2015 FIRST KICK

- San Antonio

With Major League Soccer getting its act together the BSL can breathe a sigh of relief as there will be no delay to the start of the season.  Preparations went on as normal but the looking cloud of uncertainty clearly kept the mood a bit damper than it otherwise would have been as the clubs geared up for the opening weekend of action.  No worries anymore though and we can look forward to kicking off another top notch season here in the Alamo City.

First up in 2015 is expansion side Cumberland SC.  The newcomers will immediately get to test their mettle as they begin their foray into the BSL by facing what is arguably the best club in the league's history.  Of course, this is also the perfect situation for the Battle to fall flat on their face right out of the gate.  It's hard to preview newcomers but the history of the league has shown that regularly, new clubs fare very well early on.  This time around Alamo City will look to reverse that trend and set a tone that Cumberland will be hard pressed to match.  That isn't to say that the Wildmary's won't be taking aim themselves.  Led by Irish Superman Robbie Keane, the expansion side boasts a lineup full of familiar names.  Nguyen, Bradley, Davies, Hamid, and the list goes on.  The passion will be high and the atmosphere will surely be electric as the club debuts on its home turf ... but this is the Alamo City Battle that is coming to town.

Captaining the Battle this season will be Mauro Diaz.  It has been stated that Obafemi Martins will likely get time wearing the arm band as well.  To get things going though the dynamic young playmaker will lead the squad.  The hardest choice for the starting lineup was who to put in net.  While both GKs are full internationals for their respective countries, the opposition they face makes it a toss up.  After much debating Luis Marin was chosen.  Outside of that it was only the 10th outfield slot that fielded serious questions for the FO.  It came down to two vets and an exciting young option.  It's always hard to catch lightning in a bottle and the long term outlook for Asprilla  has the club believing in him.  However, early points are key and tried and true earned the nod as Vicente Sanchez nabbed the final spot in the First Kick XI.

2015 First Kick Lineup VS Cumberland SC

Mauro Diaz - (C)
Obafemi Martins
Tesho Akindele
Krisztian Nemeth
Sebastian Jaime
Andrew Wenger
Dilly Duka
Diego Fagundez
Leonel Miranda
Vicente Sanchez

Luis Marin

Dairon Asprilla
Luke Moore
Adam Kwarasey

Frank Lampard