PASL Champion OKC Certified Lions will join Major Arena Soccer League 2 for 2024-25
TAMPA, Florida – The Major Arena Soccer League family will welcome another pro indoor soccer franchise when the Oklahoma City Certified Lions – who won the Premier Arena Soccer League championship last spring over Kalamazoo – joins MASL 2 for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
The Lions rolled to a 8-2 win in the title game this past spring over Kalamazoo United, and had three players earn all-star honors for their impressive playoff performances including Johnny Alvarez and Andres Fuentes who both earned first-team recognition and Rafael Zaldivar who earned second team status.
Team owner Wilson Navas – who owns a general contracting business in OKC – started the Certified Lions in 2019 as a way to give local talent a competitive outlet to continue playing soccer after completion of their high school or college seasons.
“From Day One, the Lions have always been about collaboration and the growth of soccer in our community. When we started, a lot of things were missing in the sport here. What was missing was what's next, so we have always wanted to provide a platform for our upcoming talent to showcase their potential and love of soccer,” Navas said.
Their PASL championship paved the way to MASL 2, he indicated.
“I'm a believer that if you don't compete with people better than you, you're not going to get better,” Navas added. “Now, we are proud to be a part of the biggest indoor league in the country. We are extremely excited about what Major Arena Soccer League in general, and M2 specifically, has to offer our players, supporters and city as a whole. Our goal is to eventually have a good enough program to be able to move to M1 in a few years.”
MASL 2 Commissioner Chris Economides said the timing of the Lions leap, given their PASL title, was perfect.
“Wilson has been a successful businessman and soccer club owner for a number of years now in Oklahoma City, so the time was definitely right for the Lions to take a natural step forward in their growth,” Economides said. “Given their success in the PASL last season, they are leaving little doubt they will bring a competitive and entertaining product to our league this season. The midwest has always embraced indoor soccer, and we think the Lions will be no exception.”
The team will play its home games at Let's Play ISA Arena, which can accommodate from between 900 and 1,000 fans. The Lions will join the Empire Jets, San Diego Sockers 2, Turlock Express, New Mexico Runners and Wichita Wings in the Midwest/West division. Each team will play a 12-game regular-season schedule starting late this fall and running through the spring.
For more information on the club, visit www.certifiedlionsfc.com.