As Detroiters take part in Cinco de Mayo festivities this Saturday, soccer fans will have their own "holiday" to celebrate: it's the Detroit City FC's kickoff.
The new Detroit City Football Club minor league soccer team is warming up for the start of its inaugural season with an exhibition game against Mundo Latino (The Latino All-Stars) on Saturday.
Following the game, the team will hold a rally at PJ’s Lager House on Michigan Avenue in Detroit. During the rally fans of the team will be treated to a performance by the Codgers, an all-male Irish revue, who will sing traditional Irish music as well as less traditional soccer anthems. On Sunday members of Detroit City FC (also known by their nickname "Le Rouge") will join in Southwest Detroit's Cinco de Mayo parade, which starts at noon and travels along West Vernor Avenue and Woodmere to Clark Park.
The events are a prelude to the team's season opener against AFC Cleveland at Cass Tech High School on May 12, which will mark the beginning of their 14-game season.
“Everyone associated with Detroit City FC is counting the days to our opener,” Ben Steffans, the team's president, said in a release. “For the ownership, the coaching staff, and the players, it will be an unforgettable moment many months in the making. But for our supporters, it will be a moment years in the making."
Detroit City FC belongs to the National Premier Soccer League, which is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation.
Saturday's match, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 11 a.m, May 5 at Historic Ft. Wayne, 6325 W. Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, and wil be followed by a rally at 1:30 p.m. at PJ's Lager House, 1524 Michigan Avenue, Detroit. For more details about the game see the Facebook page, and get all of the season details on the team's website.