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USL RECORD: 1-0-0 3pts
USL RECORD: 0-1-0 0pts
MATCH INFO
COMPETITION: Swope Park Rangers vs. Portland Timbers 2 DATE: Wednesday, March 29, 2017 KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. CT LOCATION: Children’s Mercy Victory Field (Kansas City,Mo.) REFEREE: Nima Saghafi ARS: Shane Kennard and Devin Blazek FOURTH OFFICIAL: Spenser Scopel STREAM: Game to be streamed live on SportingKC.com
MATCH PREVIEW Team Notes vs. Portland Timbers 2 : Swope Park Rangers are 1-0-1 all time to Portland Timbers 2, winning the only contest at home.
Last Meeting : The Swope Park Rangers suffered a 2-1 defeat to Portland Timbers 2 on Saturday June4th, 2017 at Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, Idaho. Goals from Neco Brett and Victor Arboleda put Tmbers 2 in a commanding lead before rookie Mark Anthony Gonzalez scored his first professional goal to pull a goal back as the game finished 2-1.
INJURY REPORT OUT: • Kevin Oliveira (Torn ACL) • Robert Mirosavic (Hamstring Strain) - Questionable
2017 USL SCHEDULE Sat., March 25 OKC Energy FC Wed., March 29 Portland Timbers 2 Sat., April 15 Sacramento Republic FC Sun., April 23 Phoenix Rising FC Sat., April 28 Real Monarchs SLC Fri., May 5 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Sat., May 13 Rio Grande Valley FC Fri., May 26 San Antonio FC Sat., June 3 San Antonio FC Sun., June 11 Tulsa Roughnecks FC Sun., June 18 Phoneix Rising FC Wed., June 21 Colo. Springs Switchbacks Tues., June 27 Tulsa Roughnecks FC Fri., June 30 LA Galaxy II Sat., July 8 Rio Grande Valley FC Wed., July 12 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Sun., July 16 Portland Timbers 2 Thurs., July 20 Seattle Sounders FC 2 Sun. July 30 Reno 1868 FC Sat., Aug. 5 Saint Louis FC Sat., Aug. 12 Orange County SC Fri., Aug. 18 Real Monarchs SLC Wed., Aug. 23 Sacramento Republic FC Sat., Aug. 26 Reno 1868 FC Sat., Sept. 2 OKC Energy FC Sat., Sept. 9 Orange County SC Sun., Sept. 17 San Antonio FC Sat. Sept. 23 Colo. Springs Switchbacks Wed., Sept. 27 LA Galaxy II Sat., Sept. 30 Rio Grande Valley FC Sun., Oct. 8 OKC Energy FC Wed., Oct. 11 Seattle Sounders FC 2
W 3-1 7:30 7:00 8:30 5:00 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 4:00 4:00 7:30 7:30 9:30 7:30 2:00 4:00 9:30 4:00 7:30 7:30 7:30 10:00 9:30 7:30 9:00 4:00 7:00 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30
Children's Mercy Victory Field Children's Mercy Victory Field Children's Mercy Victory Field Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex Rio Tinto Stadium Children's Mercy Victory Field H-E-B Park Children's Mercy Victory Field Toyota Field Children's Mercy Victory Field Children's Mercy Victory Field Children's Mercy Victory Field ONEOK Field StubHub Center Children's Mercy Victory Field McLeod Athletic Park Providence Park Starfire Stadium Children’s Mercy Victory Field WWT Soccer Park Children’s Mercy Victory Field Children’s Mercy Victory Field Bonney Field Greater Nevada Field Children’s Mercy Victory Field Orange County Great Park Children’s Mercy Victory Field Weidner Field Children’s Mercy Victory Field H-E-B Park Taft Stadium Children’s Mercy Victory Field
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
HEAD COACH Nikola Popovic was named Swope Park Rangers head coach ahead of the 2017 season after serving as an assistant in the club’s inaugural campaign in 2016. Popovic arrived in Kansas City following a stint as an assistant coach with Benfica B in Portugal. A dual citizen of Portugal and Serbia who was born in Belgrade, Popovic began his coaching career in Portugal with CD Olivais e Moscavide in the Segunda Division, initially with an internship in the 2005-06 season where the side won the title and gained promotion to the Segunda Liga, before being hired as an assistant for the following season. After leaving CD Olivais e Moscavide at the conclusion of the 2006-07 season, Popovic headed to FC Vihren Sandanski in the Bulgarian A Football Group as an assistant but returned to Portugal later that same year with Segunda Liga side Varzim SC, where he won the Liga Intercalar. In 2010, the 43-year-old enjoyed a stint as an assistant coach with the Cape Verde National Team, before joining Spanish Segunda Division B side AD Ceuta. Popovic’s next stop was with Al Dahfra in the United Arab Emirates for the 2011-12 season, where he was an assistant to Baltemar Brito – Jose Mourinho’s former assistant coach – winning the Vice President Cup. Popovic earned his first head coaching job the following season, taking charge of Sertanense FC in the Portuguese Second Division. Popovic then joined Qatar’s Aspire Academy in 2014, before returning to Portugal and Benfica B in 2015.
