El Paso Coyotes ready for inaugural season to begin
EL PASO, Texas – A new era of professional soccer in El Paso is about to begin this weekend.
The El Paso Coyotes, a professional indoor soccer team affiliated with the Major Arena Soccer League, travel to Dallas to play the Sidekicks in their first-ever match Saturday.
The Coyotes will then host the Sidekicks at the El Paso County Coliseum on Nov. 4 in the team’s home opener.
After months and months of preparation, the team says it’s ready to finally hit the pitch, although there are a few last-minute jitters.
“We’re very excited. Lots of adrenaline. Pumped up. I mean, we’re very, very nervous,” said Gil Cantu, the team’s president and co-owner. “We’re very happy at the same time. We want to start. We have confidence. We worked for three months already.”
Those past three months have been filled with promotional activities to spread the word about the new franchise and tryouts to fill the team’s roster.
Many of those players who made the cut are from the Borderland. In total, 19 of the team’s players are from El Paso or Ciudad Ju á rez.
“There’s a lot of talent here,” said Jesus Vargas, a defender who went to Bel Air High School. “I mean, we have experience and young people. I mean, the most important thing is there’s a lot of people that are here from El Paso and Ciudad Ju á rez. It’s just a great team.”
Team president Gil Cantu says he’s been getting numerous questions from fans eager for the season to begin.
“I think there’s a lot of people in El Paso that love soccer,” he said. “And we don’t have a soccer team here in our city, so I think the people will respond. I think a lot of people are asking when is the first game. And they’re ready.”
The regular season lasts 20 matches – 10 home and 10 away.
Tickets to Coyotes home games can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com, at the County Coliseum Box Office, or over the phone by calling 915-229-1416.
Vargas says it will be worth the price of admission.
“The fans are gonna get a good show. They’re gonna see a lot of goals. A lot of excitement. That’s what they’re gonna see.”
