Match Recaps

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 20, 2019) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies closed out of a week of player signings Friday with the addition of defender Mustapha Dumbuya on a one-year contract with a club option in 2020, pending league approval. Per club policy, further contract details were not disclosed.

Dumbuya, 32, played last season with Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship’s Western Conference. He made 28 appearances as Phoenix’s first-choice right back in a record-setting season that saw Rising FC set a league record with 78 points.

Prior to coming to the United States, Dumbuya played for more than a decade in the United Kingdom with stops at Doncaster Rovers, Portsmouth and Notts County among other clubs.

“Mustapha was a player I first came across many years ago playing in the UK and his pace frightens defenders just as much now as it did back then,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “The fact that Mustapha was a standout for one of the best teams in the league last year should tell you all you need to know about his quality. 

“He’s A very athletic player that also has no shortage of quality in the final third,” Collins said. “I felt we were short in competition at wing back last year and Mustapha definitely makes us much stronger in that department. Again it is important to mention that Mustapha showed a great enthusiasm to be part of things at the Rowdies which is a sign of the type of players the club can attract.” 

Dumbuya made 13 key passes last year, though just one was converted into an assist. He also scored one goal.

A native of Sierra Leone, Dumbuya has made 12 appearances for his national team in FIFA World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifying matches.

“With such a rich history in North American soccer, I am truly honored to be joining the Rowdies organization,” Dumbuya said. “I have already had great conversations with Coach Collins and I’m so excited to meet my new teammates and give the club and you the fans everything I have. I can’t wait to get going.”

Dumbuya is the fourth defender on Tampa Bay’s 2020 roster, which now stands at 16 players. The full roster is below:

GK (1): Macklin Robinson
D (4): Mustapha Dumbuya, Aaron Guillen, Forrest Lasso, Jordan Scarlett
M (6): Yann Ekra, Leo Fernandes, Lewis Hilton, Kevin Mendoza, Dom Oduro, Zach Steinberger
F (5): Sebastian Guenzatti, Malik Johnson, Lucky Mkosana, Kyle Murphy, Juan Tejada

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 19, 2019) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies have welcomed back one of their own with the addition of Kevin Mendoza to their 2020 USL Championship roster on a one-year contract with a club option for 2021, pending league approval. Per club policy, further contract details were not disclosed.

Mendoza, 25, played for the Rowdies U23 team in USL League Two in the summer of 2017 while playing collegiate soccer at Liberty University. Mendoza scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 11 matches for the U23s that summer.

“Kevin has already worn the green and gold while playing for the Rowdies U23s and I am delighted to bring him back to now play for the first team,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “Kevin will get fans out of their seats I am sure with some of his great attacking play, but, just like the rest of our squad, this is underpinned by a great work ethic and a desire to improve. I think Kevin will have a great impact playing in our system and I can’t wait to watch him play at Al Lang.”

Born in Mexico City, Mendoza played youth soccer for Cruz Azul before moving to the United States. While at Liberty, Mendoza scored 30 goals and added 15 assists in 62 games across four seasons.

He was drafted by Los Angeles FC in the fourth round of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and scored for LAFC in an international friendly against Vissel Kobe in January but ultimately left Los Angeles without a contract.

Mendoza then joined Veracruz in LigaMX for 2019.

“I’m very happy to return to a place where once I felt at home,” Mendoza said. “I’m excited to be part of such a historic club and help the team to place the Tampa Bay Rowdies to the top of the league. COYR!”

With the additions of Kevin Mendoza and Jordan Scarlett today, Tampa Bay’s 2020 roster now stands at 15 players. The full roster is below:

GK (1): Macklin Robinson
D (3): Aaron Guillen, Forrest Lasso, Jordan Scarlett
M (6): Yann Ekra, Leo Fernandes, Lewis Hilton, Kevin Mendoza, Dom Oduro, Zach Steinberger
F (5): Sebastian Guenzatti, Malik Johnson, Lucky Mkosana, Kyle Murphy, Juan Tejada

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 19, 2019) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies have signed defender Jordan Scarlett to a one-year contract with a club option for 2021, the club announced Thursday. Per club policy, further contract details were not disclosed. 

Scarlett is the third defender on Tampa Bay’s roster for 2020, joining Forrest Lasso and Aaron Guillen, who were both announced earlier this week. Scarlett played the previous three seasons in the USL Championship with New York Red Bulls II, making 68 appearances and playing more than 5,000 minutes. 

He was the unquestioned leader of the Red Bulls II defense in 2019, leading the team in clearances (92), blocked shots (23), and interceptions (66.)

“Jordan is a really talented defender that reads the game very well,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “He’s got some size to him and we think he’ll be a good pillar to build our backline around.” 

Scarlett, 24, was born in Jamaica but raised in The Bronx. He attended Iona College and played in USL League Two with Reading United AC and Lehigh Valley United before turning pro with the Red Bulls prior to the 2017 season. 

He was drafted by the Red Bulls in the third round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft but ultimately signed a USL Championship contract with the club.

