SOMERSET, N.J. (June 6, 2008) - As Sky Blue Soccer prepares for the kickoff of the inaugural Women's Professional Soccer season in 2009, the New Jersey-based organization will have a women's soccer legend scouring the Western hemisphere for talent. Former Brazil great Sissi will be working with Sky Blue as a scout for talent in the Americas.
A star on the international level as well as in the former WUSA professional league, Sissi is quite familiar with Ian Sawyers - the General Manager and Head Coach for Sky Blue Soccer's professional team. Sissi played for Sawyers from 2001-2003 when he was the Head Coach of the San Jose CyberRays in the WUSA.
Currently working as a FIFA Ambassador, Sissi will be a delegate for the first-ever FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup in Chile to be held this coming October and November. Sissi will oversee day-to-day operations for the matches and while spreading the good will of FIFA. She also currently coaches with Las Positas College and Diablo Futbol Club in California.
"Sissi has made a huge impact on Women's soccer all around the world - she has been a phenomenal player and ambassador for the game," Sawyers said. "More importantly she is a very special person, a humanitarian and a very close friend. Her role as a FIFA ambassador is well deserved and reflects the esteem she carries, wherever she goes."
"As a Director of Scouting for the Sky Blue Organization she will be able to help us provide countless opportunities for a lot of young women to fulfill their dream of playing professional soccer. We are truly blessed to have her in our organization."
Sissi played for the Brazil Women's National Team from 1988 to 2000 appearing in three World Cups and two Olympics. She was the co-leader in scoring at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup with seven goals and also served as team captain in 1995, 1999 and 2000. She also finished second in the FIFA World Player of the Year voting in 1999.
In the WUSA, Sissi starred with the CyberRays in all three seasons that the league existed. Serving as the team's playmaker and midfield leader, she led the team to the 2001 Founders Cup Championship and was also named to the league's All-Star team in all three seasons. She was also awarded the WUSA Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2002.
"We're honored to have one of the all-time greats of women's soccer associated with Sky Blue," said Sky Blue Soccer President and CEO Thomas Hofstetter. "There is a lot of women's soccer talent in the Americas and we're hoping Sissi can help us tap into that wealth."
Season tickets are on sale now for the inaugural season of Women's Professional Soccer in 2009. The Sky Blue professional team will play all home games at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ.
View more information on season tickets.
About Sky Blue Soccer
Sky Blue Soccer is a highly-respected soccer organization both in the United States and internationally. Sky Blue has developed an integrated program that allows soccer players to progress from the youth game to the amateur level to the professional ranks. Sky Blue Soccer is a founding member of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) - the new women's professional soccer league that will kick off in April, 2009. Sky Blue Soccer also operates Jersey Sky Blue, which is competing in its second season in the W-League in 2008.
About Women's Professional Soccer
The mission of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is to be the premier women’s soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women’s professional sports are measured. Play kicks off in the spring of 2009, with WPS teams based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. The league will expand to eight teams by 2010 with the inclusion of Philadelphia. For more information, visit
www.womensprosoccer.com.
