It was another busy week in the North American Soccer League with player movement still at its peak during the offseason. There was some surprising news coupled with underwhelming news in the last couple of days as the squads begin to take shape for the start of preseason. Read below to refresh yourself on some of the latest transactions in the NASL.
Atlanta Silverbacks
Silverbacks Sign Kwadwo Poku and Junior Sandoval
The Silverbacks continued to add to their attacking force. Just days after signing striker, Matt Horth, for his second stint with the Silverbacks, Atlanta announced that they would also be bringing back midfielder, Junior Sandoval. Sandoval returns to Atlanta after spending time with CD Marathon in his home country of Honduras. The midfielder with an attacking flair will help replace the loss of Danny Barrera.
The Silverbacks also announced that they had signed Ghanaian forward, Kwadwo Poku. Poku signed from the Georgia Revolution of the NPSL where he had an impressive 2013 season. It remains to be seen whether or not Poku can successfully and quickly make the jump from the NPSL level to the NASL level, but obviously the Silverbacks have high hopes for him.
Carolina RailHawks
RailHawks Sign Scott Goodwin and Daniel Scott; Lose Austin Da Luz
The RailHawks finally made some noise this offseason, but the incoming player news was coupled with the fact that another good attacking player was leaving the club. Austin Da Luz, who led the club with four assists and added four goals to boot, has signed with Orlando City SC of USL Pro, just a year before they make the transition to MLS. The loss of Da Luz hurts even worse when RailHawks fans remember that leading scorer, Brian Shriver has moved on as well.
Carolina needs to address their attacking situation soon, but in the mean time they also made some defensive signings. The club signed former Rowdies defender, Daniel Scott and UNC grad and goalkeeper, Scott Goodwin. Scott played in over 1500 minutes for the Rowdies in 2012 and helped them claim the Soccer Bowl championship that year. The defender didn’t feature much in 2013, playing in only 494 minutes throughout the course of the season.
Goodwin joins the RailHawks after spending a season playing professionally in Iceland. The Raleigh native will provide competition to Akira Fitzgerald, but will probably end up backing him up in 2014 after the successful seasons Fitzgerald has had recently.
FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton Sign Defender Kareem Moses
Edmonton added defender, Kareem Moses, last week from professional ball in Trinidad and Tobago. If he is organized, disciplined and can hit a long ball, then he will fit right in above the border.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Strikers Sign Veteran Goalkeeper, Oka Nikolov
The Strikers made a decent splash in the free agent market this week, signing goalkeeper Oka Nikolov. Nikolov has made over 200 Bundesliga appearances with Eintracht Frankfurt. The 39-year old and Macedonia international makes the journey to the states to join the Strikers in 2014.
Strikers Loan Pecka to Madureira Esporte Clube
The Strikers announced that they exercised the option on Pecka, and then immediately loaned him out to Madureira Esporte Clube in Brazil. That’s about it for that one.
Strikers Re-Sign Martin Nunez
Fort Lauderdale also re-signed Martin Nunez who led the team in goal in the 2013 Fall Season. The move isn’t a surprise, but it will go along way to helping the Strikers climb up the table this season.
Indy Eleven
Eleven Sign NASL Winger, Walter Ramirez
Indy continued to pour out positive news from their camp this week when they announced the signing of winger, Walter Ramirez. The 2012 Best XI midfielder spent the last two seasons with the San Antonio Scorpions and when he is on his game, can be one of the best wide men in the league. Unfortunately, his personality sometimes gets the best of him, but nevertheless this is a smart move by Eleven bringing in a league veteran.
Minnesota United FC
No Recent Movement
New York Cosmos
Cosmos Re-sign Paulo Mendes and Jimmy Nealis
If you win the championship in your first *half season with a new squad, it would probably be a good idea to maintain the core of that team. That’s exactly what the Cosmos have done. Aside from adding Hans Denissen among a couple of other moves, the Cosmos have done a great job of locking up all of their key components to their Soccer Bowl win. Both Paulo Mendes and Jimmy Nealis re-upped this week and help continue to keep the club’s playing staff consistent in preparation for the 2014 season.
Ottawa Fury FC
Fury Sign Brazilian Defender, Maykon
Ottawa continued adding foreign talent this week when they signed Brazilian defender/winger, Maykon, for the upcoming NASL season. Maykon joins from the first division in Cyprus and impressively has featured in two Champions League playoff qualification matches.
San Antonio Scorpions
No Recent Moves
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Rowdies Sign JP Rodrigues to Two-Year Contract
JP Rodrigues returns to the Rowdies after helping them win a Soccer Bowl in 2012. The defender made 27 appearances during the championship season and also has MLS experience. A good signing from the Rowdies who needed to address their defense after adding mainly attacking talent so far in the offseason.
Rowdies Announce Perry Van Der Beck as General Manager
The new Rowdies ownership made a good move to make former Rowdies player, Perry Van Der Beck as their general manager. The former US Olympic Team Captain will attempt to put together a squad that can repeat their 2012 championship season.
(image courtesy of strikers.com)
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