News

All year long, we will be bringing you up close to members of the FC Tampa Bay team.

In this installment, we feature defender JP Rodrigues, who is in his first season with FC Tampa Bay.

Rodrigues is a Tampa native and Guyana National Team defender who played for Miami FC from 2006 to 2010. Rodrigues finished the 2010 season ranked third at Miami FC for most minutes played and tied for second-most games played, with over 5,500 minutes in 76 matches. Rodrigues also plays for the Milwaukee Wave of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), where he has played since 2008. He helped the Wave to the league title this past March. Most recently, Rodrigues played for D.C. United (MLS) on loan.

Rodrigues represented Guyana as part of the National Team from 2006 to 2010 making 15 caps, including qualifying matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He was also part of the squad that qualified for the final round of the 2010 Digicel Caribbean Cup.

Rodrigues played college soccer at Belmont University from 2002 to 2005, and earned the honor of Atlantic Sun Conference defender of the year in 2005.

What do you associate with FC Tampa Bay?
My home…FC Tampa Bay is my home and where I belong as a player

What is your typical pre-match meal?
I like to eat a big breakfast, which is usually French toast and then a light lunch, usually a sandwich or small sub.

Do you have any gameday superstitions or traditions?
No real superstitions but I need my iPod to listen to my music all day leading up to game time

Growing up, what soccer team did you support?
Arsenal and I still do!

Who is your favorite athlete outside of soccer?
Kobe Bryant

What is your favorite sport outside of soccer?
To play: tennis or basketball
To watch: football

List your top three favorite movies
Bad Boys II, Blue Streak, The Pursuit of Happiness

What is your favorite TV show?
Fresh Prince

What is your favorite food?
Calzones

Where is your favorite place in the world?
If not right here in Tampa, I would say the Cayman Islands

Is there one destination that you’ve never been to but have always wanted to visit?
Fiji

Which sporting event is your favorite to watch? Why?
College football (my Michigan Wolverines) probably because every game in college football is a must win if you want a chance at the National Championship

What is your weirdest “quirk?”
Maybe that I hate wrinkles in my clothing! I have to iron everything!

What are you most afraid of?
Cockroaches

What do you like to do in your free time?
Work out, fish, golf, and spend time with my family and lovely fiancé who will be my wife by the end of the season.

Who’s your hero?
My dad hands down!

Choose One:
Hamburgers or Hot dogs: Hot dogs
Gatorade or Powerade: Powerade
Coffee or Tea: Tea
Cats or Dogs: Cats
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate