Fresno hosts Armenian soccer team

FRESNO, Calif. -- The Fresno Fuego Futbol Club, the Central Valley's elite amateur soccer team, will face its first test of the season on Wednesday, Jan. 17 as they battle the Armenian National Soccer team at Chukchansi Park. The event promoted exclusively by Alfa ET Inc., an entertainment company based out of San Mateo, Calif., allows team Armenia to continue their tour throughout the United States in preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

"It's a wonderful opportunity and an honor for the Fresno Fuego to compete against a team of this caliber," said Jaime Ramirez, Head Coach of the Fresno Fuego. "Preparing for the game has heightened the level of enthusiasm for our players to become good ambassadors of soccer in the Central Valley."

The Fresno Fuego play in the Premier Development League (PDL), a division of the United Soccer League. The PDL is the top under-23 men's amateur league in North America and is the development ground for elite players throughout the world. The game will be the Fuego's first of the year as they prepare for a series of exhibition games against professional teams in preparation for their regular season set to begin in April.

The exhibition is the second major soccer match scheduled at Chukchansi Park after the Fuego played an American Premier team, the Orange County Blue Stars, in front of a crowd of over 7,000 fans in July 2006. "We have an opportunity this year to bring soccer to the forefront in the Central Valley," said Brian Glover, General Partner of both the Fuego and Grizzlies. "This is just another step we're taking to maximize the number of events held here at Chukchansi Park."

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. with gates opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now with general admission tickets set at $20 and club seats (based on availability) at $30. To order tickets please call (559) 320-TIXS, purchase online at www.tickets.com or in person at the ticket office at Chukchansi Park.