Game Preview: Dallas Sidekicks To Kick Off 2016/17 Season At Home Against El Paso Coyotes

by Bob Heckel

Allen, TX (Oct. 28, 2016) – The Dallas Sidekicks start the 2016-17 season at home on Saturday, Oct 29th for their first-ever match against the El Paso Coyotes. The team is in search of a fifth franchise championship. The Sidekicks finished last season in last place in the Pacific Division and are looking to have a rebound season this year with the goal of competing and making the playoffs.

Dallas Sidekicks are led by second year Head Coach Simon Bozas. This year Simon will have a new face next to him on the bench, Willie Molano has replaced Nick Stravou as Assistant Coach. Molano played four seasons for the Dallas Sidekicks, 1986-1990, played in 109 games, scored 36 goals and assisted 32 goals, a member of the 1987 MISL Championship team.

Last season the Dallas Sidekicks finished the season with a record of 7-13 and finished last in the division. This the end of last season the team has put in a lot of hours during the off-season to prepare for the long season.  The team is focused on having a winning season and making the playoffs. 

“We are in the business of winning games this year, and that is our plan with our home opener on Oct. 29th.,” said Sidekicks Owner Bob Heckel. “Our coaching staff has been working really this offseason and is building something really exciting for our fans.”

This year’s squad features a even mix of experienced veterans and quick, young, local rookies who are looking to break into the indoor game.  Dallas’ back line will be led by Cody Ellis, Mike Jones, Clint Ritter & the return of Kiley Couch. The Sidekicks will be starting Juan Gamboa in goal.

“We have put together a talented, largely locally-based team who have gelled together this off-season and have been working hard to prepare for El Paso,”  said General Manager & Head Coach Simon Bozas.

Dallas Sidekicks Roster Vs. El Paso

NO.

POS.

NAME
DOB
HOMETOWN

1

GK

Juan Gamboa
1/30/89
Brownsville, TX
  3

D

Mike Jones
8/19/88
St. Louis, MO
  4

D

Kiley Couch
1/20/75
Gresham, OR

6

M

Clint Ritter
3/5/93
Cedar Hill, TX

15

F

Cameron Brown
3/20/89
Garland, TX

19

F

Arthur Ivo
10/27/89
Braganca Paulista, Brazil

20

F

VcMor Eligwe
5/5/91
Marietta, GA

21

M

Fernando Garza
5/12/89
Garland, TX

29

D

Ray Aguayo
5/10/85
Guayaquil, Ecuador

30

M

Jose Guillen
9/29/88
Longview TX

32

M

Jamie Lovegrove
5/13/90
Crawley, England

33

D

Cody Ellis
10/15/86
Dallas, TX

77

D

Tommy Nelson
12/16/90
Garland, TX

91

F

Carlos Videla
3/25/88
Dallas, TX

99

F

Gabe Arredondo
7/3/86
Garland, TX

El Paso will be led by Héctor Hugo Eugui, who is guiding the Coyotes in their inaugural season. Eugui played for several teams from 1969 to 1980, most notably the Deportivo Toluca F.C. and managed teams from 1981 until 2012.From 2008-09, Eugui managed los Indios de Ciudad Juarez.  

For club president and co-owner Gil Cantu this was a dream that took four years to materialize. Prior to the Coyotes, Cantu spent time running clubs such as the El Paso Cobras, the Juarez Indios, as vice president, and Indios USA. The difference, as Cantu says, between the clubs to this one is not only the league, but also the excitement that comes along with the sport.

The Sidekicks will be meeting the Coyotes again on November first for their first ever home game at El Paso County Coliseum.

The Sidekicks are having a ‘Trick or Treat’ Halloween theme home opener on Saturday, October 29. Fans can come dressed up in Halloween costumes and stand to win mystery prizes! Before the game fans can walk around the Allen Event Center and collect candy.  The fans will vote on there favorite Halloween costume.

Upcoming Games:

Friday, November 4, 2016 @ El Paso Coyotes

Saturday, November 5, 2016 @ San Diego Sockers

Sunday, November 6, 2016 @ Atletico Baja

 Following the home opener, the Sidekicks embark on a three-game, three-day road trip that includes a stop on November 4th in El Paso, to face the Coyotes, a stop in San Diego on the 5th and a stop in Tijuana to face the Atletico Baja on the 6th.

 Individual game tickets for the 2016-17 regular season are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and on Ticketmaster.com. Season ticket packages, group outings, and suite offerings are available by calling 469-200-GOAL or emailing tickets@dallassidekicks.com. To get the latest Sidekicks updates, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @GoSidekicks or on Facebook at facebook.com/GoSidekicks.

 All games can be viewed online at http://golivesportscast.com/your-masl-teams/.  All Sidekicks home games are broadcasted on Spectrum Sports TX (local channel 323). For live updates, follow the Dallas Sidekicks on Twitter at @GoSidekicks, or like the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoSidekicks.

 Media Credentials

To obtain a press credential for the 2016-2017 season, please submit a request to Matthew Pardee at matt@dallassidekicks.com. Please identify your organization and purpose for being there (i.e. reporter, cameraman, TV/video, columnist, etc.). For sports organizations with multiple credential requests please send one request through the sports editor or executive producer with all names listed.