Niyongabire Earns Team of the Week Honors
May 6, 2025 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA - The USL Championship revealed the Team of the Week for the combined Weeks 8 and 9 of the 2025 season on Tuesday, with Tampa Bay Rowdies winger Pacifique Niyongabire earning a spot.
Niyongabire rescued a point for the Rowdies in the third minute of added time in last Saturday's 2-2 draw against Birmingham Legion FC at Al Lang Stadium. With the final whistle approaching, the Burundi international received a pass from youngster Endri Mustali at the right edge of the box and drove forward before shaking off a defender and cutting past another sliding defender to deliver a strike past Legion keeper Matt Van Oekel.
The point was an important one for the Rowdies, who had yet to earn a result at home since returning to Al Lang last month. Tampa Bay held the lead for most of the night until Birmingham managed to pull ahead with goals in the 70th and 76th minutes.
"For me, that's a really amazing moment for the season to score that goal," said Rowdies Interim Head Coach Steve Coleman. "Amazing composure from [Pacifique] to hold the shot while people are diving around him and then finishing the goal - it's a really special moment for the team and for Pacifique in particular. For us, it's an important moment."
Niyongabire has now registered two goals in the last three weeks. The 25-year-old also netted a goal in the Rowdies win over FC Naples in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on April 16.
The Rowdies are set to host two matches this week. On Wednesday, the club will face off against Major League Soccer's Orlando City SC in Open Cup Round of 32. They will close out the week with Saturday's Military Appreciation Night match against the Charleston Battery. Both matches are set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
USL Championship Team of the Week - Week 8/9
GK - Raiko Arozarena, Las Vegas Lights FC
D - Nico Benalcazar, Orange County SC
D - Houssou Landry, Charleston Battery
D - Daltyn Knutson, Miami FC
M - Gabriel Torres, El Paso Locomotive FC
M - Louie Perez, North Carolina FC
M - Juan David Torres, Charleston Battery
M - Pacifique Niyongabire, Tampa Bay Rowdies
F - Andy Cabrera, El Paso Locomotive FC
F - Elvis Amoh, Indy Eleven
F - Lyam MacKinnon, Orange County SC
Coach - Wilmer Cabrera, El Paso Locomotive FC
Bench - Richard Sánchez (SA), Collin Smith (PHX), Freddy Kleemann (SAC), Arturo Rodriguez (CHS), Frank Daroma (ELP), Jansen Wilson (LOU), Francisco Bonfiglio (MIA)
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 6, 2025
- NCFC falls to intrastate rival in U.S. Open Cup - North Carolina FC
- U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Match Preview: Phoenix Rising vs Houston Dynamo FC - Phoenix Rising FC
- Another Chance at Open Cup Magic: Detroit City FC Hits the Road to Take on Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer in Round of 32 on Wednesday Night - Detroit City FC
- Match Preview: Republic FC at San Jose Earthquakes (U.S. Open Cup) - Sacramento Republic FC
- Amoh USLC "Team of the Week" after 2nd Straight Brace - Indy Eleven
- Freddy Kleemann Earns Third Team of the Week Selection - Sacramento Republic FC
- Collin Smith Named to USL Championship Team of the Week 8/9 - Phoenix Rising FC
- Andy Cabrera Earns USL Championship Player of the Week Honors for Week 9; Gabi Torres, Frank Daroma Named to Team of the Week - El Paso Locomotive FC
- San Antonio FC Goalkeeper Richard Sanchez Named to USL Championship Team of the Week - San Antonio FC
- Rowdies Niyongabire Earns USL Championship Team of the Week Spot - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Niyongabire Earns Team of the Week Honors - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Open Cup Preview: Hounds vs. NYCFC - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Game Preview: Rhode Island FC vs. New England Revolution: May 7, 2025 - Rhode Island FC
- Open Cup Preview: Rowdies vs Orlando City - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- What to Watch for as LouCity Hosts Minnesota in U.S. Open Cup - Louisville City FC
- Last Week around the Leagues - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
