Canadian Defender Mallan Roberts Joins Fury FC on Loan
Published on June 4, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON - Fury FC bolstered its backline Thursday as the club announced the acquisition of Canadian centre back Mallan Roberts on loan from FC Edmonton.
"Mallan will add good depth to our backline. He's a good young Canadian player and a very athletic defender," said Fury FC head coach Paul Dalglish. "With the injuries to Venter and Balchan we needed to add depth to our squad and he will now fight for a spot in our back four."
Roberts is no stranger to NASL competition having played 46 games since joining FC Edmonton from their reserve squad in 2013. Entering his fourth season in the NASL, Roberts has scored three goals and logged over 4000 minutes.
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Roberts started playing soccer in his native country before moving to Edmonton. The six-foot-two defender played for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology soccer team before joining the FC Edmonton reserves in 2012.
At 21, Roberts signed his first professional contract with FC Edmonton and made his professional debut for the club against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in an Amway Canadian championship match, in which he played all 90 minutes.
Roberts also has national team experience, as the 23-year-old earned his first call-up with the Canadian Men's National team last summer. He had his first taste of international action when he came on as a substitute in the return leg of a qualifying match for the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Dominica, in June 2015.
Before fully committing to soccer, Roberts also played football with the Edmonton Huskies, before spending a few weeks training with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.
Fury FC return to action Saturday when they visit the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. in their last road test of the Spring Season. Fans can catch all the action on Rogers TV, 580 CFRA or Unique FM.
Following Saturday's tilt in Tampa, Ottawa will ready themselves for Wednesday's return leg of the Amway Canadian Championship Semi-Final in Vancouver where they hold a 2-0 lead over Whitecaps FC.
Single game tickets for the NASL Spring Season are available now or calling 613.599.FANS. Interested in more than just single game tickets? Fans can buy their 2016 Fury FC season here and become part of a growing legion of fans that has helped make TD Place a fortress.
North American Soccer League Stories from June 4, 2016
- Carolina Draws with Jacksonville Armada FC 0-0 at Home - North Carolina FC
- NASL Spring Season Championship Race to be Decided in Final Week - NASL
- Armada Notches First Shutout in Scoreless Draw at RailHawks - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Minnesota United Falls 1-0 on the Road - Minnesota United FC
- Hristov and the Rowdies Down Ottawa Fury FC 2-1 to Stay Alive in Spring Race - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Cosmos Comeback Falls Short in Spring Finale - New York Cosmos
- Fury FC Edged 2-1 by Tampa Bay Rowdies - Ottawa Fury FC
- The Miami FC Draws Even With Indy, Secures Third-Straght Shutout - Miami FC
- Strikers Earn First-Ever Win against First-Place NY Cosmos - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- FC Edmonton Announces Loan of Defender Mallan Roberts to Ottawa Fury FC - FC Edmonton
- Canadian Defender Mallan Roberts Joins Fury FC on Loan - Ottawa Fury FC
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