ASSISTANT COACH Paulo Nagamura is entering his first season of coaching with the Swope Park Rangers, having announced his retirement from professional soccer at the conclusion of the 2016 MLS season with Sporting Kansas City. Nagamura, 33, enjoyed a 12-year MLS career that saw him win two MLS Cup championships and three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles. He made 269 appearances in MLS, including 240 starts, recording 15 goals and 21 assists. In five seasons with Sporting Kansas City, Nagamura tallied seven goals and eight assists in 119 appearances across all competitions. He played a vital role in some of Sporting Kansas City’s biggest moments in club history, converting penalty kicks in shootouts of the 2012 and 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups as well as the 2013 MLS Cup. A native of Brazil, Nagamura began his youth career with hometown club Sao Paulo FC in 1994 before moving to Arsenal FC of the English Premier League in 2001. He signed for the LA Galaxy in 2005, where he won the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in his first professional season at the senior level.
GOALKEEPER COACH Gavin McInerney is entering his first season with the Swope Park Rangers, having joined the club from fellow USL side the Rochester Rhinos ahead of the 2017 season. McInerney served as an assistant and goalkeeper coach for the Rhinos in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Last season, McInerney oversaw Rochester’s starting goalkeeper Tomas Gomez, who posted the lowest goals against average in the league with 0.55 – earning him the USL Golden Glove award. The 32-year-old was a key member of the Rhinos’ coaching staff as the side claimed the USL Regular-Season Championship and the USL Cup in 2015, setting a league record by conceding just 15 goals in 28 regular-season games and only losing one game all season. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, McInerney moved to the U.S. to play college soccer at the University of Memphis in 2004 before returning to Ireland after the 2005 NCAA season to sign a professional contract with St. Patrick’s Athletic FC of the League of Ireland. A move to fellow top-flight side Bray Wanderers followed in 2008 before returning to the U.S. in 2009.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
NEWS AND NOTES
BALLIN’ BELMAR New SPR forward Kharlton Belmar scored his first goal for the Rangers on his debut against OKC Energy FC on Saturday night. Belmar made his mark in the 42nd minute and pulled the Rangers level at 1-1 with a first-time finish from eight yards out. Fellow newcomer Parker Maher beat his man on the left flank and cut the ball back from the endline for Belmar to bury his 16th career USL goal, having tallied 15 in two seasons with Portland Timbers 2.
DIDIC & GONZALEZ ABSENT Defender Amer Didic and forward Mark Anthony Gonzalez are both absent from the Swope Park Rangers roster, having been called in to the Canada Under-23 National Team for a tournament in Qatar. The Canada U-23s topped Uzbekistan 1-0 on Saturday morning, with Didic playing the full 90 minutes on his debut for the age group. Canada will next face Qatar on Tuesday, March 28 to close out the tournament before both players head back to KC ahead of the April 15 matchup with Sacramento Republic FC. Didic and Gonzalez each earned their first-ever inclusions in a Canada youth national team, following a season where Didic was a USL AllLeague First Team selection and a finalist for Defender of the Year, while Gonzalez tallied a team-best 12 goals. At Sporting KC’s end-ofyear awards night, Pitch Black, Didic and Gonzalez were named Swope Park Rangers Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year.
