by Per Gary Moody of the NPSL
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the first and only men’s league designated by USASA as a Tier 1 national league, is proud to announce that Osner’s FC has joined the league. The club will begin play in the 2025 season.
“The NPSL is thrilled to have a team from Brooklyn, New York join the league,” NPSL Managing Director Cindy Spera said. “The City of New York has invested enormous resources over the past decade to transform the borough into a sports and entertainment mecca. The club intends to leverage everything Brooklyn has to offer in terms of a player pool. Homegrown talent, international players, and former professionals will round out the roster.
The passion for the team is fueled by local businessman J Ronald Nazaire and a talented support staff, all from the local community. I recently had an opportunity to see the team play at historic Floyd Bennett Field, and the energy from the field radiated through the entire stadium. I cannot wait to see this team and club thrive as part of the NPSL family.”
The club is led by Nazaire, General Manager Rony Jacques, and Head Coach Juan Palacio.
Nazaire, who is the club’s president and founder, grew up playing soccer in Haiti and eventually played four years in high school and one year in college. He is the CEO of Nazaire Group, LLC, a holding company, which is home to various subsidiaries involving accounting, tax preparation, business consulting, and digital marketing. Educated by the New York City Public Schools, Nazaire graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the New York Institute of Technology before pursuing an MBA with a focus in taxation.
After obtaining an education in accounting and taxation, he became NASD registered with a Series 6 and Series 65. Working in the accounting field since 1992, he has amassed a comprehensive knowledge of personal and business finance that has been used to benefit a vast number of clients. His success allowed him to expand his accounting practice into Manhattan and Long Island.
“We expect to bring quality football to the NPSL,” Nazaire said. “Our goal is to win our conference and qualify for the U.S. Open Cup during our inaugural season.”
Jacques began playing soccer at a very young age in Haiti. He would go on to play for Violette AC for five years before joining St. Francis College on a full scholarship. He continues to play adult soccer in the Long Island Soccer Football League (LISFL) as part of an Over-40 team and serves as the Technical Director for Baldwin-Osner’s FC’s Over-50 team.
Palacio was a professional soccer player for over 14 years in Colombia, spending time with Deportivo Independiente Medellin, Deportes Tolima, Deportes Quindio, and Deportivo Pereira. He holds multiple coaching credentials, including the USSF A and B licenses. Palacio was head academy coach with the New York Cosmos from 2014 to 2020. He has been the Director of Long Island Timberline FC since 2017.
Osner’s FC was created in 2015 as a pathway to the professional game for the less fortunate youth in the community and those abroad, particularly in Haiti. The goal was to give players opportunities to showcase their talents to a larger audience. The club’s Over-40 team has experienced tremendous success in the LISFL, winning the league cup in 2022. They currently have two teams in the LISFL, an Over-50 team and another in the Premier Division that caters to ages 19 to 35.
Home matches will be played at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field.
Fans and supporters can learn more by visiting osnersfc.com or following the club on Facebook (@Osnersfc), Instagram (@osnersfc), and Twitter/X (@Osnersfc).
More information about expansion opportunities in the NPSL can be found at npsl.com/expansion.
