Namazi Goes For Landmark Win In Thursday Match Up Against KiXX
Published on March 19, 2008 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release
NEWARK, NJ - When the New Jersey Ironmen (13-13) host the defending MISL champion Philadelphia KiXX (11-15) this Thursday at Prudential Center, Ironmen Head Coach Omid Namazi seeks out his 150th career regular season win against the team he once coached to a league championship. He would be in elite company if New Jersey is victorious, becoming only the sixth coach in MISL history to reach the landmark.
"My greatest motivation has always been my fear of failure," Namazi stated. "I will go to any extent to make sure we have the proper players, system and mentality to prevent that from happening."
Namazi, a two-time MISL Coach of the Year (2005, 2006), picked up his first coaching win with the aforementioned KiXX in 1999. As a player for Philadelphia, he is the all-time leader in assists (209) and fourth in blocks (240). He led the club to the league finals in 2001 as a player/coach and was named the MISL Defender of the Year before spearheading the KiXX to the 2002 MISL championship.
After that championship season, Namazi spent 2003 as the head coach of the San Diego Spirit of the Women's United Soccer Association, leading the franchise to their first and only playoff appearance. He finished out the calendar year back in the MISL as a player for the Cleveland Force before taking over head coaching duties in 2004. At the conclusion of the 2004-05 season, he again found himself coaching in the MISL championship with the Force before moving on to the St. Louis Steamers the next season. With his All-Star forward Shaun David, he guided the Steamers to a 23-7 regular season record and yet another championship appearance. Although coming up short in those two championship series, Namazi had gone to his fourth straight league championship in seasons which he had coached the entire year.
One thing that Namazi has placed a large emphasis upon when compiling his roster over the years deals with a certain personality trait.
"So much of this game comes down to character," he remarked. "This is a tough game, and mentally tough players are needed to perform successfully."
The Thursday match up against the KiXX will also possess critical postseason implications. With a win over Philadelphia on Thursday coupled with an additional New Jersey win or KiXX loss in the remaining three games of the season, the Ironmen secure a playoff berth in just their inaugural season.
"The way the playoff format is set, it really is a new season once the postseason begins," Namazi commented. "I feel that if we are healthy and rested, we can compete with anybody in this league."
Kickoff for the Thursday night match up with the KiXX will be 7:30 p.m. with Philadelphia currently leading the season series, 2-0. The theme of the evening will be "Sports Bottle Night" in which all fans in attendance will receive a complimentary Ironmen Sports Bottle courtesy of JAG Physical Therapy (while supplies last). Tickets for the contest can be purchased in advance by calling 1-800-IRONMEN!
NOTE: This game was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 22. Fans with tickets for the March 22 date will have those tickets honored on March 20 or can contact 1-800-IRONMEN to have them honored at one of remaining regular season home games.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 19, 2008
- Ignition Weekly - Detroit Ignition
- Wave Weekly - Milwaukee Wave
- Chicago Storm Weekly - Chicago Storm
- Namazi Goes For Landmark Win In Thursday Match Up Against KiXX - New Jersey Ironmen
- Wave's School Day Exhibition Thrills Nearly 6,500 - Milwaukee Wave
- KiXX Face Ironmen March 20 in Critical Matchup - Philadelphia KiXX
- KiXX travel to New Jersey on March 20 for match with playoff implications - Philadelphia KiXX
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