Strikers Ink Quartet of Experienced NASL Players
Published on December 29, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers today announced the signings of four players: Defenders Gale Agbossoumonde and Nana Attakora, and forwards Maicon Santos and Giuseppe Gentile. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Center backs Agbossoumonde and Attakora have represented the United States and Canada at the full national team level. Each addition has experience in Major League Soccer (MLS) and played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) last season.
"All four players bring a high level of experience and professionalism to the locker room," said Strikers Head Coach and General Manager Caio Zanardi. "We are excited by the prospect of a young player like Giuseppe and the proven goalscoring record of Maicon Santos. At the back, Gale and Nana are two physically strong defenders with international experience at matches at the highest level."
Gale Agbossoumonde (Gal-EH Ag-BOOS-o-mon-deh), 24, is a 6-foot-2 center back with significant domestic and international experience. Born in the West African country of Togo, Agbossoumonde moved to Syracuse, N.Y. as a child. Agbossoumonde earned 30 caps for the U.S. under-20 national team, and on his 19th birthday, earned his first senior cap for the United States national team in a friendly against South Africa on November 17, 2010.
Most recently with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Agbossoumonde made 11 NASL appearances in 2015. He started his career in 2009 with USL-1 side Miami FC at the age of 17, and has played in North America with the Carolina RailHawks and MLS sides Toronto FC and Colorado Rapids. Agbossoumonde spent time in Europe with Braga and Estoril Praia (Portugal), Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) and Swedish side Djurgårdens IF.
Joining Agbossoumonde in Fort Lauderdale is former teammate Maicon Santos (MY-con SAN-tos). The 31 year-old forward brings a wealth of domestic and international experience to the Strikers. After starting in Brazil with Madureira in 2005, Santos' career has taken him around the globe, including stints with teams in Tunisia, Libya, Israel, Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
A proven goalscorer, Santos netted 32 times in MLS between 2009 and 2013. He was the Rowdies top scorer with seven goals in 2015. He also brings leadership to the Strikers, and was named the first non-Canadian captain of Toronto FC in 2011.
Defender Nana Attakora (Nah-nah At-TUH-cor-ah), 26, is a current member of Canada's national team. He has earned eight caps for the senior team, including two appearances in 2015. At the youth level, Attakora represented Canada's U-16, U-17, U-19, U-20 and U-23 teams, and won the Canadian U-20 Players of the Year award two times.
The central defender joins the Strikers from San Antonio, where he started 21 matches in 2015. Signed by Toronto FC in 2007, Attakora spent four seasons with his hometown team, playing 56 league matches and winning the Canadian Championship two times. After leaving Toronto, Attakora suited up for the San Jose Earthquakes, FC Haka in Finland, and D.C. United, before joining San Antonio ahead of the 2015 NASL season.
Miami-born forward Giuseppe Gentile (Joo-SEH-pee Gen-TEAL-eh), 23, also comes to the Strikers from San Antonio, where he spent the 2015 Fall Season on loan from FC Chiasso in Switzerland. His first stint at the club came as a member of the Scorpions side that captured the 2014 NASL Championship.
Gentile started his professional career in 2014 with the Chicago Fire after relinquishing his college eligibility at UNC Charlotte to sign an MLS contract. He scored 27 goals in three college seasons and was his team's assist leader in 2012. After joining the Fire, he played on loan at USL side Charlotte Eagles and later joined Orlando City for their final USL season before entering MLS.
All four players are U.S. citizens or green card holders, and will not count against the seven man foreign player limit
The announcement comes on the back of yesterday's roster additions of Aurelio Saco Vértiz, Luis Zapata, Victor Pineda, and Geison Moura. The Strikers roster is comprised of 13 players, with several more joining ahead of the Strikers participation in the Florida Cup.
Fort Lauderdale kicks off the Florida Cup on January 10, 2016, against FC Schalke 04 in Orlando, and will face Santa Fe on January 17 in Boca Raton, Fla.
Lockhart Stadium will serve as the host of two Florida Cup games. The first is January 13 when Schalke squares off against Brazilian side Atlético Mineiro. One week later, January 20, Brazilian squads Fluminense and Internacional meet. Tickets are on sale now at Strikers.com/FloridaCup.
North American Soccer League Stories from December 29, 2015
- Strikers Ink Quartet of Experienced NASL Players - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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