The Rangers signed the 2015 USL Rookie of the Year in December after he spent the last two seasons in the USL with T2. Belmar was drafted 34th overall by the Portland Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft before signing with the club’s USL side ahead of their inaugural season.
PASS MASTERS After Week 1 of the 2017 USL season, the Swope Park Rangers recorded a 84 percent passing accuracy, with three of the club’s players placing in the top 10 most accurate passers in the league for Week 1. Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal led the league with 96.1 percent passing accuracy, followed by Sporting KC loanee Colton Storm at number two with 95.3 percent. Dakota Barnathan came in at number eight with a 90.5 percent accuracy rate. All three players were making their professional debuts in the game against OKC Energy FC on Saturday, with Barnathan and Storm coming off college careers at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of North Carolina, respectively, while Kuzain was stepping up from the Sporting KC Academy.
ACADEMY CONNECTIONS The Sporting KC Academy is a major component to the success of both the Swope Park Rangers and Sporting Kansas City. With the addition of the Rangers ahead of the 2016 USL season, SKC Academy players have already started paying dividends for the USL side. Currently, the Rangers roster contains 11 players directly from the SKC Academy in Joe Amico, Ezra Armstrong, Chase Bromstedt, Christian Duke, Leroy Enzugusi, Felipe Hernandez, Will Little, Max Rugova, Nansel Selbol, Steven Tekesky, Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal and Patrick Wilkinson. During the season opener, three Academy products started with Duke, Hernandez and Kuzain in the starting lineup, while Selbol appeared off the bench.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
NEWS AND NOTES
DAMN DANIEL
#BLESSED
Daniel Salloi, who scored in the Rangers’ season opener a year ago against Wednesday’s opponents Portland Timbers 2 - once again put himself on the scoresheet in the 71st minute of Saturday’s season opener match against OKC Energy FC.
Latif Blessing, on loan from Sporting KC, scored his first goal with the club in the 67th minute of the season opener against OKC Energy FC. Fellow Sporting KC loan Daniel Salloi assisted Blessing’s goal.
Over a 10-match loan last year to the Swope Park Rangers from Sporting KC, Salloi impressed with four goals and three assists before being loaned back to his native Hungary with Gyirmot SE for the remainder of the year.
Born and raised in Accra, Ghana, Blessing was named the 2016 Ghana Premier League player of the year after leading the top flight with 17 goals in his first season on the senior team. He was also a finalist for the 2016 Ghanaian FA Cup most valuable player award, helping Liberty Professionals reach the semifinals of the knockout competition
Salloi signed with Sporting KC in January 2016 as a Homegrown Player after knocking home 21 goals in 28 appearances for the Sporting KC Under-18 team in the 2014-15 season.