“The opportunity and the journey ahead with this team is something I’m looking forward to,” Scarlett said. “Tampa Bay Rowdies have always been one of the toughest teams to compete against. I’m hoping to add to that culture with my teammates and smash our goals in the new season.”

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 18, 2019) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies have signed another defender with USL Championship experience, welcoming Aaron Guillen to the roster on a two-year contract ahead of the 2020 season, pending league approval. Per club policy, further contract details were not disclosed.

Guillen, 26, joins Forrest Lasso as the first two defenders on a backline that will look drastically different in 2020. He spent the last two seasons with North Carolina FC, making 58 appearances and playing more than 5,000 minutes. 

“Aaron had a fantastic season last year at NCFC and was someone we worked tirelessly to bring to club as it is hard to find defenders with his type of qualities in the USL Championship,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “Aaron is excellent on the ball but just as importantly is a very good defender. It is important we continue to build our exciting brand of football and adding Aaron is an important part of doing that.”

Guillen played the third-most minutes for North Carolina FC last season and led the team in interceptions with 37. He was second in clearances with 91. 

Born in Mexico, Guillen has Florida ties after a stellar four-year college career at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers from 2012-2015. He then signed a homegrown deal in MLS with FC Dallas. 

“I’m excited to get started with the Rowdies and be part of this incredible organization,” Guillen said. “Having played at Al Lang Stadium a couple of times, I have a lot of respect for this club and its fans as a whole. I’m eager to reach new goals and milestones with my teammates. The Rowdies have a rich history of success and I’m thrilled to be part of it. Since I went to school at Florida Gulf Coast University, I am anxious to get back to the Sunshine State and get to work.”

With the additions of Kyle Murphy and Aaron Guillen this morning, Tampa Bay’s roster now stands at 13 players for 2020, with more set to be announced in the coming days. The current squad is below:

GK (1): Macklin Robinson
D (2): Aaron Guillen, Forrest Lasso
M (5): Yann Ekra, Leo Fernandes, Lewis Hilton, Dom Oduro, Zach Steinberger
F (5): Sebastian Guenzatti, Malik Johnson, Lucky Mkosana, Kyle Murphy, Juan Tejada

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 18, 2019) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies have signed forward Kyle Murphy to a one-year contract with a club option for 2021, the club announced Wednesday. Per club policy, further contract details were not disclosed.

“I am very excited to be joining the Tampa Bay Rowdies,” Murphy said. “We all have high expectations for this club and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this historic team and I cannot wait to get down to Tampa Bay, meet all of the fans, and to get to work.”

Murphy, 26, joins a Rowdies forward group that also includes Sebastian Guenzatti, Malik Johnson, Lucky Mkosana and Juan Tejada. He is a versatile forward that can play as part of a two- or three-forward lineup, either centrally or off the wings.

“Kyle is someone we tried to bring to the club during last season and are delighted to have him on board for this coming season,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “He adds some great physical qualities to our front line that our other strikers will enjoy playing alongside. On top of that Kyle has shown he can score all different types of goals at this level. Most importantly Kyle is the type of person we wanted to add to the locker room with his willingness to work hard and lead from the front.”

Murphy has played in the USL Championship since 2016, first for the RGV Toros for two years, then one season with San Antonio FC and finally Loudoun United FC this past season. Murphy has appeared in 101 USL Championship matches, netting 25 total goals including 13 in 27 starts for Loudoun in 2019.

Murphy is the third new addition to the Rowdies this offseason, joining nine returning players from 2019.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 17, 2019) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies have signed one of the USL Championship’s best defenders as the first defender on their 2020 roster, welcoming Forrest Lasso to Tampa Bay on a two-year contract, pending league approval. Per club policy, further contract details were not disclosed.

Lasso is a three-time USL All-League First Team selection, having earned the recognition each of the last three seasons. He was the 2018 USL Championship Defender of the Year with FC Cincinnati.

His three All-League First Team selections came with three different clubs, earning the honors with the Charleston Battery in 2017, FC Cincinnati in 2018 and Nashville SC last season.

“The qualities Forrest brings to our team are pretty obvious to anyone that has seen him play with his fantastic aerial ability and the huge presence he brings to the heart of our defense,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “On top of that he has a real hunger and desire to succeed that I think will help improve us as a team. I think the best way to sum up signing Forrest is I am glad we do not have to play against him next season.”

At 26 years old, Lasso brings more than 100 matches of USL Championship experience and plenty of leadership to Tampa Bay’s roster. He played three seasons with Charleston from 2015-2017 before moving to Cincinnati for that club’s final season in the USL Championship. He transitioned to MLS with FC Cincinnati in 2019, but was loaned to Nashville SC in late July.

Despite joining Nashville late in the season, Lasso made a big enough impact to be awarded the captain’s armband and earn his spot in the All-League First Team.

“To say I’m excited would not come close to doing it justice,” Lasso said. “I’ve been able to witness first hand the quality of football the Rowdies have produced throughout the years and to be given the opportunity to be a part of that legacy… well let’s just say it’s time to go to work! History isn’t going to write itself!”

Lasso is the first defender announced for Tampa Bay’s 2020 roster, but more signings will be announced in the coming days.