It may be the holiday season, but NASL clubs haven’t taken much time off from preparing their rosters for the 2012 season. The Carolina RailHawks re-upped two of their players from their 2011 regular season NASL championship, as have the Puerto Rico Islanders. Meanwhile, the re-christened Tampa Bay Rowdies have brought in an English player and re-signed their captain for 2012.
RailHawks Ink Zimmerman and Low
The Carolina RailHawks will return midfielder Nick Zimmerman and veteran defender Kupono Low for the 2012 campaign under new coach Colin Clarke. They join defender Cory Miller and goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald on the 2012 RailHawks’ roster, with more player signings to come in the upcoming weeks.
Zimmerman was the RailHawks’ third leading scorer in 2011, netting six times with one assist. The 24-year-old attacker started 24 matches for the RailHawks and was a substitute in four others, making him one of only five 2011 RailHawks to play over 2,000 minutes in the season. Zimmerman, who has had previous MLS experience with the NY Red Bulls in 2009 and the Philadelphia Union in 2010, also received the 2011 Summit Hospitality Community Service Award for his work in behalf of the RailHawks community outreach.
“Nick was a very important piece in the club’s success in 2011 and he was someone we wanted to make sure would be returning to the RailHawks,” said RailHawks President Curt Johnson. “His commitment to the organization extended beyond the field and into the community. Nick is a talented player that will continue to develop and look forward to seeing him back on the field in 2012.”
Honolulu native Kupono Low will begin his sixth season for the RailHawks in 2012, having been with the team since its birth. Low has played 96 matches for the RailHawks since 2007 in a professional career that begin 2003. Low played in Ireland with Sligo Rovers and in the U.S. with the California Gold, Virginia Beach Mariners and the Syracuse Salty Dogs before joining the RailHawks. At age 33, the former Fresno State Bulldog brings not only experience but consistency to a RailHawks team that will be seeking more trophies in 2012.
“I am happy to return to Carolina for my sixth season with the club,” said Low. “It is exciting with Colin [Clarke] coming in. He has been very successful wherever he’s coached and he’s someone that players look forward to working with. I look forward to returning to the field in 2012 and work towards bringing home an NASL championship.”
Islanders Return Wilson and Cunningham
Former Islanders’ assistant coach Adrian Whitbread is now the head man on the sidelines, and he’s happy to have two of his young players, Tyler Wilson and Jaime Cunningham, returning in 2012, as La Tropa Naranja picked up the options of both players.
“The club continues to add to an exciting young nucleus. We already have two great pieces in Jonathan Faña and Nicolas Addlery. Now we add an exciting young talent like Tyler Wilson coming back and an anchor in our defense in Jamie Cunningham to the group. The 2012 season looks very bright,” said Whitbread.
Both players were rookies in 2011. Wilson, a native of Chino Hills, California, made his Islanders’ debut in last season’s opener against the RailHawks. The 22-year-old midfielder has also earned ten caps with the Puerto Rican national team. Cunningham, 24, is a 6’3″ defender from Arizona who appeared in 21 games for the Islanders last season, including the CONCACAF Champions League and Caribbean Football Union tournaments. Cunningham played his college ball at Fort Lewis College and was coached by current San Antonio Scorpions coach Tim Hankinson while playing for the Skyhawks.
Rowdies Rev Up for New Campaign
The former FC Tampa Bay club has obtained the rights to the “Rowdies” moniker, harking back to the glory years of the club in the original NASL. Looking forward to a successful season, both on and off the field, in 2012, the Rowdies have signed former Bristol Rovers captain Stuart Campbell.
Campbell, 34, is an English-born midfielder who has represented internationally for Scotland’s U-21 team. He began his professional career in the EPL with Leicester City, then coached by Martin O’Neill, in 1998. During his time with the Foxes, the midfielder spent time on loan with Birmingham City and Grimsby Town, signing with the latter in 2001. In 2004 he joined Bristol Rovers, where he became captain in 2005. Campbell made 288 appearances with Rovers, leading them to the quarterfinals of the 2007-2008 FA Cup. He also worked on getting his coaching licenses, and was caretaker manager for the club for 12 games before the hiring of Paul Buckle.
In other Tampa news, the club has denied contract options on 2010 New Zealand World Cup midfielder Jeremy Christie, along with midfielders Shane Hill and Mozzi Gyorio — but both Hill and Gyorio are welcome to compete in the 2012 Rowdies’ preseason camp as free agents.
In early December Rowdies’ captain and veteran defender Frankie Sanfilippo signed a three-year contract extension. Sanfilippo, 30, began his professional career in 2004 and featured in 25 matches for Tampa Bay in 2011, his first with the club. His leadership on the backline helped Tampa earn eight clean sheets during the season.
“I am really excited to sign this contract and I would love to finish my career here in Tampa Bay,” said Sanfilippo. “I really enjoyed my first year with the club, especially the area, the fans and the entire organization. I am excited for next season and to get back for preseason training. The biggest thing is to do everything we can to bring a championship to Tampa Bay.”
I think his name is Stuart Campbell not Jamie.
Thanks WSW for correcting my error.
It seems to me that the NASL teams are just as active as the MLS teams in acquiring players early and being well prepared for the 2012 season. It’ll be fabulous to see how the NASL and USPPro teams will fare in the US Open Cup. Hopefully some of those games will be televised.