NPSL Continues Expansion – Welcoming Weston FC
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that Weston FC based in Weston, FL, has joined the league as an expansion team.
“Weston FC is an incredible club known for their success on and off the field,” NPSL Chairman Joe Barone said. “They have developed a reputation for preparing players for the highest level of play and we are so excited to have them as part of the NPSL. We are certain that they will be a tremendous asset to the Sunshine Conference and the league as a whole.”
Weston FC is one of 77 clubs nationwide that has been named by US Soccer as a US Soccer Development Academy program. Weston FC was accepted into this esteemed program by US Soccer in 2007, and has been consistently recognized by US Soccer as one of the top soccer clubs in the country.
Their developmental strategy, core curriculum, and nationally recognized coaching staff has resulted in many alumni playing in colleges all across the United States, as well as professionally. Alumnus Alejandro Bedoya is a regular fixture on the U.S. Men’s National Team and played in four games for the U.S. in the 2014 World Cup. Other prominent alumni include Aly Hassan, Manny Gonzalez and Gonzalo De Mujica, all at the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, Juan Gonzalez at the New York Cosmos, and Nicolas Perea at the Jacksonville Armada.
Weston FC’s teams compete in local leagues and tournaments and travel throughout the country and the world playing in top tournaments against the best competition. Their host tournament, the Weston Cup and Showcase, held each Presidents’ Day Weekend is one of the largest tournaments in the country with over 620 teams participating from around the country and internationally.
The club’s NPSL squad is led by Victor Pastora, Marcelo Neveleff, Stephen Enriquez, and Dr. Daniel Serravite.
Pastora, who will serve as the team’s head coach, joined Weston FC in 2010 from Miami FC, where he served as head coach. He brought a wealth of experience to Weston FC, having led many teams to State Cup and National Championships through his emphasis on player development. As the current Assistant Technical Director at Weston FC, Pastora oversees the development of the club’s Premier programs for Boys and Girls.
Neveleff, the head coach of the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, will join the staff as an assistant coach. He has been a member of the USSF coaching instructional staff and U14 U.S. Boys National Team coaching staff as well as the Florida ODP and Region III coaching staff. As Weston FC’s current Technical Director, Neveleff oversees the development of both the Boys and the Girls programs. As the Director of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program, he also leads the development of the club’s elite Academy program for Boys.
Enriquez, who will serve as the team’s general manager, has been involved with management of Weston FC since 2005. He has served as Treasurer, President, and is currently Vice President – US Development Academy and NPSL. He was instrumental in bringing the US Development Academy to Weston and has managed its operations since inception. In addition, Enriquez has coached youth teams for Weston FC since 2004.
Serravite, who will serve as a sport scientist, is an accomplished exercise physiologist that devotes his work to academia and soccer performance. His academic activity as a faculty at Florida International University centers on sport science research and teaching. He also has a vast experience working with youth and professional soccer players at the national and international level. Dr. Serravite collaborates with the US Soccer Federation as a sport scientist specialist for both the men’s National Youth Program and Coaching Education department. As Weston FC’s current Sport Science Director, he oversees the strength and conditioning, sport science education, and periodization of the Premier as well as the U.S. Soccer Development Academy programs.
“We joined the NPSL to further our club’s long-term plans, which is to establish a complete soccer club in Broward County,” Enriquez added. “We joined to provide a place to play for our ever-increasing alumni base. We bring the largest youth soccer club in Florida and one of most successful United Soccer Development Academy members to the league.”
The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The NPSL remains one of the largest national leagues in North America.
