3/11/2009 12:22:00 PM The boys of summer will be back soon
Paul Scope Sun columnist
Despite the harsh economic climate, the Bermuda Hogges will be back playing in the USL Division 2, this year. The first home game, at the National Stadium, will be on May 1st with the Hogges opening the season the previous weekend with back-to-back games against Crystal Palace Baltimore and Real Maryland.
The USL Div 2 champions, Cleveland City Stars, went up to Division 1, but there will still be a 20 game season with the Hogges playing four teams three times and four teams twice during the course of the season.
With no clashes with the National Team this season, there is real hope in the camp to secure a play off spot at the end of the season.
Despite the generousity of the founding sponsors, Bermuda Hogges FC has lost significant amounts amounts of money in both the inaugural and the sophomore season. This was to be expected, with travel costs being the main culprit, but we had hoped to break even in year 3.
This will prove very challenging in these hard times, but there are causes for optimism:-
1) Our existing supporters have been incredibly supportive and there are new sponsors interested.
2) The Bermuda Football Association have assisted greatly with initiatives involving opposing teams playing extra games after they play the Hogges. This is anticipated to defer some of the costs involved with bringing in opposing teams and referees.
3) We have a new kit deal with Umbro, with a 1,000 new replica shirts on their way to Bermuda. They will be on sale at our first home game and in sports stores after that.
4) Our fixtures have been kinder to us this year, enabling more efficient travel.
5) Ticket prices will be lower this year.
6) Our players should be stronger, fitter, faster and now, more experienced at this level.
We had a meeting with the players last week and pre-season training starts next Monday.
This year, all our players have been taking part in the winter domestic leagues , so they should be fitter than they were when reporting to training a year ago.
They are raring to go.
We plan to bring back the bulk of the guys who finished the season in August 2008, plus a few new faces.
We have lost the services of John Barry Nusum, but we are delighted for John as he continues his ambition to play top-class professional football. We were firmly behind his move to Crystal Palace Baltimore who, ironically, we play on the first weekend of the season. Palace have had success in getting players off to a higher level with Val Texeria joining Chesterfield Town and Matthew Mboutu playing with Khano Smith at New York Red Bulls.
This should serve as a great example for the rest of our players.
We can see a long term plan emerging where young players go into Derek Broadley's BFA Academy, go off to colleges with soccer scholarships and return to play for the Hogges after graduation. There is still room at the Hogges for those who don't go to college and, of course, we hope some go off to play at a higher level, just like Khano, John Barry and David (Bascome).
We are looking forward to getting the Bermuda public firmly behind us this year. We are reducing ticket prices, aiming for improved performances and praying for better game day weather than last year.
Remember, if you are a Cougars fan or a PHC fan, or any domestic league club fan.....you can still be a Hogges fan! The seasons don't overlap, we have most of the National team playing for us AND we may have some of your club players in the team.
