Tormenta FC Unveils 2019 USL League One Historic Home Opener: Statesboro’s First Professional Soccer Match
With the USL League One inaugural season quickly approaching—home opening games for all 10 clubs have been announced. Statesboro’s Tormenta FC will play its first professional game and the season’s opener on Friday, March 29, at Erk Russell Park against Greenville Triumph SC.
This home opener will be a historic night. Not only is Tormenta FC the USL League One’s founding member, but the club is also hosting the first game of the league’s inaugural season.
“It’s going to be an absolutely electric atmosphere,” said USL League One Senior Vice President Steven Short. “Not only is it the inaugural match in USL League One history, but also the first professional soccer match ever played in Statesboro, Georgia.”
“This will be a moment that soccer fans throughout the region will look back on with great memories – a day that will be talked about for years and generations to come,” Short said. “We’re all looking forward to March 29.”
The Tormenta FC USL League One team is led by head coach John Miglarese. In 2018, Miglarese brought Tormenta FC’s pre-professional team to its first Deep South Division Championship title. He has more than seven years coaching experience in the PDL, now known as USL League Two. In addition to his collegiate coaching years, he has received various awards, including two for Conference Coach of the Year and Regional Coach of the Year. He was also nominated for National Coach of the Year.
Greenville Triumph SC’s head coach is National Soccer Hall of Fame member John Harkes. Harkes has on-field experience with the US National team, European Premier League and Major League Soccer. Off the field, Harkes worked in broadcasting with ESPN. Prior to coaching for Triumph SC, he coached for FC Cincinnati, New York Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxy.
“The announcement of our first match brings a mix of excitement and gratitude,” Miglarese said. “So many people have worked tireless hours to bring professional soccer to South Georgia. This will be a great day for the players, the community, and everyone associated with Tormenta FC!”
Tormenta FC has signed 13 players so far for its 2019 USL League One season: Conner Antley, Jad Arslan, Micah Bledsoe, Lucas Coutinho, Charlie Dennis, Ricardo Gómez, Pablo Jara, Michael Mecham, Michael O’Sullivan, Joshua Phelps, Jerry Saint-Vil, Nick Wells and Nil Vinyals.
“It’s an honor to be hosting the first ever USL League One match,” Vice President of Soccer Operations Mike Panter said. “We have a driven staff, top coaches, great players and the best ownership. But it can not be stated enough: our fans are the heartbeat of this club.”
This will be Statesboro’s first professional sports event in almost 60 years, turning Statesboro into a professional city once again. Ruff Riders and Statesboro Pilots were two professional baseball teams that preceded Tormenta FC. Both teams disbanded their professional status by the 1950s.
“Statesboro is now professional which is something this community has been ready for and will be realized on March 29. This game will go down in history,” Panter said.
For additional information and scheduling interviews, call 478-508-2604 or email: bodonnell@https://www.tormentafc.com.
About South Georgia Tormenta FC
South Georgia Tormenta FC is a professional soccer franchise in Statesboro, Georgia that was founded in 2015. The club established itself as one of the premier USL League Two teams (formerly known as PDL) across the United States before joining USL League One as the founding member of the league. The club has filed plans to construct a new state-of-the-art 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium in Statesboro. Planned to be built next to The Clubhouse on Old Register Road, the new venue will provide an exciting and authentic professional soccer experience for fans and players.