Blessing becomes the second African-born player to join Sporting Kansas City this month. Last Wednesday, the club signed Bissau-Guinean winger Gerso Fernandes as a Designated Player.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
NANSEL SELBOL 31 PRONUNCIATION: NAHN-sul POSITION: Forward BORN: 5/31/97 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-4 WEIGHT: 140 lbs. HOMETOWN: Jos, Nigeria BIRTHPLACE: Jos, Nigeria COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) 2016 : Made 22 appearances in the regular season including six starts, scoring one goal and adding one assist -Scored first professional goal with the game-winner against Tulsa Roughnecks FC -Recorded the game-winning assist in the Western Conference Semifinal against Orange County Blues FC before being sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the Conference Final that saw him miss the USL Cup Final. -Made his Sporting Kansas City debut and scored the game-winning goal in the 3-1 win over Central FC in the CONCACAF Champions League
JOE AMICO 33 PRONUNCIATION: uh-MEE-co POSITION: Defender BORN: 4/17/95 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Indianapolis, Ind. BIRTHPLACE: Indianapolis, Ind. COLLEGE: J acksonville University LAST CLUB: -College : Amico spent his freshman season at the University of Central Florida, making 15 appearances in the 2013 season before transferring to Jacksonville University. He then made 50 appearances in three seasons with the Dolphins, including 43 starts, adding a goal and an assist from the backline
CHRISTIAN DUKE
32
PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Defender BORN: 6/5/91 (25 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Overland Park, Kan. BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, Kan. COLLEGE: University of San Diego LAST CLUB: OKC Energy FC (USL) 2017: earned a start against OKC in their season opener, while also tallying his first assist of the season 2016 : Made 30 appearances in the regular season, starting 29, and added two goals and an assist He started all four games for the Rangers in the USL Cup Playoffs, meaning he was the only SPR player to appear in all 34 games in 2016.
JAMES MUSA 41 PRONUNCIATION: MOO-suh POSITION: Defender/Midfielder BORN: 4/1/92 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Plymouth, United Kingdom BIRTHPLACE: Plymouth, United Kingdom COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: Saint Louis FC 2016 : Played in 27 games for Saint Louis FC, adding three goals and three assists He placed second on the team in minutes played with 2,366 and led the team with seven yellow cards
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
LEBO MOLOTO 42 PRONUNCIATION: muh-LOE-toe POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 5/21/90 (26 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Polokwane, South Africa BIRTHPLACE: Polokwane, South Africa COLLEGE: L indsey Wilson College LAST CLUB: Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL) 2016 : Played in 27 games for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, recording one goal and one assist Scored the opening goal in Pittsburgh’s first win of the season – a 2-1 win over Toronto FC II
ROBERT MIROSAVIC 43 PRONUNCIATION: mirro-SAV-itch POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 2/6/95 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Ängelholm, Sweden BIRTHPLACE: Ängelholm, Sweden COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: Högaborgs BK (Sweden) 2016 : Mirosavic began his career with local club Helsingborg IF’s Academy After scoring 49 goals in 45 games for the club’s youth sides, Mirosavic spent time on trial at Arsenal in 2011 before joining Portuguese side Benfica in 2012 amid interest from Real Madrid
Added his only assist of the season in a 4-1 victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads
PARKER MAHER 44 PRONUNCIATION: Marr POSITION: Defender/Midfielder BORN: 7/12/93 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Joplin, Missouri BIRTHPLACE: Fort Smith, Ark. COLLEGE: M issouri State University LAST CLUB: Saint Louis FC (USL) 2017: earned first start with Rangers against OKC in their season opener, while also tallying his first assist of the season 2016 : Made 22 appearances for Saint Louis FC before suffering a groin injury in a 1-1 draw with the Swope Park Rangers on Aug. 3 and missed the remainder of the season Maher had played every game up until his injury, playing the full 90 minutes in 15 of his 22 appearances
MARK ANTHONY GONZALEZ
47
PRONUNCIATION: - POSITION: Forward BORN: 9/9/94 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 155 lbs. HOMETOWN: Bolton, Ontario BIRTHPLACE: Toronto, Ontario COLLEGE: University of Evansville LAST CLUB: -- 2016 : Enjoyed a standout rookie season with the Swope Park Rangers, making 27 regular-season appearances, including 16 starts, and tallying a team-best nine goals and four assists Gonzalez was named Swope Park Rangers Offensive Player of the Year
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
WILL LITTLE 49 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 4/9/98 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 135 lbs. HOMETOWN: Johnson City, Tenn. BIRTHPLACE: Johnson City, Tenn. COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) 2016 : Made eight appearances in the regular season, all as a substitute, totaling 92 minutes Made his debut for the Rangers against San Antonio FC on his 18th birthday
AMER DIDIC 55 PRONUNCIATION: UH-meer JIH-ditch POSITION: Defender BORN: 12/28/94 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-4 WEIGHT: 195 lbs. HOMETOWN: Edmonton, Alberta BIRTHPLACE: Zenica, Bosnia COLLEGE: B aker University LAST CLUB: -2016 : Made 28 appearances in the regular season, including 21 starts, in his rookie season. Scored one goal, coming in the regular-season finale against Seattle Sounders FC 2 -named to the USL Team of the Week a league-high six times - became the first SPR player to be called up by Sporting Kansas City, making his debut in the CONCACAF Champions League against Central FC - named Swope Park Rangers Defensive Player of the Year
LEROY ENZUGUSI 50 PRONUNCIATION: EN-zuh-GOO-see POSITION: Forward BORN: 6/13/99 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 155 lbs. HOMETOWN: Marion, Iowa BIRTHPLACE: Nairobi, Kenya COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) 2016 : Joined the Sporting KC Academy in August 2016 and has plundered home nine goals in 12 games for the Under-18s in his first Development Academy He was previously named the 2016 Gatorade High School Player of the Year for Iowa and is a former member of the Iowa Olympic Development Program.
