By Ian S. Cunningham, OM PR Writer Winter 1999!
It is almost six years since Olympique Montreux, reputably known as OM, was established in Salt Lake City, Utah. Six years, three different leagues and four major trophies later, OM has established its pedigree.
As the team unveils its website, it is indeed a fitting occasion to acknowledge each player who has proudly donned an OM jersey over the years.
A very special salute is due to the pioneers who earned OM its first major silverware on October 22, 2001. Call the roll:
Jorge Conde! Marcos Melendez! Bel-Ami! Mike Leveille! George Sinju! Mike Bialecki! Luke Garrott! Salif N’Diaye! Rob Olisa! Alija Hajdarevic! Admir Softic! Adis Alagic! Ibrahim Kazic! William Tonico! Facil Faye! Pablo Hernandez! Gabriel Hernandez! You started us on our way.
While OM tasted success early in its sporting life, the team also sustained its share of heartaches. We did not any major trophies in 2003 and 2004. A miserable third place finish in 2004 was all we collected. Our scandalous slip in the standing was due in part to some unfortunate occurrences in the fall of 2002. Fresh from winning the top division of the Liga Latinoamericana, all our Bosnian teammates left to join exclusively Bosnian teams. That mass exodus of so many first choice players, practically the core of the team, left us in shambles.
Notwithstanding OM’s feelings, we did not see those events as some kind of Machiavellian plot too destroy the team. The Bosnians had all the rights to found their own dynasty and promote their culture in their new country.
Nonetheless, we were determined to survive that Balkanization period and stay alive as a team. It would take time, however, as we went from one heartache to another and from a multitude of players who only joined the team hoping for remuneration.
OM’s fortune reversed, however, for the better in the spring of 2005 when the team finally joined the Utah Soccer Association. We went unbeaten and won the First Division in a landslide. We did it with a makeshift squad of mostly part-time players with multiple teams allegiances. Some of the guys were on the rosters of as many as three teams in different leagues from Provo to Logan. Despite all that, we managed in an Open Cup game to frighten mighty Lazio, a Premiership team coached by the legendary Chris Dorich, before running out of gas in the waning minutes.
Along with the First Division trophy came promotion to the Premiership. If the few Open Cup games we played are any indication, life in the Premiership is going to be very difficult. To succeed, OM will need to sign some very good players who can commit only to the team. We hope our reputation will help in recruiting a few of the best young talents in the State.
Sadly though, to raise the level of our game, we will have to make difficult decisions. We have to part with many young men who contributed to our recent success. As we said earlier, some were moonlighting with us really out of friendship while still playing for teams in other leagues. We sincerely thanked them. The fact is that OM deserves full time players who are committed to its mission.
Yes, it has been a wild and dizzy ride to the Premiership. We want to seize the opportunity.
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