Sacramento Soccer Making Waves Hiring Internationally Recognized Coach
SACRAMENTO (CBSS13) — The Sacramento Soccer Club is trying to make a run at becoming a top-tier professional team by hiring an internationally recognized coach.
His name is Pedrag Radosaviljevic, but he's known to many as Preki. He's known to the world as the man who made a kick in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1998 against Brazil, which was the world's most dominating team at the time.
That goal would be the game-winner.
Just as that kick put the U.S. Men's team on the map, Sacramento hopes making Preki their new head coach will do the same for the capital city.
"He's extremely intense, dedicated and he knows the game," said Sac Pro Soccer technical director Graham Smith. "I believe he will be fantastic for this operation."
CBS13 caught up with the newest coach as he arrived to the Sac Pro Soccer offices. Preki says he took the job, because of the opportunity to take this club to the Major League Soccer level.
"It's going to be hard work, it's going to be challenging, and it's going to be exciting."
The Yugoslavian-born Preki is familiar with Sacramento because of guys named Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic.
"It's a small country. There are only a few of us, so you have to be supportive of your countrymen."
And now he hopes to be the next Yugoslav Sacramentans fall in love with. He knows it will take wins, but Preki says he will search far and wide for the best players, some which may already be practicing here.
"Something like this is a little different," Sacramento soccer player Grant Silvester said," just because it's a new team, and they are looking for people from the area."
"We are going to look for the quality," Preki said. "So that doesn't mean we are not going to sign anybody, and it's doesn't mean that we will."
Sac Pro Soccer day is this Thursday at Raley Field.
