Dardania FC has merged with the Force to create the, “New York Force”. The club will operate out of the Bronx and will train at Van Cortland Park. Dardania FC has hundreds of youth players in their system with teams starting at the U-8 through U-18 age groups. Dardania Club President Bujar Gjata has been instrumental in Dardanias success and credits the Albanian community and parents for much of it. Mr. Gjata states, “This is a big day for the club and we are hoping to accomplish some big things with the Force”. He continues, “It is our goal to have a team in the USL by the spring of 2014. It is something that has been in the works for the past 6 months and with well over 2 million people living in the Bronx alone it is something that is and will be accomplished”. In addition, “we are looking to strengthen our youth teams and to give all of our youth players a pathway toward a professional career. It is a model that is used in most countries throughout the world”.
The New York Force will look to affiliate with one of the MLS teams in New York. With both the Red Bulls and New York City FC in the works the options look promising. In addition to Van Cortland Park the New York Force will also train at Pelham Bay Park.
According to Force General Manager Nate Millett, “This is a great day for the Force as a whole. We now have a full club with teams and players starting from U-4 and right up and into the pro ranks. He continues, “The New England Force will look down the road to push for a place in the MLS or the NASL and now with the backing of a full club and system of promotion we will continue to strengthen our position. In addition, both the New England Force and New York Force will fall under the Force umbrella and with our new President that has experience at the highest levels arriving in a couple of weeks the sky is the limit”. — with New England Force and Bujar Gjata.(Facebook)