SIOUX CITY, IOWA (Iowa Media Wire) – For the first time since the 1990’s, semi-pro soccer is back in Sioux City, as Siouxland United Football Club gave players from Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and beyond a shot at fulfilling a lifelong dream at the Sioux City Expo Center for the first of three within its 2024 Tryout Series.
“I was in school and it came up on my phone and I was like wow, I signed up right away,” Sioux City native Alejandro Suarez said. “Like I said, it’s a great opportunity to a lot of local kids, there’s a lot of talent here in Sioux City and the Siouxland area, so it’s good.”
“I’m just going to give my 200 percent,” France and Morocco native Nizar Essekkat said. “I place all my confidence in God and I give 100 percent of what I do.”
Nearly four months after announcing the National Premier Soccer League’s latest expansion team, Siouxland United FC are wasting little time to work on the roster.
“We’ve been working on this for the last six months pretty heavily,” Siouxland United FC co-owner Jesse Castillo said. “When I was 14, I used to go to the Sioux City Breeze games, and that is actually what birthed the vision, the idea, the passion because I remember when I was a player how much I enjoyed going to the games.”
More than 70 athletes are all vying for a spot on the inaugural Siouxland United FC squad.
“We’re going to jump into some passing drills basically, so we can analyze the technical abilities,” Siouxland United FC head coach Robbie Carroll said. “Then some possession drills to see where their soccer IQ is like and then scrimmage. Scrimmage scrimmage scrimmage.”
Earning a spot on the team is easier said than done. It’s a challenge these players have been waiting for.
“Bringing that, you know, semi-pro team here is something that all of us dreamed of at a young age,” Sioux City native Emmauel Coronado said. “If I could talk to my younger self I know he would be proud of himself right now.”
“If you can’t play anymore, you teach or coach and that’s what I’m doing now. I absolutely love it, I live, breathe, sleep and eat the game. My son is named after a professional soccer player, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer,” Carroll said.
Siouxland United FC will hold two more tryouts: one on Feb. 10 in Norfolk, Nebraska and another on Feb. 25 in Sioux Center, Iowa.