PHILADELPHIA, Pa (March 6, 2020) – Philadelphia Lone Star First Team Head Coach Fatoma Turay has confirmed his full backroom staff for the club’s inaugural season in the USL League Two and eighth season in the National Premier Soccer League.
Winston Neewray returns for his third season on the First Team coaching staff. In his first season with the club in 2018, he helped coach the first team to the NESL regular season title and a dual State Cup title in the Amateur Cup and Open Cup. Last season, he was instrumental in the first team’s excellent run in the NPSL Keystone Conference playoffs where they finished as finalists.
Thomas George also returns for his third season on the First Team coaching staff. He helped coached the first team to their first-ever NPSL playoff run in 2018, being ranked sixth nationally in the NPSL, thereby making their second appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Both Winston and Thomas are currently pursuing their advanced coaching licenses with the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Samuel Cole will serve as an Assistant Coach after spending three seasons as head coach of the club U19 team. Sam is also currently the head coach of Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School Girls team and he will remain as head coach of the Philadelphia Lone Star Girls’ Academy team. He’s currently pursuing his advanced licenses this season.
Sean Matteo, who is the goalkeeper coach for the Philadelphia Lone Star women’s team, will serve as the senior goalkeeper coach for the men’s first team. Over his six-year coaching career, Sean has coached numerous goalkeepers to All-Conference recognition including our women’s team goalkeeper, Emily Camp, in the team’s inaugural WPSL season last year. Sean has earned coaching licenses through United Soccer Coaches, U.S. Soccer, and the National Federation of High Schools and looks to continue pursuing advanced licenses this season.
Sal Minor joins Philadelphia Lone Star for his first season and will assist Sean in the goalkeeping capacity. Sal currently serves as assistant coach at Lincoln University. He has earned the NSCAA Goalkeeper Level 1 Diploma and is looking to continue pursuing advanced licenses this season.
“It has been a pleasure working with Thomas and Edgar (Winston) for the past two years,” First Team Head Coach Fatoma Turay revealed. “In a three-year period, we have won so much together, and we are looking forward to a more successful 2020 season.”
“We have coaches who have been with the club, understand the club culture and know what are expected of them. Sam has been with the club, helping to develop our academy players for the past three years, and I also worked with him on Team Sierra Leone at last year’s Philadelphia Unity Cup. He’s still young and he is a great addition to the staff.”
“Sean has come in as well from the women’s team and we hope he will be able to split his time between both our men’s and women’s teams. He has done a phenomenal job with the women’s side in their inaugural season and we know he will be able to do the same with the men’s first team.”
“Sal will be assisting Sean in the goalkeeping department, especially if Sean is tied up with the women’s side. Sal is someone who comes with a very high recommendation. He loves this club and is very passionate about what we are doing. I’m looking forward to working with him for the first time.”
“That said, these are people who know what our club is about, and they are great people to bring in for our inaugural season in the USL League and 8th season in the NPSL.”
Head Coach Fatoma Turay and his full backroom staff will be at tomorrow’s men’s soccer tryout where they are expected to assess several players aspiring to be Stars.
Preseason for the 2020 season is expected to start on March 24th.
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