Richmond, VA – (Tuesday, May 6, 2008) – The Richmond Kickers Future of the Premier Development League (PDL) are pleased to welcome newcomers Boris Gatzky, Stephen Laws and Jason Butler as well as announce the return of goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra, defender Dirk Dittrich, midfielders Evan Morris and Jason Powell and forwards David Rosenbaum, Kern Gardiner and Delano Pierre to the 2008 squad, all pending USL/USSF approval. In addition, the Future are delighted to include Kickers veteran Kofi Nti on this year’s roster, pending USL/USSF approval. The Future open the 2008 season this Saturday, May 10th when they host the Rhode Island Stingrays at 7:00 pm at Sports Backers Stadium.
Nti spent two years with the Richmond Kickers professional team, making 10 appearances with the USL-1 squad in 2005 and eight appearances with the USL-2 Championship team in 2006. A native of Accra, Ghana, Nti joined the Kickers prior to the 2005 season after spending three seasons with FC Nania of the Ghana First Division. During his tenure with FC Nania, he led the team to their promotion to the Ghanaian First Division, captaining the team for two seasons. Additionally, Kofi led the University of Ghana soccer team to win the University League in 1999 and later led the same team to win the first West African University games in 2001. Currently, Kofi acts as the Soccer in the Community Director with the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club where he oversees the recreational program of nearly 1,000 youth players.
Dykstra returns to protect the nets for his fourth season with the Future. Over three seasons, he has made 37 appearances in a Kickers uniform, recording seven shutouts while posting an overall goals against average of 1.79. A rising senior at Virginia Commonwealth University, the native of Woodbridge, Virginia has made 52 starts in 55 games played, posting a career best 0.90 goals against average in 2007.
German duo Dittrich and Gatzky team up this season with the Future, while attending Virginia Commonwealth University and Butler University respectively. Dittrich returns to anchor the defensive unit in 2008 after making nine appearances with the Future in 2007. The native of Stuttgart, Germany transferred to VCU after spending two seasons at Gardner-Webb University where he earned All-American honors. One of the most highly-touted recruits in the 2007 recruiting class, this skilled leader was named captain of VCU’s squad in his first season. Dittrich’s former teammate at Gardner-Webb, Gatkzy transferred to Butler University last year. Finishing the 2007 season at Butler second on the team in scoring with six goals and seven assists, the native of Reutlingen, Germany adds firepower to the Kickers Future offense in 2008.
A December 2006 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Morris played four seasons on VCU’s men’s soccer team that reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2003 and the quarterfinal round in 2004. With the Richmond Kickers Future, he has made 32 appearances over three seasons. Morris currently acts as the Director of Ticket Sales with the Richmond Kickers pro soccer team.
Pierre finished second with the Future in 2007 with four goals and two assists for 10 points. A native of Trincity, Trinidad, he is a rising senior at the University of Richmond where he finished last season tied for first on the squad with two goals and two assists for six points. Pierre earned All-Mid Atlantic Third-Team honors his sophomore year and was also a member of his U-17 and U-20 National Teams.
Midfielders Laws and Butler join the Future while continuing their collegiate careers at William & Mary and Hampden-Sydney College respectively. Both have extensive experience with the Richmond Strikers. Laws played club soccer with the Strikers Elite from U-9 through U-17, winning the South Atlantic Super Y Regional Championship in 2005 and 2006 and was selected to the Super Y ODP National Camp in 2007. Meanwhile, Butler played with the Strikers for 13 years and was a member of the 2003 VHSL AAA State Championship team at Mills Godwin High School.
About the Premier Development League
In six seasons in the Premier Development League (PDL), the Richmond Kickers Future have compiled an overall record of 57-38-14. The PDL is a blend of recent and current college stars, elite high school players, and savvy veterans producing an environment ideal for development, while allowing players to maintain their collegiate eligibility. The PDL is the highest level of amateur soccer in North America and is considered the first step to the professional ranks. Last year, 63 PDL players were selected in the Major League Soccer Draft including three from the Kickers Future.
