California Victory News Release - www.californiavictorysoccer.com

Monday, December 11, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The California Victory, based in San Francisco California, have selected Glenn Van Straatum as Head Coach for the 2007 season, and Hugo Perez as Assistant Coach.

Dimitry Piterman, owner of the California Victory, and President of the Spanish League club Deportivo Alaves, has known Van Straatum for many years. “I know the depth of Glenn’s knowledge of the game possibly better than anyone,” said Piterman. “We have spent many hours discussing the game over the years. He has a great ability to analyze his opponents and set a game strategy that will give his team the best chance to win, and that’s what I want for this team.”

“Van Straatum is an accomplished player, coach and leader,” added Terry Fisher, the Victory General Manager. “A perfect fit for the enormous task of a pro-soccer startup in San Francisco. He demands professionalism for every aspect of the organization.”

Van Straatum has been associated with the game of soccer at a high level and comes from a Dutch-Surinamese soccer background, playing for 3rd division Adult league as an 11 year old in his home country of Surinam. He went on to play for Transvaal S.V., a dual CONCACAF CLUB Champion, and captained the Surinam Youth National team at age 16 and the Surinam Olympic/U23 Team at age 18. After coming to the United States, he played for the University of San Francisco on two NCAA championship teams (1978,1980) and is still listed as 9th on the All-Time WCC Single Season point-getter (1982 with 42 points on 16 goals and 10 assists), 10th as the WCC-Leader in Assists, and 15th on the All-Time USF single-season leading scorers list.

Van Straatum served as Assistant Coach at the University of San Francisco, Adult coach, and as a youth coach. He has most recently served as an Assistant Director of Coaching with the Bay Oaks youth club, and a Board Member and Coaching Coordinator for the Jack London Youth Soccer League in Oakland, California.

“I have a relentless passion for soccer at the highest level,” says Van Straatum. “I will bring all of my soccer background, and my experience as a coach and successful entrepreneur to this job, and I am very excited to get started!”

Hugo Perez was one of the best playmakers US Soccer has known. His outstanding credentials include playing for the U.S. National Olympic Team in Los Angeles in 1984 and in South Korea in 1988. He was a member of the 1990 USA World Cup Team in Italy, and again in 1994 in the United States. His professional playing experience began in 1979 with the Los Angeles Aztecs of the NASL. Perez went on to play for Johan Cruyff in F.C. Ajax in Holland, and went on to play with Red Star of France, Orgryte F.C. in Sweden, Ittihad F.C. of Saudi Arabia, and FAS F.C. of El Salvador.

Of Perez, Fisher noted that, “He has a perspective that is unrivaled in the growth of US Soccer over the past 25 years. His record speaks volumes and his contributions to our team will be immensely important.”

“These two coaches have a passion for soccer that will be their mantra,” added Fisher. “Both have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Both have a global-view of the international game. Both have a vested interest in building a successful San Francisco-based professional team. Both have high standards and expectations. Both will be unrelenting in their quest for committed players that are winners on and off the field. Both will prove to be the best coaching staff in the league. Dimity Piterman and I are excited to work with them in building this team.”