STATESBORO, Ga. – South Georgia Tormenta FC has announced the Junior Academy Leadership Team of Kian Brownlee, Jeff Owens and Raymara Barreto for the Fall 2021 to Spring 2022 season. Junior Academy is composed of Tormenta FC Academy’s U8-U12 travel soccer teams.
Both Owens and Barreto will serve as Junior Academy Technical Coordinators for Tormenta FC Youth Academy.
“Jeff was part of an age group of boys that took the youth game in Charleston to an entirely new level," Brownlee said. "He was part of our first group training five days a week, adopting the JMG Academy Barefoot curriculum, and competing in the USYS National League before entering the Development Academy for U.S. Soccer. A natural lefty with incredible touch, but also a drive and passion to compete, Jeff is going to be incredible with our youth here at Tormenta FC. It’s an amazing opportunity and privilege to have Jeff on staff. The value of having one of my former players, who knows the principles we want to instill in our players, cannot be overstated.”
“Raymara is still one of the finest technical players I’ve had the privilege of developing," Brownlee added. "She was a part of many of my fondest memories coaching in Mt. Pleasant, scoring from midfield against the National Champions GSA, jumping in goal to stop penalties in a local tournament championship, and delivering a bicycle kick goal to beat Sunrise Sting in the Region 3 Championships. I’m looking forward to Raymara helping the club instill her passion for the game and develop future technicians with the ball at their feet. Hiring Raymara is another leap forward in the club's vision of developing the best youth players in the southeast.”
STATESBORO, Ga. – South Georgia Tormenta FC has announced the Junior Academy Leadership Team of Kian Brownlee, Jeff Owens and Raymara Barreto for the Fall 2021 to Spring 2022 season. Junior Academy is composed of Tormenta FC Academy’s U8-U12 travel soccer teams.
Both Owens and Barreto will serve as Junior Academy Technical Coordinators for Tormenta FC Youth Academy.
“Jeff was part of an age group of boys that took the youth game in Charleston to an entirely new level,” Brownlee said. “He was part of our first group training five days a week, adopting the JMG Academy Barefoot curriculum, and competing in the USYS National League before entering the Development Academy for U.S. Soccer. A natural lefty with incredible touch, but also a drive and passion to compete, Jeff is going to be incredible with our youth here at Tormenta FC. It’s an amazing opportunity and privilege to have Jeff on staff. The value of having one of my former players, who knows the principles we want to instill in our players, cannot be overstated.”
“Raymara is still one of the finest technical players I’ve had the privilege of developing,” Brownlee added. “She was a part of many of my fondest memories coaching in Mt. Pleasant, scoring from midfield against the National Champions GSA, jumping in goal to stop penalties in a local tournament championship, and delivering a bicycle kick goal to beat Sunrise Sting in the Region 3 Championships. I’m looking forward to Raymara helping the club instill her passion for the game and develop future technicians with the ball at their feet. Hiring Raymara is another leap forward in the club’s vision of developing the best youth players in the southeast.”
Coming to the club after a year working with FC Charleston and the State Champion Women’s Varsity Oceanside Collegiate Academy, Owens brings a background having played for the highest levels of the youth game and has worked with some of the best youth coaches in the game today. Owens grew up playing with Mt. Pleasant Soccer Club and then as the club took on the U.S. Development Academy spot as the Charleston Battery from U14-18. In the golden era of soccer in the Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, community Jeff was also a standout on the nationally ranked state champions Wando High School Varsity Men’s team. The level of players, coaches, and teams that Jeff was a part of has given him a rich background in what we want to see develop here at the Tormenta FC Junior Academy.
“The great coaches, players and teams I had the privilege of working with throughout my life inspired me and shaped me into the person I am today,” Owens said. “I’m looking forward to giving back to the youth here and sharing my knowledge and joy of the game. I love to see the game played with skill, vision, aggression, passion and confidence. Those are the qualities I’m looking forward to instilling in our players at Tormenta FC.”
