We’ve lost our captain, but we’ve gained a new favorite Finnish soccer club.
Daniel Stevens, FC Buffalo’s leading scorer, has found a home with the Palloseura Kemi Kings in Ykkonen, Finland.
“It has been a crazy journey for me over the past couple of months,” said Stevens, a product of the University at Buffalo soccer program. “I have found a home.”
After signing with FC Buffalo for a second campaign, Stevens set off to try his luck in Europe. At 25-years-old, he told us he was ready to give professional soccer one big “go.” The 2011 NPSL All-Star impressed during a spell this winter with Norwegian club Jevnaker IF, but there were problems with working papers.
According to our friends at the web site, “Yanks Abroad,” Stevens representative “was able to schedule a trial with the Kemi-based squad where the former University of Buffalo standout impressed in a friendly versus Veikkausliiga club RoPS earlier this week.
The 25 year old agreed to terms with Kemi on Friday and will bring a much-needed attacking mindset to the club that finished seventh last year in Finland’s second flight.”
FC Buffalo owner and president Nick Mendola issued this statement for the club:
“We’re extremely proud of Dan for everything he is accomplishing in soccer. It shows that soccer in New York State and America is a fine export and Dan is doing FC Buffalo, the University at Buffalo and the City of Buffalo proud. As excited as we were to have Dan skipper our squad for another season, it has been exhilarating following his journey through Scandinavia. We’ll be ordering our Kemi Kings scarves soon.”
Anyone wishing to write a message of good will to Dan can email nick@fcbuffalo.org or post a comment below.
Season tickets for the 2011 FC Buffalo campaign are available in our shop. Support your local athletes!
