Hartford City FC is joining the National Premier Soccer League as an expansion team that will compete in the Northeast region’s Atlantic Conference, the league announced.
Hartford City FC is led by Aaron Sarwar and Hami Kara. The pair ran the NPSL press release on their Hartford City FC Facebook page and an evolving new website.
“We joined the NPSL because it is a respected league with a proven track record,” Sarwar said. “They have had great success in markets such as Hartford.”
Sarwar, who will serve as the club’s owner, is a Hartford native and an officer in the Connecticut Air National Guard. His family owns the Shish Kebab House of Afghanistan, a Hartford restaurant that is now in its 28th year. Sarwar’s father, Naseer Sarwar, is a partner and investor in the team.
Kara, who will serve as the team’s captain, is a goalkeeper.
“Hartford is an important step in the Northeast,” NPSL Chairman Joe Barone commented. “It’s a huge soccer community surrounded by a wealth of elite collegiate soccer. It’s a tremendous bridge between Boston and New York City.”
“Our goal is to get on the field and bring soccer to Hartford,” Sarwar added. “We believe that we have the biggest untapped soccer fan base in the country.”