As a youth player, Barreto excelled for Mt. Pleasant Soccer Club (SC United Mt. Pleasant) 1996 Girls Elite team and coach Brownlee where she won six state championships, advancing into the knockout rounds five out of seven times at the Region 3 Championships. The team was the first from the club to compete at the highest level of the USYS National League. Born to Brazilian parents, Barreto is a true soccer enthusiast. Following her stellar youth experience, she accepted a Division I athletic scholarship to play in her hometown for the College of Charleston. For the Cougars, she earned accolades as Rookie of the Week, Colonial Athletic All-Conference Third Team, and the 2018 All-Tournament Team.
“I chose to work for Tormenta FC as it’s clear I can continue to grow and learn from the highly qualified staff," Barreto said. "I look forward to translating my youth development experience to our players here at Tormenta. I love the technical aspects of the game and believe that players should be comfortable with the ball at their feet, and always want to see the game played with skill and beauty. I want to instill the passion I have for the game into our Tormenta FC youth.”
Committed to raising the level of soccer locally and across the country, Tormenta FC Academy has programs available from age two up to age 19 and is the only youth academy in South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina with a path to the professional ranks. Over the years, TFC Academy has helped many talented players on their paths to higher levels of the game, whether it be Indiana Vassilev in the English Premier League with Aston Villa FC, Paolo Alcocer in the Bolivian Primera División with Club Bolívar or James Brighton, a rising talent in the collegiate ranks at Clemson University. In 2019, midfielder Tristan DeLoach became the first TFC Academy talent to sign a professional academy contract with the professional USL League One team, followed by his peers, midfielder Grant Hampton and goalkeeper Stephen O’Hearn in 2020 and Brittain Gottlieb and Tyler Bisseck in 2021.
Coming to the club after a year working with FC Charleston and the State Champion Women’s Varsity Oceanside Collegiate Academy, Owens brings a background having played for the highest levels of the youth game and has worked with some of the best youth coaches in the game today. Owens grew up playing with Mt. Pleasant Soccer Club and then as the club took on the U.S. Development Academy spot as the Charleston Battery from U14-18. In the golden era of soccer in the Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, community Jeff was also a standout on the nationally ranked state champions Wando High School Varsity Men’s team. The level of players, coaches, and teams that Jeff was a part of has given him a rich background in what we want to see develop here at the Tormenta FC Junior Academy.
“The great coaches, players and teams I had the privilege of working with throughout my life inspired me and shaped me into the person I am today,” Owens said. “I’m looking forward to giving back to the youth here and sharing my knowledge and joy of the game. I love to see the game played with skill, vision, aggression, passion and confidence. Those are the qualities I’m looking forward to instilling in our players at Tormenta FC.”
As a youth player, Barreto excelled for Mt. Pleasant Soccer Club (SC United Mt. Pleasant) 1996 Girls Elite team and coach Brownlee where she won six state championships, advancing into the knockout rounds five out of seven times at the Region 3 Championships. The team was the first from the club to compete at the highest level of the USYS National League. Born to Brazilian parents, Barreto is a true soccer enthusiast. Following her stellar youth experience, she accepted a Division I athletic scholarship to play in her hometown for the College of Charleston. For the Cougars, she earned accolades as Rookie of the Week, Colonial Athletic All-Conference Third Team, and the 2018 All-Tournament Team.
“I chose to work for Tormenta FC as it’s clear I can continue to grow and learn from the highly qualified staff,” Barreto said. “I look forward to translating my youth development experience to our players here at Tormenta. I love the technical aspects of the game and believe that players should be comfortable with the ball at their feet, and always want to see the game played with skill and beauty. I want to instill the passion I have for the game into our Tormenta FC youth.”
Committed to raising the level of soccer locally and across the country, Tormenta FC Academy has programs available from age two up to age 19 and is the only youth academy in South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina with a path to the professional ranks. Over the years, TFC Academy has helped many talented players on their paths to higher levels of the game, whether it be Indiana Vassilev in the English Premier League with Aston Villa FC, Paolo Alcocer in the Bolivian Primera División with Club Bolívar or James Brighton, a rising talent in the collegiate ranks at Clemson University. In 2019, midfielder Tristan DeLoach became the first TFC Academy talent to sign a professional academy contract with the professional USL League One team, followed by his peers, midfielder Grant Hampton and goalkeeper Stephen O’Hearn in 2020 and Brittain Gottlieb and Tyler Bisseck in 2021.
