We are excited about partnering with the TPSL this season. It’s going to be a great season with lots of important matchups and quality players. Here’s a sneak peak from the Houston Dutch Lions:
1. What are your goals for the TPSL season?
The Houston Dutch Lions FC’s main objective for this inaugural TPSL season is to develop the young, talented players selected for our squad. With this we are looking to not only develop their technical skills, but their tactical and mental game as well. We feel our squad is full of talent and the TPSL is the ideal league for them to showcase their abilities. We view the TPSL as a platform where players can make mistakes and learn from them. One of the key factors that made the Houston Dutch Lions FC decide to join the TPSL was the fact that it is a league were players can play year-round, but still fits into our USL PDL schedule. The TPSL is an ideal place for us to improve and develop players for our other squads as well. We expect a tough season where all the teams will play good soccer and force us to play quality soccer for the whole 90 minutes.
2. What players are key to your success this season?
The Houston Dutch Lions FC TPSL roster has a number of players with USL PDL, USL Super 20, NPSL, and college experience who all look to make an impact this season. Defender Juan Lozoya previously played two seasons for the Houston Leones (USL PDL), two seasons for the Laredo Heat (USL PDL), and one for the Houston Dutch Lions FC (USL PDL). Lozoya is one of the most experienced players on the squad. Midfielder/forward Jonathan Sanchez, 20 years old, played on the club’s USL PDL team in the summer of 2013 and found his way into the goal column. Another young player from Dickinson, TX, Jose Alvarez is a player to keep an eye out for. Alvarez started 2012 with the club’s Houston Football Association (HFA) team and worked himself onto the 2013 USL PDL team. Luke Keogh, a St Gregory’s University alumni, is also one of the older and more experienced players. With 4 years playing soccer in college, the 22 year old native of Ireland will be one of the key players in the club’s TPSL team.
3. What can you tell us about your coaching and front office staff?
The club is very pleased to announce the coaches for the upcoming TPSL season. Marco Pruis has been selected as the team’s head coach with Davy Zwaard and Jan Hereijgers being chosen to take on the role of assistant coaches. Pruis was the assistant coach for the Dutch Lions USL PDL squad this past summer and is also the club’s Technical Director. Zwaard coached the Lions USL Super 20 over the summer and is also the club’s Director of Coaching. Hereijgers is the club’s Youth Academy Director and spent the summer coaching the Lions PDL Reserve squad. Team operations will be handled by the club’s Operation Manager, Bryan Payne, who is also the Team Manager for the club’s USL PDL team.
The Houston Dutch Lions FC front office has been successfully managing the club for just over a year. The president of Houston Dutch Lions FC is Martin Kroeze. Robbert Kroeze is the team’s Vice President and CFO with Dennis Kroeze filling the roles of both Business Director and CEO.
4. What can you tell us about your home facility?
The opening of the TPSL season coincides with a very special time for the Houston Dutch Lions. The first week of October is scheduled to see the grand opening of the club’s own soccer complex. The completion of Phase I of our new complex is the realization of our goal of being the only non-MLS soccer club/ youth academy in Houston with its own training facilities. Our new complex will be where our TPSL squad will train and play all of its home games. The initial phase will feature two full-size turf fields featuring the highest quality, soccer- specific turf shipped in from The Netherlands. Before the start of the second half of the season we hope to see the completion of a club house and offices on the property as well. The Houston Dutch Lions FC looks forward to welcoming all the other teams in the league, as well as their fans, to our new home. The field is located in Conroe, TX.
5. What can you share about your club as a whole?
The Houston Dutch Lions FC strives to be the premier club in the greater Houston area providing entertaining soccer to all our fans. In addition to our youth academy and amateur adult training, we look to serve as a resource within the local community and develop strong local partnerships. The HDLFC is a partner of the Dutch Lions Capitol group and we have entered our third year serving the Houston area. In the summer of 2012 the club welcomed in a new owner and front office staff. With the new group, the club changed its title from Texas Dutch Lions to Houston Dutch Lions FC in early 2013. The club has seen tremendous growth in the past year with the expansion of its youth academy, a second season in the USL PDL, a second successful season in the USL Super 20, several seasons in the Houston Football Association and of course joining the Texas Premier Soccer League. We feel our continued involvement in all of these high quality leagues and the construction of our new complex show our club’s commitment to excellence. The Houston Dutch Lions FC intends to ensure a long-term presence in the Greater Houston community while continuing to provide professional, high-level soccer training.
