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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Dec. 21, 2020 )—The Tampa Bay Rowdies have re-signed forward Lucky Mkosana to a new two-year contract through 2022.

During his time with the Rowdies, Mkosana has been one of the best players in the history of the United Soccer League in impacting games coming off the bench, including two game-winners in the playoffs. During his career with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Mkosana has appeared in 53 games, notching 10 goals and six assists.

“A fan favorite returns for 2021,” said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. “Lucky continually finds himself in the right place at the right time, and that is no coincidence when you watch him train every day. An absolutely consummate professional, and a fantastic player that sets the standard every day for other players to follow. Lucky has brought us some fantastic moments over the past 18 months, and I can’t wait for more in 2021.”

Mkosana played for the Rowdies in 2013 and 2014 before joining the New York Cosmos. He played for several teams after the Cosmos until rejoining the Rowdies from Louisville FC in a midseason trade in 2019.

“Thank you to the Tampa Bay Rowdies for another opportunity to continue doing what I love,” Mkosana said. “I’m delighted and looking forward to playing again soon.”

More new and returning players will be announced in the coming weeks. The Rowdies roster now stands at (10) players.

2021 Roster Information

Goalkeeper(s): None

Defender(s): Jordan Scarlett, Forrest Lasso, Aaron Guillen

Midfielder(s): Sebastian Dalgaard, Lewis Hilton, Jordan Doherty, Yann Ekra

Forward(s): Juan Tejada, Sebastian Guenzatti, Lucky Mkosana

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Rowdies are hitting the streets this offseason with the Rays and Rowdies on the Road experience. The traveling caravan will include Rays and Rowdies merchandise, photo opportunities and exclusive fan experiences.

Fans can take photos of the Rays American League Championship trophy, the Rowdies Eastern Conference Champions trophy and the Petco Park chair that caught Mike Brosseau’s game-winning home run against the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the American League Division Series. A pop-up shop merchandise trailer will have select championship apparel and novelties available for purchase.

Rays and Rowdies ticket sales account executives will also be on site at events to answer questions regarding Season Ticket Holder deposits and benefits which ensure priority access when fans return to the stands.

The caravan will appear at various locations around the Tampa Bay area and beyond, including the St. Pete Pier, Armature Works, ZooTampa and more. The tour will kick off at the St. Pete Pier tomorrow, December 3 with special appearances by Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins and World Series Game 4 hero Brett Phillips.

The current schedule of events includes:

• Thursday, December 3 from 5–9 p.m. at Spa Beach Park at the St. Pete Pier (600 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701)

• Saturday, December 5 from 4–8 p.m. at Tierra Verde Tree Lighting (1110 Pinellas Bayway, South Tierra Verde, FL 33715)

• Sunday, December 6 from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. at ZooTampa (1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa, FL 33604)

• Friday, December 11 from 5–9 p.m. at Snowcat Ridge (27839 Joe Rd., Dade City, FL 33525)

• Saturday, December 12 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Florida Aquarium (701 Channelside Dr., Tampa, FL 33602)

• Sunday, December 13 from 5–10 p.m. at Holiday Tree and Light Festival at The Grove (6105 Wesley Grove Blvd., Wesley Chapel, FL 33544)

• Thursday, December 31 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Noon Years Eve at Armature Works (1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa, FL 33602)

The Rays and Rowdies on the Road experience includes COVID-19 safety protocols in accordance with CDC guidelines. Face masks are mandatory in order to enter the caravan zone, regardless of the rules at a particular venue. In addition to the face mask requirement, the experience zone includes access to hand sanitizer, social-distancing signage and reminders, and frequent disinfecting of all experiences that include fan interaction.

For more information on the events, visit RaysBaseball.com/EventsTour and www.rowdiessoccer.com/EventsTour. Additional stops on the tour will be posted as they are confirmed.

Dear Rowdies Fans,

I had expected to sign off the 2020 season celebrating with you all at Al Lang Stadium, drinking Irn-Bru from the Championship trophy and singing long into the night. Unfortunately, due to circumstances out with our control, that was not possible, and a fantastic season was brought to an abrupt and premature end. It has been a very strange and emotional few days for everyone involved with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. We are all disappointed that we didn’t get the opportunity to showcase our great club on the national stage and add another star to our historic crest. If there was ever a set of supporters and group of players that deserved that chance, it was us.

Despite the disappointment of the past few days, I can’t help but be filled with a sense of pride at what our club has accomplished in a year where it would have been easy to succumb to all the challenges we faced. During the lockdown back in March and April, we said that this year would be defined by those of us that could rise above, and I am pleased to sit here and write that we have achieved that. Our staff behind the scenes always finds a way to work together and get the job done, no matter the circumstances. Our fans, whether in the stands or in their homes, have always made their presence and unwavering support felt, but the group that deserves the most credit for the club’s success this year are the players.

Two years ago, I penned an open letter to you and promised I would do everything in my power to put a team on the field worthy of our fantastic club. I can confidently say that this set of players are befitting of the jersey. Without their professionalism and discipline off the field, this season would not have been possible. This group of guys have made unbelievable personal sacrifices in order to give themselves the best chance to succeed on the field. They do not just represent our club for the 90 minutes they are on the field, but 24/7, and they have taken that responsibility very seriously.

