dutch players and have a close partnership with the professional team in Dayton that plays in the USL PRO Division.
Different than the Dutch Lions FC clubs in Dayton and Houston, the Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC will not have a youth academy system, but instead solely focus on a Men’s team.
Mike Mossel, President of the Dutch Lions Capital Group BV and Dayton Dutch Lions FC, commented on the acquisition:
“Starting with the Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC feels like coming home. When Erik (Tammer) and I wanted to start a professional soccer club in the USA back in 2009, Cincinnati was our first choice since I went to Xavier University and played for the Cincinnati Riverhawks in the USL A-League. Back then I already saw the potential and need for a high level soccer team and professionally run organization. But at that point the Kings already had the license so we moved up north to Dayton. We are very happy to be there and the last year we have been exploring the option to start a PDL team. I can’t wait to go back to my old school Xavier University and offer the local soccer community a high level of soccer and get people excited.”