EZRA ARMSTRONG 56 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Defender BORN: 12/15/98 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 155 lbs. HOMETOWN: Nashville, Tenn. BIRTHPLACE: Gastonia, N.C. COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) 2016 : Signed with the Swope Park Rangers as an Academy signing on March 10
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
DAKOTA BARNATHAN 58 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Defender/Midfielder BORN: 11/9/94 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 195 lbs. HOMETOWN: Massapequa, N.Y. BIRTHPLACE: Massapequa, N.Y. COLLEGE: V irginia Commonwealth University LAST CLUB: -2017 : earned a start against OKC in their season opener.
PATRICK WILKINSON 60 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Defender BORN: 5/19/99 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 145 lbs. HOMETOWN: Overland Park, Kan. BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, Kan. COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) 2016 : Signed by the Swope Park Rangers as an Academy signing on Aug. 18. Wilkinson made his debut for the club on Aug. 21 in the 1-1 draw with Saint Louis FC
Made 80 appearances at VCU, tallying nine goals and eight assists for the Rams. He captained the side during his junior and senior seasons, helping guide the Rams to the A-10 Conference Championship match in 2015 and 2016
LOUIS BENNETT II
63
LIAM DOYLE 66
PRONUNCIATION: LOO-ee POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 5/19/95 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 5-4 WEIGHT: 140 lbs. HOMETOWN: Shorewood, Wis. BIRTHPLACE: Shorewood, Wis. COLLEGE: M arquette University LAST CLUB: Anorthosis Famagusta FC (Cyprus) 2016 : Signed his first professional contract in August 2016 with Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta FC. He spent six months with the team but did not make an appearance.
PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Defender BORN: 7/1/92 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 6-4 WEIGHT: 200 lbs. HOMETOWN: Isle of Man, United Kingdom BIRTHPLACE: Isle of Man, United Kingdom COLLEGE: O hio State University LAST CLUB: Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) 2016 : Made 28 appearances for the Harrisburg City Islanders, recording one assist in his rookie season. He was selected 67th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by DC United but did not sign with the club after spending preseason with the team
Bennett has previously trained with FC Cologne in Germany and AIK Stockholm in Sweden.
