ALBANY, New York – The league’s East Region continues to grow as the Women’s Premier Soccer League officially welcomes the newly formed team, New York Shockers ahead of the upcoming season.
New York Shockers was founded by Albany soccer pioneer, Afrim Nezaj, through Afrim’s Sports with the mission to empower the most motivated and talented players across the capital region with a professional environment and opportunities to play the game at a higher level.
Afrim Sports, through a significant investment in the community over the last two decades, has built a soccer infrastructure that promotes the game year-round for the youngest players in its SoccerKidz program to players in its Over-50 league.
“We are very excited for the New York Shockers to showcase the high-level talent the capital region has to offer in such a well-respected league,” Nezaj said.
Nezaj moved to the Bronx, at the age of ten, from Kosovo and has become a valuable visionary for the soccer community within the Albany area. Former All-American for the University of Albany, Nezaj was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame in 2008. He went on to play in the American Soccer League (ASL) with Rochester Flash, New York Nationals, and Albany Capitals, as well as in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) with the Pennsylvania Stoners. He has been an integral part of the development of youth soccer in the capital region and was recognized by the Capital District Youth Soccer League as a Golden Thread award winner and Hall of Fame inductee.
The New York Shockers will compete in the North Division of the Metropolitan Conference in the league’s East Region for the 2021 season and will play all its home matches at Afrim’s Sports Park in Colonie, New York which houses four outdoor turf fields. Season tickets and individual tickets will be available and can be purchased on the club’s website.
More information about the New York Shockers can be found at their website www.newyorkshockers.com as well as their Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages. For additional information on the WPSL visit wpslsoccer.com.
The WPSL is in its 23rd season and is the largest women’s soccer league in the world with more than 130 clubs from coast-to-coast in 35 states. WPSL rosters feature elite collegiate, post-collegiate, international, and standout prep student-athletes. Many of the United States’ most accomplished women’s players have played in the WPSL, including household names such as Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, and Brandi Chastain ###