ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (January 13, 2015) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies have parted ways with two more members of the 2014 roster, defender Frankie Sanfilippo and midfielder Shane Hill.
"We have made a strategic decision to play a different brand of soccer and that requires a re-tooling of our squad,” said club president and general manager, Farrukh Quraishi. “And while we appreciate the service that Shane and Frankie have given to the Rowdies, as senior players we support their desire to play. These are never easy decisions but change is the nature of professional sports and this club needed change in order to achieve the success that we all want."
Hill, 27, joined the Rowdies in 2011 and played four seasons with the club, making 83 appearances (70 starts) and playing 6,049 minutes for the green and gold. He was a vital member of the 2012 Rowdies team that won the North American Soccer League Soccer Bowl championship. He scored seven goals in his time with the club.
Sanfilippo, 33, has captained the Rowdies for the last four seasons since arriving in 2011. Sanfilippo made his 100th official appearance (league and cup) for the club in a 4-3 win over the Carolina RailHawks on August 9, 2014. Sanfilippo started all 100 NASL matches he participated in for the Rowdies, logging 8,986 minutes.
The Rowdies also announced that goalkeeper coach Slobodan Janjus will not return for the 2015 season. Janjus had been with the club since 2010, serving the Rowdies for five years. A new goalkeeper coach will be announced soon.
With the departures of Hill and Sanfilippo, the Rowdies roster for 2015 stands at 14:
Goalkeepers: Matt Pickens
Defenders: Tamika Mkandawire, Blake Wagner, Gale Agbossoumonde, Darnell King, Brad Rusin, Stefan Antonijevic
Midfielders: Robert Hernandez, Juan Guerra, Martin Nuñez
Forwards: Georgi Hristov, Brian Shriver, Corey Hertzog, Darwin Espinal
The Rowdies will open the 2015 season with a match up against the San Antonio Scorpions, the 2014 Soccer Bowl Champions, in San Antonio April 4. The home opener follows on April 11 against Minnesota United FC, the team with the best overall 2014 record and the defending Spring champion.
Fans will enjoy all the action at the newly-renovated Al Lang Stadium, complete with larger pitch, new seating, improved concessions and more. 2015 season tickets are available now. Call (877) ROWDIES today!
