PHILADELPHIA, PA (December 13, 2019) – Philadelphia Lone Star Football Club announced today that Fatoma Turay has been appointed the first Head Coach in the club’s USL League Two history. Turay will lead in dual capacity as the head coach of both the club’s USL2 and the NPSL teams.
“It gives us great pleasure to announce Fatoma Turay as the head coach of our USL2 team,” said Philadelphia Lone Star President and CEO Paul Konneh. “FT is a club legend and has also performed exceptionally well as the head coach of the NPSL team for the past two seasons and we will do everything we can to ensure he has everything he needs to be successful with the USL2 team.”
Born in Koidu, Sierra Leone, Turay is one of Philadelphia Lone Star FC’s most decorated players after making over 200 appearances for the Stars. The 33-year old has a career with the club spanning 16 years which included stints with the Academy, the Under-23s, and finally the First Team.
Turay also attended Wilmington University where he played for the Wildcats from 2006-09. During that period, he won several awards including being named on the 1st Team Daktronics All-Region, the 2nd Team NSCAA All-Region, All-American Honorable Mention, and All-CACC 1st Team. He finished his college career with 77 appearances, 20 assists, and a CACC title.
Turay was appointed head coach of the NPSL team on January 30, 2018. He led the team to its first-ever conference playoffs during the 2018 NPSL season after finishing second in the Keystone Conference. The team was also ranked sixth nationally in the NPSL, received a bid for the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and captured both the 2018 Eastern Pennsylvania State Open Cup and Amateur Cup titles in the Fall of 2018.
Despite finishing fourth in his second season as head coach of the NPSL team in 2019, he still led the team to its second successive playoff appearance and finished the season as the 2019 NPSL Keystone Conference Finalists.
“I am truly honored to be named the first Head Coach in the club’s USL League Two history,” said Fatoma Turay. “I’m beyond excited and humbled for the opportunity to lead this great club that I love dearly. I’m looking forward to working with some great young players in our community and some of the best players from college soccer. I embrace the opportunity to lead this great club to national success!”
Turay is currently finishing his U.S. Soccer coaching license and is expected to complete it during the 2020 season.
Turay is expected to announce the rest of his technical staff which includes open positions like Assistant Head Coach, Assistant Coaches, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Goalkeeping Coach, and Head Athletic Trainer.
Philadelphia Lone Star will begin their inaugural USL2 season during the second week of May 2020. The team will play a 14-game regular season schedule against Bascome FC (Bermuda), Evergreen FC (VA), Lehigh Valley United (PA), Ocean City Nor’easters (NJ), Reading United AC (PA) and fierce local rivals West Chester United (PA). All home games will be played at the South Philadelphia Super Site in Philadelphia, PA.
Philadelphia Lone Star will soon announce the first round of open tryouts for the USL2 team but interested players are encouraged to email the head coach at fturay@philadelphialonestarfc.com. Training camp will be launched in early April for local players while selected college student-athletes will join the rest of the group on May 1st.
ABOUT PHILADELPHIA LONE STAR FOOTBALL CLUB
Philadelphia Lone Star FC is Philadelphia’s only professional-development soccer club competing in the USL2, NPSL, UPSL, and WPSL. The club was established in 2001 under the name of Junior Lone Star Football Club. That name, selected by the founding members – a group of Liberian immigrants, was in tribute to the Liberian national team which is nicknamed the Lone Star. The club changed its name to Philadelphia Lone Star Football Club in September 2018. In 2001, the club had a single team with only 13 players but can now boast of over 150 players competing on several teams. Each team is comprised of high-level players holding amateur playing status. Philadelphia Lone Star FC serves to develop players as a showcase for collegiate and/or professional coaches. The Club is operated by its Board of Directors.
ABOUT USL LEAGUE TWO
A part of United Soccer Leagues, LLC, which also operates the USL Championship, USL League One, Super Y League and the new USL Academy, USL League Two is the top pre-professional soccer league in North America, offering a summer platform for aspiring professionals across the United States and Canada. League Two is the defined and proven pathway for players to progress to the ranks of professional soccer, while its clubs become fixtures in the communities where they operate. More than 70 percent of all MLS SuperDraft selections since 2010 have League Two experience, including 66 alumni chosen in 2018 and 61 in 2019. Werder Bremen’s Josh Sargent, Newcastle United’s DeAndre Yedlin, and Atlanta United’s Brad Guzan are among the many U.S. National Team players to have competed in USL League Two before making their professional debuts.
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