International: Doyle has represented the Isle of Man four times since making his debut in 2010 and has since earned 12 caps for the Ellan Vannin National Team
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
DARRIN MACLEOD 70 PRONUNCIATION: muh-CLOUD POSITION: GK BORN: 3/4/94 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 180 lbs. HOMETOWN: Waterloo, Ontario BIRTHPLACE: Waterloo, Ontario COLLEGE: D rake University LAST CLUB: --
DAVID GRECZEK 71 PRONUNCIATION: GREH-check POSITION: GK BORN: 10/29/94 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 185 lbs. HOMETOWN: Fairfield, N.J. BIRTHPLACE: Fairfield, N.J. COLLEGE: R utgers University LAST CLUB: --
College: MacLeod attended Drake University and left the program as the all-time leader in saves (308), shutouts (19), wins (33) and games played (76)
College: Greczek was a walk on at Rutgers University and ended his four-year tenure as the all-time program leader in saves with 372 across 75 games
He was named Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week on four occasions throughout his college career
Greczek was a member of the New York Red Bulls Academy and spent two weeks raining with New York City FC in 2015
WAN KUZAIN WAN KAMAL
75
PRONUNCIATION: COO-zane KUH-mahl POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 9/14/98 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Carbondale, Ill. BIRTHPLACE: Carbondale, Ill. COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) 2017: earned his first start in his professional debut gainst OKC in the season opener playing 75 minutes 2016 : Signed by the Swope Park Rangers as an Academy signing on Aug. 18. Wan Kamal was included on the gameday roster against Saint Louis FC on Aug. 21 but did not make an appearance International: Wan Kamal represented the U.S. Under-17 National Team in 2015
MAX RUGOVA 79 PRONUNCIATION: ruh-GO-vuh POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 2/17/00 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Overland Park, Kan. BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, Kan. COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) SKC Academy: Rugova joined the Academy ahead of the 2013-14 season and has played for both the Under-16 and Under-18 age groups. Rugova had 14 goals in 27 games while splitting time between the two teams in the 2015-16 season
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
OUMAR BALLO 81 PRONUNCIATION: OH-mar BAHL-oh POSITION: Defender BORN: 4/2/91 (25 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 190 lbs. HOMETOWN: Baltimore, Md. BIRTHPLACE: Bamako, Mali COLLEGE: U niv. of Maryland - Baltimore County LAST CLUB: Houston Dynamo (MLS) 2016 : Made 21 regular season appearances for the Swope Park Rangers, recording one assist – coming on Mark Anthony Gonzalez’s first professional goal against Portland Timbers 2
FELIPE HERNANDEZ 85 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 6/8/98 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 135 lbs. HOMETOWN: Nashville, Tenn. BIRTHPLACE: Ibague, Colombia COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) 2017: Earned a start against OKC in their season opener and his first professional debut, while picking up the team’s first yellow card of the season.
He struck up a solid defensive partnership with Amer Didic that saw SPR go 10-0-2 in the regular season when the two started together
International: Called in to the U.S. Under-19 National Team for the first time for the Stevan Vilotic-Cele tournament in Subotica, Serbia on Aug. 30, 2016. Appeared in all three games and earned one start. Hernandez was called in to two more U.S. Under-19 training camps in 2016
KEVIN OLIVEIRA 88
KHARLTON BELMAR 90
PRONUNCIATION: OLL-EE-vay-rah POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 6/8/96 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 145 lbs. HOMETOWN: Sao Vincente, Cape Verde BIRTHPLACE: Sao Vincente, Cape Verde COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: Benfica (Portugal) 2016 : Made 13 appearances, including 12 starts, in the regular season before having his season cut short with an ACL injury in late June. Posted three goals and four assists – which led the league at the time of his injury Scored the first goal in club history from the penalty spot in the season opener against Portland Timbers 2
PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Forward BORN: 12/1/92 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Virginia Beach, Va. BIRTHPLACE: Virginia Beach, Va. COLLEGE: V irginia Commonwealth University LAST CLUB: Portland Timbers 2 (USL) 2017: earned a start against OKC in their season opener, while also tallying his first goal of the season. 2016 : Played in 25 games for Portland Timbers 2, adding three goals and placed second on the team with three assists. Came off the bench in the season opener against the Swope Park Rangers to record an assist on Nick Besler’s consolation goal
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
STEVEN TEKESKY 98 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: GK BORN: 1/20/98 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Raymore, Mo. BIRTHPLACE: San Bernadino, Calif. COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) SKC Academy: Tekesky joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2010 and advanced through the age groups to the Under-18s. In the 2015-16 Development Academy season, Tekesky made 16 starts, posting six shutouts and recording a 1.29 goals against average
CHASE BROMSTEDT 99 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 5/26/98 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 130 lbs. HOMETOWN: Parkville, Mo. BIRTHPLACE: Sioux City, Iowa COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) SKC Academy: Bromstedt joined the Sporting KC Academy ahead of the 2010-11 season, advancing through the age groups to the Under-18s. In the 2016-17 season, Bromstedt has started 13 of the side’s 14 games, adding two goals from the midfield
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
SWOPE PARK RANGERS 2017 PRONUNCIATION GUIDE # PLAYER POS. 31 Nansel Selbol F 32 Christian Duke D/M 33 Joe Amico D 41 James Musa D/M 42 Lebo Moloto M 43 Robert Mirosavic M 44 Parker Maher D/M 47 Mark Anthony Gonzalez F 49 Will Little M 50 Leroy Enzugusi F 55 Amer Didic D 56 Ezra Armstrong D 58 Dakota Barnathan D/M 60 Patrick Wilkinson D 63 Louis Bennett II M 66 Liam Doyle D 70 Darrin MacLeod GK 71 David Greczek GK 75 Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal M 79 Max Rugova M 81 Oumar Ballo D 85 Felipe Hernandez M 88 Kevin Oliveira M 90 Kharlton Belmar F 98 Steven Tekesky GK 99 Chase Bromstedt M
BIRTHPLACE Jos, Nigeria Overland Park, Kan. Indianapolis, Ind. Plymouth, UK Polokwane, South Africa ร ngelholm, Sweden Fort Smith, Ark. Toronto, Ontario Johnson City, Tenn. Nairobi, Kenya Zenica, Bosnia Gastonia, N.C. Massapequa, N.Y. Overland Park, Kan. Shorewood, Wis, Douglas, Isle of Man, UK Waterloo, Ontario Fairfield, N.J. Carbondale, Ill. Overland Park, Kan. Bamako, Mali Ibague, Colombia Sao Vicente, Cape Verde Virginia Beach, Va. San Bernadino, Calif. Sioux City, Iowa
LAST CLUB SKC Academy OKC Energy FC -- Saint Louis FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds Hรถgaborgs BK Saint Louis FC -- SKC Academy SKC Academy -- SKC Academy -- SKC Academy Anorthosis Famagusta FC Harrisburg City Islanders - -- SKC Academy SKC Academy Houston Dynamo SKC Academy Benfica Portland Timbers 2 SKC Academy SKC Academy
PRONUNCIATION NAHN-sul -uh-MEE-co MOO-suh muh-LOE-toe mirro-SAV-itch Marr --EN-zuh-GOO-see UH-meer JEE-ditch -BAR-nuh-thun -LOO-ee -muh-CLOUD GREH-check COO-zane KUH-mahl ruh-GO-vuh OH-mar BAHL-oh -OLL-EE-vay-rah ----
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
SWOPE PARK RANGERS 2017 PLAYER STATS PLAYER GP GS MIN G A Joe Amico Ezra Armstrong Oumar Ballo 1 0 15 Dakota Barnathan 1 1 90 Kharlton Belmar 1 1 86 1 Louis Bennett Latif Blessing 1 1 90 1 Chase Bromstedt Amer Didic Liam Doyle Christian Duke 1 1 90 1 Kevin Ellis 1 1 90 Leroy Enzugusi Mark Anthony Gonzalez Felipe Hernandez 1 1 56 Will Little Parker Maher 1 1 90 1 Robert Mirosavic Lebo Moloto 1 0 34 James Musa Kevin Oliveira Max Rugova Daniel Salloi 1 1 90 1 1 Nansel Selbol 1 0 4 Colton Storm 1 1 90 Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal 1 1 75 Patrick Wilkinson
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
SWOPE PARK RANGERS 2017 GOALKEEPER STATS PLAYER GP GS MINUTES GA GAA SO SAV David Greczek Darrin MacLeod Steven Tekesky Adrian Zendejas 1 1 90 1 1 0 5