Sky Blue's Cooper to Play in Sweden After the Season
Jersey Sky Blue defender Fanta Cooper has agreed to terms with Swedish club Umeå Södra and will move to the Damallsvenskan side following the W-League season. The move will be a return to Sweden for Cooper, who played for Bälinge in 2005 and 2006. Her time with Umeå Södra will most likely be temporary as Cooper is hoping to use her spell in Sweden to prepare for the upcoming Women's Professional Soccer player combine in December.
Cooper has been a mainstay in the Sky Blue defense the past two seasons appearing in 12 regular season matches in 2007, when Sky Blue posted a 12-2 mark, and nine matches during the current season with Sky Blue posting a 7-4-2 mark while still holding out hope for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
"With the off season fast approaching, I know in order for me to be ready for the WPS combine in December, I need to keep playing to stay fit," Cooper said. "Although I'm sad to be leaving my home here at Sky Blue, I'm thrilled to be playing another season in Damallsvenska. My ultimate goal is to be on a WPS roster in April and there is no doubt that playing in one of the best leagues in the world will prepare me to do just that. I'll be using these three months to improve and refine parts of my game, and as a result I plan to be ready for the WPS combine."
Umeå Södra currently sits in 11th place out of 12 teams in the Damallsvenskan, which is the top women's league in Sweden. Umeå Södra has nine points with a 2-9-3 mark - one point behind Kristianstads DFF for 10th place and safety from relegation. The Damallsvenskan is currently in a mid-season break and will resume late in August after the Olympics.
Cooper will be joining American Jennifer Nobis at the club. Nobis, a Quincy, IL native and a former player at the University of Missouri, currently sits in second place on the Umeå Södra scoring chart with five goals.
Sky Blue returns to action this weekend with its final game of the regular season. Jersey will host the Northern Virginia Majestics at 5 p.m. at Drew University's Ranger Stadium. For more information visit Sky Blue online at www.SkyBlueSoccer.com.
NEWSLINKS:
Fanta Cooper to Umeå Södra (English)
Supertaggad på att spela för Södra (Swedish)
Södra släcker törsten med Fanta från USA (Swedish)