MIAMI (January 13, 2020) —
As the Miami FC begin preparations for the 2020 USL Championship, over the past several days thirteen additional players have confirmed their return to the club for the upcoming campaign.
Ahead of the return to preseason next week, Head Coach Nelson Vargas said: “I’m ecstatic that we have been able to maintain the core of the team. The value of having players who have worn the crest and who embody The Miami FC DNA help with our transition to a new league.”
On January 10, the club announced that winger Prince Saydee has signed with The Miami FC (subject to USL and Concacaf approval) for the upcoming USL Championship season. Saydee is a Liberian international who joins from Atlanta SC where he put in a man-of-the-match performance against The Miami FC in a 2-2 tie in October 2019. Prior to that, Saydee played in Liberia and trialled with Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava in 2016. He has blistering pace and can play on either the left or right wing. His success playing against Miami led to his being recruited by the club.
Head Coach Nelson Vargas said: “Prince was on our radar when we first scouted Atlanta SC as opponents. He was a real handful in both games we played against them and several of our players said that he had something a bit different … He will bring the ability to break lines and drop deep when necessary, but it’s his acceleration and change of speed with the ball that is his main asset. He has great will and desire, whilst remaining extremely humble and these are characteristics befitting of a Miami FC player … I’m very happy to have him in the squad and believe he will bring excitement to the team.”
Prince becomes The Miami FC’s second new signing for 2020, having previously announced that forward Romario Williams will join up with the squad for preseason.
On January 9, the club revealed that Defenders Marco Franco and Brenton Griffiths, midfielders Brian James and Tomas Granitto and forward Miguel González all are returning to the club ahead of preseason.
Marco Franco 
Marco Franco, 28, was signed by The Miami FC in January 2019. He was a first-round pick in the MLS SuperDraft, having been selected by Chicago Fire in 2014. He spent one season with Chicago before becoming a regular starter on Indy Eleven’s back line from 2015 to 2017. The defender made 13 appearances for The Miami FC in 2019.
Brenton Griffiths 
In 2019, Jamaican U-20 international Brenton Griffiths was a regular fixture in The Miami FC back line, making 13 appearances and registering 3 goals. Griffiths, 28, signed for The Miami FC in January 2019 after completing two successful seasons with Reno 1868, having helped the Nevada side reach the USL Championship’s Western Conference Semifinals in 2018.
Brian James 
Brian James will return for a third season. Originally from Boca Raton, the 26-year-old midfielder was drafted out of college by Toronto FC in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. James’ father, Alvin, played professional soccer for Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
Tomás Granitto 
Another fan favourite, midfielder Tomas Granitto spent time with FC Edmonton, Swope Park Rangers (now fellow USL Championship side Sporting Kansas City II) and Portland Timbers II. After a season with Miami United FC, Granitto, 26, signed for The Miami FC in January 2019. He made his international debut for the El Salvador national team in March 2019.
Miguel González 
A native of Mexico, Miguel González, 29, brings USL Championship experience in addition to being a returning member of the Miami FC squad, where, in 2019 González racked up 22 goals, setting a new single calendar year record for goals scored by a Miami FC player. He spent the first two years of his professional career in the PDL (now called USL League Two) with Seattle Sounders II and the Kitsap Pumas. He then moved to the USL Championship with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks before joining the Oklahoma City Energy FC in 2017, where he spent two seasons and made 46 appearances.
On January 8, the club announced that Goalkeeper Bryant Gammiero, midfielder Hector Morales and forwards Mo Thiaw and Othello Bah all inked new contracts with the club.
Bryant Gammeiro 
Bryant was signed in September 2019 from local side the Florida Soccer Soldiers. He’s 26, is equipped with quick reflexes and is known as an shot-stopper. Previously, Gammiero represented Miami United and featured in the first ever “Miami Clásico” meeting between Miami United FC and The Miami FC in 2018.
Hector Morales 
Hector Morales, a 26-year-old Cuban national joined The Miami FC following a successful Open Tryout in February 2019. An attacking midfielder, Morales enjoyed a spell at FC Ciudad de La Habana in the Cuban top division. He has represented Cuba at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels.
Othello Bah 
A native of Virginia, Liberia, Othello Bah, 24, joined The Miami FC in January 2019 and opened his goal scoring account in the NISA Showcase opener against Philadelphia Fury. Bah previously played for Chattanooga FC.
Mohamed Thiaw 
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Mo Thiaw was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes during the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. However, he spent the season on loan at Reno 1868, scoring three goals and providing two assists over 24 appearances. He signed with Miami in January 2019. The powerful forward scored an impressive 14 goals in 15 appearances for Miami FC in 2019. A 6-2 forward with technical ability, Thiaw can play all along the attacking line.
Recently, the Miami FC announced the return of three other players for the 2020 campaign: Mark Pais, Jalen Markey, Harrison Heath and Lloyd Sam.
Mark Pais 
Pais was signed in January 2019 and with outstanding performances became the starting goalkeeper for Miami FC during triumphant seasons in the NPSL and NISA Showcase. Having spent time at Fresno FC and Toronto FC’s development team, TFC II, the shot stopper will relish our season opener at another of his former teams, Saint Louis FC, on March 7.
Jalen Markey 
Centre back Markey, also signed in January 2019, joined Miami FC from Seattle Sounders II and the 6’ 2” Washington native who played university soccer at Oregon State added some defensive steel to the back line.
Harrison Heath 
A native of England, midfielder Heath played on Norwich City’s U18 squad, before continuing his career on this side of the pond with time at Minnesota United, Atlanta United and Orlando City. Signed by Miami FC in February 2019 he became a familiar fixture in the Miami FC midfield in the 2019 season.
Lloyd Sam 
Lloyd Sam is a veteran forward who adds much experience to the Miami FC attack. Sam began his career with Charlton Athletic, making 119 appearances between the Premier League and Championship for the club before spending three years with Leeds United. He then moved to MLS, where he made 106 appearances and scored 20 goals with the New York Red Bulls before being traded to D.C. United, where he spent two successful seasons. He signed for Miami FC in January 2019. Sam, 35, was on the scoresheet in the NISA Showcase East Coast Championship as Miami FC ran out 3-0 winners over Stumptown Athletic to win its 9th trophy in 4 years.
“One of the first things Paul Dalglish and I discussed was the importance of maintaining a core of players who understand the club’s ethos. Being able to bring these players back also helps the process for new players to settle in and allows us to continue to play the Miami FC way,” head coach Nelson Vargas said.
Coach Vargas also added: “Retaining a consistent core of our squad was one of the most important decisions we made when building our roster. We have a clear methodology, playing style and demands that require a certain player profile. I’m grateful to the players, Paul Dalglish and the whole Miami FC organisation for all the hard work in getting a lot of our guys back.”
Here is a list of the thirteen players who have signed contracts for the 2020 season:
- (GK) Mark Pais
- (GK) Bryant Gammiero
- (D) Jalen Markey
- (D) Brenton Griffiths
- (D) Marco Franco
- (M) Harrison Heath
- (M) Brian James
- (M) Tomas Granitto
- (M) Hector Morales
- (F) Othello Bah
- (F) Lloyd Sam
- (F) Miguel González
- (F) Mo Thiaw
2020 Season
Miami FC’s first game as a member of the USL Championship kicks off on Saturday March 7, 2019 when Miami plays away against Saint Louis FC. The first home game for Miami in the USL Championship will take place on Friday, March 13, 2019, at Riccardo Silva Stadium, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Ticket details and the full USL Championship Eastern Conference schedule will be announced soon.
