ClapCompeting in the USASA Region II Open Cup tournament this weekend will be the Twin Stars of the NPSL. Along with seven other amateur teams, they will compete for two berths in the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
Minnesota Twin Stars Profile
“Nobody in Minnesota knows anything about the Twin Stars,” laments Youssef Darbaki, founder of the Twin Stars. “We have very few opportunities for anyone to talk about the team.”
Darbaki, who founded the Twin Stars in 2005, was born in Casablanca, Morocco and played for numerous European teams such as Sporting Lisbon. He eventually made his way to the US playing and eventually coaching. He was with the Moroccan National team from 1980-88.
“My mission statement has always been to give local Minnesota boys a chance to play at a very high level,” said Darbaki.
He has done exactly that with players such as Ansu Toure, who eventually played several years for the Minnestoa Thunder, trialed with the MLS Red Bulls and eventually landed in Vancouver with the Whitecaps where he is now a starter for the team that will move to MLS next season. Other players on the Twin Stars have been Geoffrey Myers, Anus Toure’s step brother Keido Pour and Igor Stosic, known as one of the best players in Minnesota. He has also involved many college players such as Greg Rosenthal of UW Milwaukee.
The Twin Stars have won the NPSL Midwest Division 3 years in a row. A division that includes the Chicago Fire NPSL, Eau Claire Aris FC, Madison 56ers, and the famous Milwaukee Bavarians. This year the division adds the Minnesota Kings FC.
Darbaki says they have made it to the finals twice and played for the Championship once. Last year the team was 5-1-0 heading into the playoffs. They lost to the Sonoma County Sol who won the NPSL Championship. Four of the players on last years Twin Stars team made the NPSL All-Star team last season and Igor Stosic was MVP.
Player Pool for the Twin Stars
Alex Nyom – GK
Lucien Braggeman – MD
Karmil Solarin – DF
Arinze Ezirike – DF
Anthony Keller – DF
Lawrence Talery – FD
Jaman Hamad – FD
Geoffrey Myers – FD
Frederick Neher – GK
Dweh Freeman – DF
Adama Diawara – FD
Zakim Abraham – MD
Kiedo Pour – FD
Leo Gibson – FD
Greg Rosenthal – DF
Richard Kamara – DF
Phong Vang – MD
Michael Green – MD
Michael Egbele – MD
Karim Darbaki -MD