I am sure, like me, you have taken great pleasure in watching this group play together. Together being the most relevant word. They have shown a fantastic commitment and desire to each other every time they have worn the Rowdies jersey. Many teams talk about having a great togetherness, but this team has continually shown it. This was especially true when the team went on the road to Louisville and brought home the Eastern Conference Championship in style.

While we come to the end of this season, as far as I am concerned, it is only the start of more success in the years to come. If anything, the disappointment of the past weekend has made us even more determined to make sure we find ourselves challenging for trophies every year.

Thanks again for playing your part in a successful season, and I look forward to a day in the near future when our stadium is full, and we can enjoy watching our great team in action together once again.

Thanks,

Neill

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Juan Tejada will have at least one more game to look forward to after this Sunday’s USL Championship Final.

On Monday, Tejada was named in the Panama National Team’s squad that is scheduled to face Japan in an international exhibition on November 13 at the Graz Liebenauer stadium in Graz, Austria.

The 23-year-old has previously represented Panama at the U-23 level. Tejada arrived in Florida from his home country originally to compete at IMG Academy, and then had a standout collegiate career at Eckerd College. Last year he joined the professional ranks with the Rowdies and has recorded 12 goals and two assists in 46 appearances for the club.

Tejada and the Rowdies will face Phoenix Rising FC on Sunday night in the 2020 USL Championship Final. Kickoff at Al Lang Stadium is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET and the game will air live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and SiriusXM FC. 

TAMPA, Fla. – Two teams will try to make their return to the USL Championship Final, while two others will pursue their first chance to claim the title on Saturday after the matchups for the Eastern and Western Conference Finals of the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs were set this past weekend.

In the Eastern Conference, Louisville City FC will bid for its fourth consecutive trip to the Championship Final as it takes on the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Lynn Family Stadium in a matchup of heavyweight clubs from opposite ends of their bracket. LouCity advanced to its sixth consecutive Eastern Conference Final with a 2-0 win against Saint Louis FC in the Conference Semifinals, while the Rowdies reached their first Conference Final since joining the Championship in 2017 with a 1-0 win against the Charleston Battery.

In the Western Conference, Phoenix Rising FC will try to make a second trip to the Championship Final in three seasons as it plays host to El Paso Locomotive FC at Casino Arizona Field, with El Paso looking to go one better than a year ago when it was eliminated in the Western Conference Final by eventual title-winner Real Monarchs SLC. Both teams needed penalty shootouts to advance through their respective Conference Semifinals with Rising FC ousting Reno 1868 FC 5-4 after the side had played to a 2-2 draw, while El Paso won its second consecutive game from the spot defeating New Mexico United 5-3 after ending 1-1 after regulation and extra time.

USL Championship Conference Final Matchups:

•          Eastern Conference Final

Saturday, October 24

Louisville City FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, 7:30 p.m. ET

Lynn Family Stadium, Louisville, Ky. – ESPN+

•          Western Conference Final

Saturday, October 24

Phoenix Rising FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Casino Arizona Field, Scottsdale, Az. – ESPN+

2020 Championship Final Hosting Scenarios:

Should it take victory in the Western Conference Final, Phoenix Rising FC would host the 2020 USL Championship Final after finishing the regular season with 35 points, 11 wins and a +29 goal differential, giving Rising FC the tiebreaker ahead of Louisville City FC, which ended the regular season with 35 points, 11 wins and a +16 goal differential.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies (33 points) would host El Paso Locomotive FC (32 points) should both visiting sides take victory in their respective Conference Finals.

2020 USL Championship Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Saturday, October 10

Charleston Battery 2, Charlotte Independence 1 (AET)

Louisville City FC 2, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0

Saint Louis FC 1, Hartford Athletic 0

Tampa Bay Rowdies 4, Birmingham Legion FC 2

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Saturday, October 17

Louisville City FC 2, Saint Louis FC 0

Tampa Bay Rowdies 1, Charleston Battery 0

Western Conference Quarterfinals

El Paso Locomotive FC 2, FC Tulsa 2 (AET)

El Paso wins 4-2 in a penalty shootout

New Mexico United 1, San Antonio FC 0 (AET)

Phoenix Rising FC 1, Sacramento Republic FC 0 (AET)

Reno 1868 FC 4, LA Galaxy II 1

Western Conference Semifinals

Saturday, October 17

El Paso Locomotive FC 1, New Mexico United 1 (AET)

El Paso wins 5-3 in a penalty shootout

Phoenix Rising FC 2, Reno 1868 FC 2 (AET)

Phoenix wins 5-4 in a penalty shootout

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced today that Head Coach Neill Collins and two additional members of the club’s covered persons list have tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday’s USL Championship Final against Phoenix Rising FC (8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN).

Collins and the two additional covered persons were immediately isolated at home and are recovering in good spirits under the care of team physicians and infectious disease experts. All league, local and state health and wellness protocols continue to be followed.

Upon receiving the results, all Rowdies players, staff and executives underwent urgent rapid testing at the medical facilities of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, with the results yielding zero additional positive tests. 

In addition, the USL Championship Final’s digital pre-match press conference has been moved to 4 p.m. ET.