Professional Futsal League ready to launch throughout the United States in 2016
Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson & U.S. Futsal men’s national
team coach Keith Tozer spearhead the PFL
FRISCO, TX _ Futsal is a game of the people and a sport of the future. Whether played
in a basketball gym in Brazil, at a country club in Italy, atop a refurbished tennis court in
Germany or in a park in Mexico, futsal is the world’s game. From a sold-out arena in
Barcelona to 56,483 passionate fans at Brasilia's Estadio Mane Garrincha, the game of
futsal thrives around the globe.
A five-a-side derivative of soccer, futsal now has a professional home in the
United States with the newly formed Professional Futsal League (PFL) set to begin play
in November 2016.
Futsal is played on a hard court, with out-of-bounds lines rather than the walls
associated with American indoor soccer. A weighted ball reduces bounce to produce a
vibrant, deft style that highlights individual flair and controlled passing.
Prominent NBA executive Donnie Nelson, president of basketball operations and
general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, sits at the forefront of the PFL as its leading
investor.
“Futsal is one of the fastest growing sports on the planet,” Nelson said. “Born on
an international basketball court it is a natural fit for me. The high octane, action-packed
nature makes it popular with not only young fans, but sponsors and prospective owners as
well. It is not only endorsed by the greatest players in the world but by FIFA itself. I
couldn’t be more excited about being a part of the PFL.”
U.S. futsal national team coach Keith Tozer brings his wealth of knowledge
to his role as PFL commissioner. Tozer’s 17-year tenure includes winning two
CONCACAF gold medals, five CONCACAF championship appearances, two futsal
World Cup appearances and a spot in the 1997 Pan American games.
An icon of professional indoor soccer coaching, Tozer has won more than 700
games in the MISL including nine regular season championships and six MISL league
championships. A nine-time MISL coach of the year, his regular season and playoff
victories rank as the most in American indoor soccer history. Tozer serves as the
technical director of U.S. Youth Futsal and is only one of two FIFA futsal instructors in
the nation.
“Futsal’s growth in the North America as well as internationally has made the
game of futsal the fastest growing sport in the world in the last several years,” Tozer
said. “The PFL leadership team is comprised of prominent sports and business
professionals and each bring specialized tools required to build a successful league.
“We feel that the timing to create a pro futsal league here in the U.S. and
North America is now as the PFL will be committed to provide owners, sponsors
and fans the highest quality product. I am excited about being the league’s first
commissioner and I look forward to building a successful business as well as an
exciting new sports league in North America.”
Michael Hitchcock, managing partner of Playbook Management International,
serves as the league’s president. Hitchcock’s 20-year soccer career includes serving as
commissioner of the National Premier Soccer League, vice president of Major League
Soccer’s LA Galaxy, president Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas and president of
NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions. PMI, a Texas based sports management company, will
manage the day-to-day league operations with commissioner Tozer.
“It's incredible to witness the growth of futsal in the last couple of years and we
believe the time is perfect to launch Professional Futsal League in the United States,”
Hitchcock said. “We have a dynamic management group for the PFL, led by one of the
world's futsal leaders Keith Tozer and successful sports team owner and Dallas
Mavericks General Manager Donnie Nelson, myself and other successful business
leaders.”
In addition, Brian Dick, CEO/president and co-founder of Quest Resource
Holding Corporation, joined the initial group of lead investors. Under his supervision,
Quest Resource Management Group, an environmental recycling company, has grown to
more than $185 million in annual sales since its start in 2007.
Global soccer supplier Mitre designed the official PFL match ball as the league’s first
corporate partner. Mitre will be the official ball sponsor of the PFL in a multi-year
agreement according to Mitre-USA Executive Vice-President Todd Hurst.
“Mitre is proud to produce the official ball for the Professional Futsal League,”
Hurst said. “As the world’s oldest sports brand, Mitre has been a part of the growth of
soccer for over the last 200 years worldwide and wish to continue this in the USA with
our sponsorship of Professional Futsal. Focusing exclusively on soccer and futsal, Mitre
is happy to partner with the PFL who is committed to the enjoyment and advancement of
the sport as we are.”
Team commitments have already been secured from existing sports entities with
the first club, already a global international sports brand, to be announced within a
month.
With PFL play less than two years away, the league will sponsor its first
international tournament in March 2015 with details to be announced soon.
PFL will have a booth at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America
Convention in Philadelphia, which runs Wednesday (Jan. 14) through Sunday (Jan. 18).
Fans and coaches attending the NSCAA convention are encouraged to stop by booth 470
to meet commissioner Tozer and learn more about PFL.
More information will be posted at the league’s website,
www.professionalfutsal.com with media inquires directed to
[email protected].
About Donnie Nelson _ Donnie Nelson played a vital role in the Mavericks’ rise to one
of the NBA’s most respected organizations. Nelson built the club that captured the 2011
NBA title, the first in Mavericks history. During his 29 years in the NBA Nelson’s
accomplishments include the signing of star players Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. In
addition, he broke down international barriers by signing the first NBA players from both
China (Wang ZhiZhi) and the Soviet Union (Sarunas Marciulionis). His international
pedigree includes roles with the Lithuanian and Chinese national teams.
About Keith Tozer _ Tozer was the first player drafted in the MISL in 1978 for the
Cincinnati Kids. He began his coaching career in 1984 as a player coach for the
Louisville Thunder of the American Indoor Soccer Association. Along with his coaching
duties, Tozer served as Senior Vice President of team operations and chaired the MISL
Competition Committee. In Milwaukee, Tozer created one of the largest and most
successful summer soccer camps programs in the U.S.
About Michael Hitchcock _ Michael Hitchcock founded PMI in 2009 after a 12-year
career in Major League Soccer where he started as an entry-level sales rep and rose to
become President and General Manager of FC Dallas. Hitchcock won the MLS Sales
Director of the Year 4 times, his sales team won MLS Sales Team of the Year 5 times and
he was recognized as the Commissioner’s New Business Leadership Award winner. PMI
built and managed the San Antonio Scorpions of the 2nd division NASL and managed the
business operations of the NPSL before launching its own club in Fort Worth, Texas.
PMI also owns a significant stake in the English professional club Alfreton Town FC.
About Mitre _ Established in England in 1817, Mitre is recognized as the world's
oldest manufacturer of soccer balls. Now leading the way internationally in the
manufacture of balls, boots, and accessories for soccer and rugby, Mitre continues to
push the boundaries of sporting technology. Mitre is associated with some of the biggest
names and brands in the beautiful game. Internationally, Mitre sponsors The English
Football League, the Scottish Premier League, and the Football Association of Wales.
Mitre is the official ball of the Capital One Cup in England as well as the National
Premier Soccer League in the United States.