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Match Preview: Aztex vs. Miami FC, August 29th

August 28, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Austin Aztex News Release


AUSTIN, Texas - With the addition this week of several players including USL-2 leading scorer and former Aztex PDL forward Jamie Watson and the playoffs no longer an option, Austin head coach Adrian Heath has started looking to the future and molding a roster into shape for next season. Although the remaining games on the Aztex schedule including Saturday's matchup at Nelson Field against Miami FC may not help the team make the playoffs in 2009, each game is extremely important as it will serve as an evaluation, a job interview of sorts, for a coaching staff looking to rebuild a team that makes tremendous strides in 2010.

Watson joined the Aztex this week after playing this past season in USL-2 for the Wilmington Hammerheads. The former U.S. youth international, who played in 2008 for the Austin PDL squad, led all of USL-2 in scoring with 12 goals and six assists and was named Co-MVP of the league as he led the Hammerheads to the regular season championship and into the playoffs. Heath said bringing in a scorer like Watson was out of necessity with both Eddie Johnson (back) and Gifton Noel-Williams (hamstring) suffering from nagging injuries.

"We are obviously in a position with Eddie and Gifton being injured and Kyle Brown is our only recognized striker. We know Jamie from last year. Now he has the opportunity to show us what he can do. He didn't want to go to second division and proved he was determined and he was the top scorer. Now he has the opportunity to show me that he wants to be a USL-1 player with the Austin Aztex and he can prove that in the next six games."

For this week's other new addition, Salif Diao-Jimenez, a former Stoke City Academy player and the cousin of Senegal captain and current Stoke City midfielder Salif Diao, the circumstances surrounding his arrival in Austin might be different, but the ultimate goal remains the same-prove your worth the remainder of the season and who knows what the future in Austin and beyond might hold.

"Salif is the result of our relationship between ourselves and Stoke City and how it can reap rewards. He's still young at this point (19). He was borderline over there. This is a great opportunity for him as well because there is a big gap of youth-college football to playing in men's football like Stoke City and the Premier League. This (USL-1) is like an in-between step. I see this where he can play well over here and he might be able to go back over there at some point."

Heath said while Diao-Jimenez and Watson both will have a chance to show their ability this Saturday against Miami, the final stretch of games is an opportunity for all the players on the squad to prove to Heath and anyone else interested that they are ready to play professional soccer at a high level.

"Like I've said before, these guys have everything to play for-their careers. Anyone who thinks because we're out of the playoffs means we won't play hard, that couldn't be further from the truth," Heath said.

When asked about the this weekend's opponent, a Miami squad that comes into Austin after suffering an embarrassing 9-0 loss to Carolina on Wednesday, Heath said he's already warned his players about being complacent.

"Obviously, the score line is very unusual. These are professionals. Their pride will be hurt and damaged. We have to be careful for payback. It's like a wounded dog or animal and they could be very dangerous. We have to be aware because it's human nature and people fight back. I've mentioned to the players that anyone who thinks they're going to come in here and lay down, they've got another thing coming."



USL First Division Stories from August 28, 2009


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