Kings Announce First Player Signings of MLIS Season

by Natalie Viel

The Omaha Kings have announced their first three player signings for the 2022 – 23 Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS) season.  Daniel Zuckweiler, Bobby Jaffery, and Stevie Siy will all represent the Crown with the Omaha Kings this winter.  The two returners, along with a new addition to the roster, all hold strong, local ties to the Omaha community.

Daniel Zuckweiler, an Omaha native, is the first veteran welcomed back to the team.  Nicknamed the “OG”, Zuckweiler has been with the Omaha Kings organization since its inaugural year, in 2019.  After suffering a devastating MCL tear at the beginning of the 21-22 season, he showed an incredible level of dedication, putting in every extra hour possible to properly rehab the tear and get back on the field.  Zuckweiler bounced back from his injury just in time to help the Kings capture the MASL2’s Midwest Conference Championship title over the Wichita Wings and advancing the team to the M2’s final four.  Having persevered through this injury, Zuckweiler is more than excited to take on this season with the MLIS.

Bobby Jaffery is the second vet to return for the 22-23 MLIS season.  Originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, Jaffery and his family immigrated to Omaha in the early 2000’s where he attended Millard South High School, playing Varsity Soccer for the renowned Coach, Jim Cooney.  In addition, he played for the Midland University Men’s soccer team in Fremont and has been a member of the Omaha Kings organization since its founding year (PASL/M3/MASL2).  Jaffery has some notable accomplishments with the Kings, one of them including the golden goal overtime win against the MASL’s first division team, the Kansas City Comets, during an exhibition match in August of 2021. 

The newest addition to join the Kings roster, Stevie Siy, is definitely one to keep an eye on this season.  Taking on his first year of indoor, he holds an impressive list of accomplishments with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s NCAA Division I soccer team.  Leading as team captain for 2 seasons, he made 72 career appearances with 68 starts.  His other noteworthy achievements, on and off the field, include:

  • Summit League All-Second Team (2021)
  • Summit League All-First Team (2020)
  • Summit League Champion (2017)
  • Summit League All-Newcomer Team (2017)
  • Summit League Academic Honor Roll (2017, 2018, 2019)
  • Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence (2017-18, 2018-19)
  • Summit League All-Academic Team (2018, 2019, 2021)
  • CoSIDA Academic All-District Team (2018, 2019)

Siy is also an Omaha native and an Omaha Central High School alum.

Head coach and owner, Emmanuel Viel, shares his eagerness for the season saying, “We’re beyond excited for a new fresh start – not only for the Omaha Kings as an organization, but for all our players who have worked and have been working extremely hard to get to this point.  We are all eager to show our community what we can accomplish together as a team, fighting for each other and for our city.”

The Omaha Kings are scheduled to kick off their regular season on December 10th, against Milwaukee’s Brew City Legends.  Follow the Kings on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn for this season’s latest updates and announcements.