Great player news has emanated from the Pirate training camp this week as ex Cruz Azul youth player Taylor Lubianski, was persuaded by the silvery speech and Irish charm from Coach and owner, Brendan Keyes, to up sticks from his base in San Antonio and come join the Pirate ship as they continue to plot their NPSL course.


The 19 year old midfielder/forward has signed with immediate effect for the Galveston side and although still a teenager, he will add some well gained experience to the side as they continue fleet of foot through the HFA season, galloping toward April's kickoff time on the National stage.
 
While in Guadalajara, playing and training at Cruz Azul, Taylor played in La Liga Animales de Guadalajara. "Animales" is similar to the NPSL in that it is a semi-pro league designed to showcase upcoming players as well as those with previous professional experience.

In addition, Taylor also had the opportunity to play against teams from both the Primera (1st) and Tercera (3rd) Divisions of La Liga Mexicana. (Tijuana/Primera; La Mecca/Tercera; Cocula/Tercera; Zapotlanejo/Tercera)

Although playing with Cruz Azul, Taylor found that he couldn't progress any higher than the third level due to the Mexican ruling that a non Mexican national cannot rise to the top tier.

"Yes, I was aware of the ruling issue from the start. However, the benefits and value of training and playing at that level far outweighed the fact that advancement was not possible." Taylor told us.


Speaking about the reasons for choosing Mexico at the time he said:"I picked Mexico because I had played and trained in Mexico each summer since I was 13 and still a freshman in high school. My club trainer at the time was "Profe Memo", a former pro player from Mexico and going with him during the summer was the reason I chose Mexico."
"I felt comfortable with the style of play there and the initial language barrier wasn't an issue as I felt it was the natural next step in my development as a player."

Continuing on about his time in Mexico he spoke of playing:"I also played in another league that was similar to Animales/NPSL, it was called Liga de Castores. I trained and played for Cruz Azul as my first priority, but the schedule also allowed me to play in that Sunday league with both these leagues being designed like the NPSL where you have players with a variety of experience levels."


Born in Texas, Taylor had an impressive school and college pedigree, managing TASCO/UIL all area, all district and all region sides in three concurrent years and also the NSCAA/Adidas All region southwest team in 2009. During this time he scored 39 goals and had 26 assists to his name.



This is the type of scoring and assist record that drew Taylor to the Pirate attention in the first place.


"I knew that coach Keyes had a lot of experience and that it would be their first season in the NPSL. My short term goals are to do whatever is necessary to ensure that we have a successful first season in NPSL and build on that foundation for the following season. Long term is to continue advancement and ultimately play at the highest level possible." said Taylor.

"The biggest difference I have found so far is the reduced training schedule. I am used to training 12 - 16 hours a week in addition to games but I'll work out on my own, go to the gym and keep myself in peak physical fitness so I am ready for the HFA games and then the NPSL season."

Brendan Keyes spoke of the young lad saying:"Taylor is a great player, just what we need up front as we head towards the NPSL season."
"We have signed him so he can get to know the current crop of players and hopefully build a bond with them as we head towards the pointy end of the HFA season. We want to finish in a promotion spot and also gain entry into the State Cup;Taylor will help us do that, I have no doubt."




Like myself, the Irishman, gets a bit excited once he gets started and continued on:"The lad made a trip up from San Antonio for a team meeting last Thursday. We weren't training, there was no ball work, just a team talk so he could meet the other players. That shows commitment and professionalism and I admire that."


"It's just unfortunate for him that we have had a three week break in matches so he hasn't been able to perform on a competitive field yet but it gives us all time to gel as a team and prepare mentally and physically for the challenges ahead, one that I am sure Taylor will meet head on and excel in."

Finishing off, Keyes couldn't commend Taylor high enough saying:"He's a winner, always has been. He sees what he wants and goes for it. Not many 13 year olds would have the audacity to keep going to Mexico in the hunt for professional soccer. He did and he found his dream. This move to us is a stepping stone for Taylor, I know that and I am under no illusions that this boy will make the step up to at least NASL level in the next year or so and from what I have seen, he can go further."

No pressure then!


Taylor would also like to thanks the people that got him this far in his career to date saying:"Without Profe. Guillermo " Memo" Espinosa and Cruz Azul Occidente Centro de Formacion for their involvement and direction in my development as a player I would not be at this point. I would like to also thank Coach Keyes for his willingness to be a part of my continued growth and development and to my family for their commitment and belief in my success.

Sounds like a lot of people over a long period of years have put time, effort and commitment into making sure this young soccer starlet could achieve his dreams. The Pirates are just the latest in that story, one that will gain benefits for both parties involved and have a fairytale ending.


We look forward to seeing Taylor in action and showing the watching public what he's made of!

