SANTA CLARA, CA *(June 11, 2009) - FC Gold Pride announced today the addition of Brazilian soccer legend Sisleide Lima Do Amor, most commonly known as Sissi, to the team’s roster.

“We never sold short the idea that Sissi would be on the field with ourteam,” said FC Gold Pride General Manager Ilisa Kessler.  “She has beenengaged with the team since the beginning on and off the field during training and she has been staying fit by playing with the Storm.  The player-coach model is not new to the game of professional soccer and we are
looking forward to having Sissi continue to contribute her knowledge of the game as a coach and bring her experience as a player back to the field.”

Sissi, who has been serving as the Pride’s Assistant Coach since the inception of the team, will be added to the team’s roster as one of four developmental players.  Sissi joins fellow Brazilians Formiga, Erika and Adriane on the Pride roster.  The Bay Area team boasts the largest Brazilian contingency in the league.

“I wanted this so badly you couldn’t believe it,” said Sissi.  “I couldn’t sleep the last couple of days after Albertin told me this was a possibility.  I know it will be a big challenge for me, but I also know I’m ready. It doesn’t matter how many minutes I play, I just feel so blessed and honored to be a part of this. I can’t wait to be on the field and play with this very special team.  It will be a little weird since I was coaching them  yesterday.  I feel honored that Albertin is giving me a chance to be on the
field again.  This could be my last season so, any chance I have to be on the field, even if it’s just for five minutes, I’m going to give everything I have.”

Sissi began her residency in the Bay Area in 2001 as an inaugural player of the Women’s United Soccer Association’s (WUSA) San Jose CyberRays.  She rejoins the professional ranks of soccer after a six year hiatus in her professional career, during which she continued to play for the California Storm of the WPSL while also lending her soccer knowledge, experience and
expertise to local youth and collegiate soccer players as a coach for Los Positas College and Diablo Futbol Club.

The Brazil native represented her country in three FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments (1991, 1995, 1999) as well as two Olympic Games (1996, 2000).
She captured the world’s attention in 1999 during the historic Women’s World Cup tournament that changed the international landscape of women’s soccer,
earning the Golden Boot as the tournament’s leading goal scorer and silver ball for her outstanding leadership and performance in the tournament.

The Brazilian national, who just celebrated her birthday on June 2, enters the WPS as the league’s most senior player.  The addition of Sissi’s cunning
skill and experience adds to the depth of the Pride’s already strong midfield.

Ten games into the season the Pride has posted a 3-5-2 record and is currently tied for third place with the Boston Breakers and Saint Louis
Athletica.  Following the team’s first bye week this week, the Pride will resume action on Wednesday, June 17 in Boston.

For the latest news, information or to purchase tickets to an upcoming FC Gold Pride home game, visit fcgoldpride.com n Brazil .  That promise was realized in June 2001!  When the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) was formed in 2001, after all of the buzz surrounding the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, the Foreign Allocation Draft sent Sissi to the San Jose CyberRays.