Pete Fewing Becomes Head Coach at Kitsap Pumas

Monday, November 9, 2009

Would Love to Return to Qwest Field as Visiting Coach

Peter Fewing, Sounders FC broadcaster and panelist for Prost Amerika’s November 21st soccer party, has been appointed the new coach of the Bremerton based Kitsap Pumas. Pumas goalkeeping coach James Ritchie was delighted with the new appointment.

“I am very happy to say that the Kitsap Pumas are now under the leadership of Peter Fewing.

Coach Fewing has many years of experience and I am looking forward to a very eventful year in 2010. The Pumas will thrive under his leadership. He has the full support of myself and Coach Chapman and we will do our best to help the Gaffer settle into his new role.”

The post had been vacant since the shock dismissal of previous incumbent John Wedge, just days after the club’s elimination from the national PDL play-offs. Fewing has been a regular feature on Sounders television this season, working with former Derby County player Alan Hinton to bring tactical insight to the Sounders coverage.

Pete will also be joining Fox Soccer Channel’s Jeremy St Louis and FIFA’s Sandra Hunt on the panel of Prost Amerika’s End of Season Event at the Baltic Room on November 21st.

Get Your Sounders End of Season Party Tickets Here

The Pumas had a successful first season in 2009, winning their regional division, but being eliminated in Laredo in the national play-offs. In their inaugural season, they had a successful US Open Cup run, which ended on a memorable night in Bremerton when the Portland Timbers were the visitors.The Timbers ran out 0-3 winners that night in front of 2128 people, although two late goals perhaps disguised the closeness of the game.

We talked to Peter about his new role and asked him what he was looking forward to the most about his new job.

PROST AMERIKA: You’ve just been announced as the new manager of the Kitsap Pumas. What are challenges you face?

PETE FEWING: Getting to know the team, putting a team together, adding the new players will be the first priority, connecting with the assistant coaches as well. I think we’re going to be keeping those guys on, which will be fun, for continuity’s sake.

I’m ready to go. I don’t see them as challenges, just things that are the process of putting a team together.

Just as the Sounders have done with Chris Henderson and Adrian Hanauer, take the guys that are are there and then add players as we go. I got some connections to new players that I think will help the club–that are interested in playing. I have a relationship with former Seattle U guys, some former Sounder USL players, so that’s the big thing. I want to get started.

PROST AMERIKA: What’s your ambition for this club? How far can they go?

PETE FEWING: I’d like to see us win the league, win the division and we have national championships in our history coaching. I don’t see any reason why that shouldn’t be the goal – to win the whole thing, as far as the PDL goes. I’d also love to win an Open Cup game. I love to play them. Last year they lost 0-3 to Portland. I saw Brian Schmetzer do it with the USL Sounders, beating the MLS teams. And that was from the USL over the MLS.

I’d love the PDL to do it to the USL and see some upsets which is very possible. On a day, any team could beat any other team.

PROST AMERIKA: Is your secret ambition to lead your side against the Sounders?

PETE FEWING: That’d be great fun!

PROST AMERIKA: If you beat them, would you be welcome back on the air?

PETE FEWING: (laughs) No, that would be the end of that. And quite understandable. No seriously. That’s the beauty of this organisation. The Sounders are first class. So if that crazy concept ever happened, I’m sure they’d be a little (pauses and smiles) …. No, they’d be fine with it. They know. Sigi’s had huge wins in his career. If that happened, it’d be fine.

PROST AMERIKA: There are quite a few personalities in that Pumas team, are you ready for the amount of banter you’re going to get?

PETE FEWING: That’ll be good fun. I’m excited about that. That’s one of the best parts about the game is the ‘conversations’ that come through, relationships that come through, and the characters that come out in the game. That will be fun. I’m looking forward to meeting them. You know them better than I do, but I’ll know more in a few weeks after being with them.

Also see: Sounders FC’s Pete Fewing Joins Sounders Party Panel

Fox Soccer Channel’s Jeremy St Louis to Headline Panel