Gerardo Romero Joins Pirates as Goalkeeping Coach

Galveston Pirates have once again made a enormous step in progressing the step toward NPSL soccer with the news that they have brought Gerardo Romero on board as goalkeeping coach for the upcoming 2012 season.


Gerardo brings with him an immense amount of experience between the sticks and joins an already huge bank of soccer experience in current coaches Brendan Keyes and Noel Mulhall.


This move by owner and head coach Keyes strengthens the backroom staff to a professional level that has thus far been unseen at the Galveston soccer side, and shows the strides the side is taking in preparation for the move up to the 4th tier soccer in the country.

Romero has a vast goalkeeping pedigree with professional spells in the Mexican Division 1a and has been trained by ex Mexican National team members Jesus Alfaro and Adrian Chavez so lacks no degree of skill or enthusiasm.

Gerardo himself said of the appointment:"First of all I would like to thank Brendan Keyes and the Pirate SC for giving me the opportunity to be part of the club. I will bring in all my past experience both on and off the field to help give the club positive results as the goalkeeper trainer."

Pirate owner and head coach also spoke on the appointment,"I have known Gerardo since our time in the SPSL together where he owned the Lone strikers side and I am really excited about having him on board. This propels us into the stratosphere in terms of coaching staff at this club, the players will really see a massive improvement in all areas of the field with this new addition. From back to front this will make us a better team unit."

There is a real opportunity here for the Pirates to move forward with skill and performance levels and with the NPSL season only 5 or 6 months away, it gives Gerardo plenty of time to assess the current keepers available to him which enables him to train and coach them to the level required for NPSL soccer. 

Shinde:Slumdog Silky Soccer Star from Mumbai Heading Home

Galveston Pirate Soccer Club announced today that their young Indian player Pratik Shinde will be relea sed from the team effective immediately. 

The 16 year old has given his reason for leaving as being home sick with the young man missing his family and friends that still reside in his native Mumbai, India, some 9000 miles away.

Pratik said today:"I would like to thank Coach Keyes and his family for everything they have done for me. He is like a father to me and I can't thank him enough for this great opportunity."
"I do feel like I let him down somewhat but he understands how I feel and there is no problem between us.  I would also like to thank the Pirate players and fans for supporting me while I was here." he said.

Speaking of his time in Texas he said:"I have learned a lot going to school at Clear Brook and would like to thank the teachers and staff for their welcome and help whilst there. I have made a lot of new friends and now have memories for life."

"I am happy overall with what I have done and achieved, not everyone gets to go and play the game they love in America but I am looking forward to going home but will never forget the experience that Coach Keyes has given me here." said the youngster.

Brendan Keyes also spoke of Pratiks time here saying:"Pratik will always be welcome in my family, we love him and he is a part of us now. I have known Pratik now for over a year but it feels like much longer."
"I am very sad to see him go and did try talking him into staying but he has made his mind up and his reason is totally understandable considering he is only 16. I was a foreigner in this country once and I know how he feels, I have been here for 20 years and I still feel homesick sometimes." he added.

Talking about Pratik's reception back home he said:"I hope people understand and welcome him back with open arms in his country, it was a huge move for him and perhaps he was maybe just too young to make not just a move to a different country but a whole new continent and culture." 

Talking of soccer, Keyes said:"Pratik's record with the Pirate's has been very good with two goals from four games which is not bad for a young lad from Mumbai whose style of soccer was different to the more physical style that is sometimes employed by our opponents here."

The Galveston Pirate Soccer Club organisation would like to wish Pratik Shinde all the very best on his journey home come the weekend with Coach Keyes saying that he will visit Pratik and his family next year in Mumbai to set up a soccer camp for the kids in the area.

Pratik will continue to work for the Pirate's as Indian international liaison and public relations so all is not lost for the young man.

We should give him credit for following his dreams all the way from the slums of Mumbai to Friendswood TX and this is a great story and example of to others of what you hope to achieve if you follow your dreams.

Coach Keyes finished off by saying:"He is a remarkable young man and a great example to all young soccer players out in the world to never give up on the dream."

Pratik also wanted to add:"I will bring back my experiences to all the local players and hope to train young Indian players to be better. I did a week long coaching course whilst in America with Mar-key Sports Management last month so I will bring all of that knowledge back with me and hope to help improve others soccer abilities."

No one could deny that the young player made a huge move coming to America and of all the reasons for leaving, homesickness would probably not have came into the equation but for anyone that has ever suffered from it will tell you, there is nothing you can do but go home to cure it.

The Pirate family wishes the young man well and we are sure this will not be the last we hear from 'Shinde the Slumdog Silky Soccer Star from Mumbai'.