Sarasota Paradise, a USL League 2 team based in Sarasota, will officially kick off its 2024 season with its first training held on May 6, 2024, followed by its first game against Miami AC on May 19 in Miami, Florida. The season’s home opener will take place on June 1 against Swan City.
New players to this season’s roster include Cody Read, a defender who played in the Premier League (academy) for Leicester City and at Fairfield University; Will Pierce, a midfielder who plays for Fairfield University; Mikey Burke, a right defensive back who plays for the University of Rochester; Brendan Reilly, a goalkeeper for Florida Gulf Coast University; and Matthew Sawaged, a winger.
“What makes this squad truly unique is that almost all of our players have some sort of personal connection to Sarasota,” said Marcus Walfridson, owner and founder of Sarasota Paradise. “They are vested in our community, they love our fans and they are extremely talented athletes that will be fun to watch. That is what sets our team apart.”
This year, 50 percent of the team consists of returning players, including Roman Holt, a center-back who plays for San Diego State; Angel Velasquez, a winger who plays for IMG academy; Jaden Berman, a left-back who has played for IMG Academy, George Mason University and UNC Asheville; Kai Tamashiro, a striker who played for IMG Academy and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; Michael Carboni, a defender who plays for the Clearwater Chargers UPSL team and the Tampa Bay Strikers professional indoor team; Valerio Tatafiore, a midfielder who plays for New College; Oliver Dahlen, a striker; Caleb Powell, a forward who plays for UNC Wilmington; Ryan Sims, a forward who plays for Thomas University; and Victor Vandenbroek, a midfielder who plays for Juniata College.
Standout player from the 2023 season Hosei Kijima has been called up to play for MLS team St Louis City SC. He scored in his debut and has made numerous appearances on the first team this season.
“The Sarasota Paradise community stands united in congratulating Kijima on this well-deserved achievement,” said Walfridson. “His success is a source of pride for Sarasota Paradise, and we eagerly anticipate watching him continue to excel on the MLS stage.”
Additionally, 2023 player Isaiah Easley secured victory in the NCAA National College Cup with Clemson University, capping off a stellar journey that included an unforgettable performance for Sarasota Paradise.
For the 2024 season, Sarasota Paradise also welcomed three new coaches, including Mirko Dakovics as head coach; Glodi Konga as assistant coach, who also serves as the head men’s soccer coach at New College in Sarasota; and Mark Macphee as goal keeper coach.
The season will run from May 19 through July 13, with home games played at Sarasota High School’s soccer fields. A full game schedule is available online.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For those interested, contact hello@sarasotaparadise.us.
About Sarasota Paradise
Launched in 2023, Sarasota Paradise is a USL League 2 team based in Sarasota, Florida. The men's pre-professional soccer league aims to bring high-level soccer to Sarasota and the surrounding community, with a commitment to nurturing local talent and providing a platform for aspiring players.
Owned and operated by Audigr Group Inc., a global sports and entertainment enterprise founded by Marcus Walfridson and Kenneth Bethune, Sarasota Paradise came to fruition when Walfridson, a devoted soccer entrepreneur from Sweden, fell in love with Sarasota and recognized the need for a local soccer team. Since then, the league has seen much success, including being named New Organization of the Year by the USL in 2023 and having its first player in the team's history be drafted into the MLS.
To learn more, visit SarasotaParadise.us.
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