By Antonio R. Harvey | OBSERVER STAFF WRITER

With one solid year under its belt, the Sacramento Knights are getting ready for another exciting season of professional soccer.

“We are getting ready to roll,” said Laureate ‘J.R.’ Gholar Jr., the president and CEO of the Knights. “We are just so talented this year. Twice as talent, twice as fast, and twice as big.”

Nearly 150 players tried out for the team this season, 65 more than last year. The Knights expect to hold on to 24 players, though only 18 will travel to away games. Mixed in with some international soccer players, the talent pool was so competitive that the Knights had to eliminate some of the best of the best players in Northern California.

“Some of the guys we cut are starters,” Gholar said. “It’s just that hard as far as talent is concerned. Honestly, the talent was so tough. We had to cut 12 players who played with us last season.”

In addition to the increase of quality players the Knights have acquired, the National Premier Soccer League has expanded, too. To compliment the Western Division – that houses the Knights, Salinas Valley, San Diego, Sonoma, Las Vegas, and Albequreque – the NPSL created a Mid-Western Division.

The Mid-Western encompasses Grand Rapids, Detroit, Milwaukee, Princeton, Minnesota, Chicago and St. Paul.

“The league went national,” Gholar said. “In three years the league has gone from six, to eight, to 15 teams. And we have a waiting list of 20 more teams. What’s more interesting is that two of the players from our league are playing in the Major League Soccer.

The recognition from other Major League clubs lets the Knights and the NPSL know that opportunities await soccer players at the next level.

“The NPSL’s caliber of play is high enough now to where we are starting to get major league recognition which is great and fantastic,” Gholar said. “Now the players in NPSL see that there is that next step and it’s available to them if they try and work hard for it.”

The Knights played in front of 10,000-plus fans at CRC last season. The club finished with a 14-9 record behind the Sacramento community’s support. The Knights, who pride themselves on community involvement, will offer fans much pizzazz this season.
Ron Preble, who coached CRC’s men’s soccer program, is the Knights’ head coach this year.

“We are going to have a lot more entertainment on the field,” Gholar said. “And more direct attacking plays, face-pace action, and offensive-minded attacks. The fans will be in for a real treat.”

For Knights information, season schedule and ticket prices, call (916) 912 6771 or go to sactoknights.com.