Scarves Up: Flight 19
Scarves Up will be a feature over the course of the offseason to get the perspective from the stands and the great supporters around the North American Soccer League (NASL).
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers were the NASL Runners-Up a season ago. Now with new owners, including Brazilian legend Ronaldo, the club will look to return to the Championship game and win their first ever Soccer Bowl trophy. NASL.com spoke to Flight 19 president Zach Reese as he discussed Ronaldo, players switching a Strikers kit for a Tampa Bay Rowdies one and more.
NASL: Who is Flight 19?
Flight 19: Flight 19 is just a group of friends, family, players, and passionate soccer fans dedicated to supporting the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in any way we can, while having great time doing it.
NASL: Ronaldo is now one of the owners, what does that mean for Flight 19 to have a soccer legend involved with the club?
F19: It's great news that Ronaldo has decided to invest in the Strikers with Ricardo Geromel and the guys. A name like that will surely have positive affects on the club. He is a legend in the soccer world and will join George Best, Teófilo Cubillas, Gordon Banks, Ray Hudson, and the rest of the growing list of legends to have their name associated with this club.
NASL: Along with Ronaldo, there is a trio of Brazilians who purchased the club last September; do you expect some more Brazilian flair in player signings as well?
F19: Paolo Cesso, Ricardo, and Rafael Bertani are a great group of guys, and I trust they will build a winning team regardless of whether it has Brazilian flair or not. Although, it would be nice if the Ronaldinho rumors circulating were true, wouldn't it?
NASL: The Rowdies have signed a few former Strikers and added Thomas Rongen as the head coach, do you expect the rivalry to be even more intense in 2015?
F19: It's tough to see guys like Martin Nunez and Darnell King go to the dark side, and Thomas Rongen as well, because of the all around wonderful person he is, but no good rivalry goes without trading a few names along the way. I think it will definitely add to the rivalry, and we look forward to seeing those guys three times a year for the foreseeable future.
NASL: What does Flight 19 have in store for the 2015 season at Lockhart Stadium?
F19: Hopefully, a great season of growth and support for the Strikers! We'll probably work some of our signature tifo displays in there as well.
NASL: What are you expecting from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on the pitch this season?
F19: Honestly, I expect to see a team rebuilding and working out the kinks of having new ownership, at least for the Spring Season anyway. I would hope though that eventually the right pieces are put in place to make a run at the NASL Championship again this year. That was a lot of fun down the stretch in 2014.
