Sports stats



Silverbacks Set for Fall Season Home Opener

July 10, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


Atlanta Silverbacks (1-5-5, 8 points) vs.

Jacksonville Armada (3-3-5, 12 points)

When: Saturday, July 11 | 7:30 p.m.

Where: Atlanta Silverbacks Park | Atlanta, Ga.

Watch: ESPN3

Preview

Tickets

New Twitter resources for Silverbacks fans

@SilverbacksLive - Silverbacks Live aims to bring fans - both in the stadium and at home - comprehensive coverage and instant reaction during Atlanta's matches. Most in-game coverage (play-by-play, lineups, score updates) will be sent from the new account, while the main account will be reserved for big moments, streaming links, and official announcements.

@LosSilverbacks - Last week, the Silverbacks launched a dedicated Spanish-language Twitter feed to provide all the updates and news from the Silverbacks. Unlike @SilverbacksLive, @LosSilverbacks will constantly be active - whether it's important news, weekly previews, important announcements or, of course, in-match coverage.

New signings bring depth, excitement in time for Fall Season home opener

Head coach Gary Smith got right to work as the transfer window opened this week, bringing an assortment of new signings to to his Silverbacks squad for the Fall Season. Including last week's additions of Japanese-born full back Kosuke Kimura, who will be eligible to play Saturday, and defender Abdul Bangura, Smith has inked six players for his second NASL split season.

Attacking midfielder and El Salvador international Junior Burgos returned to the Club on Monday, as did 25-year-old twins Pedro and Paulo Mendes, who share a variety of NASL experience that includes stints in Atlanta and a Soccer Bowl appearance. Pedro, a striker, scored 12 goals for Atlanta from 2012-2013 and played with Indy Eleven and Minnesota United last year. Paulo, a midfielder, suited up for the Silverbacks in 2012 before moving to the New York Cosmos, where he won a NASL championship in 2013.

Veteran defenders Mohammed Issahaku and Abdul Bangura were also promoted to the first team after spending time with the Silverbacks Reserves in 2015. Abdul Bangura, Shaka's cousin, played nine league games for the Silverbacks last year and made his 2015 NASL return Saturday against Tampa Bay. Issahaku, a Ghana native, appeared in the 2014 CONCACAF Champions League while playing for CD FAS in El Salvador, his most recent professional club.

Gold Cup rolls on for Ceus, Haiti

Silverbacks goalkeeper Steward Ceus will again be missing for Saturday night's league match as Gold Cup play continues for the Haitian national team, which was drawn into Group A with the United States, Panama, and Honduras. Les Grenadiers opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Panama and face the United States - the current Gold Cup holders and one of just three nations to ever win the tournament - Friday night in Boston's Gillette Stadium. One of three NASL players in Haiti's final 23-man roster, Ceus was available from the bench in the first match.

In the build for the U.S.-Haiti showdown, Ceus also took over the Silverbacks' Snapchat account (Username: 'atlsilverbacks') to bring fans along for his Gold Cup journey, making him the first Atlanta player to take over the account. Beginning Thursday, the shot-stopper gave fans an inside look into Haiti's preparation, and the behind-the-scenes posts from Ceus will continue on Haiti's gameday (8:30 ET, FOX Sports 1).

New national broadcast partner announced for NASL

ONE World Sports and the NASL announced Monday a national broadcast partnership that will result in a weekly Wednesday night NASL game and a highlight show called NASL This Week. The deal adds to NASL's existing agreement with to broadcast games online at the network's ESPN3 platform.

"ONE World Sports' incredible production quality and growing viewership footprint make it an ideal network for our new 'Game of the Week' concept and weekly highlight show," said NASL commissioner Bill Peterson. "This addition complements our global streaming partnership with ESPN, as well as our existing local television broadcasts."

NASL and ONE World Sports linked up for their first Game of the Week on Wednesday, July 8, a mere two days after the announcement. The Carolina RailHawks hosted the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at WakeMed Soccer Park, and JP Dellacamera - who called the Women's World Cup Final in Vancouver days earlier - joined former Cosmos goalkeeper Shep Messing in the ONE World Sports broadcast booth.

• Discuss this story on the North American Soccer League message board...

North American Soccer League Stories from July 10, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Atlanta Silverbacks Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central