Beaten Bantams, Rebrands, and Renewed Rivalries - By Taylor Peyton

The Silverbacks advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup after a dominating 4-1 win over SC United Bantams. A goal from Abraham Lansana, two goals from Deon McCaulay, and a goal straight from kickoff by Alex Harlley were enough for the Silverbacks to earn the right to host Charleston Battery next weekend.

The game was originally scheduled to kickoff to kickoff at 3:30 pm but was delayed until 5 due to “US Soccer Clearance Issues” that ultimately kept Taka and Abdul Bangura from playing.

The Silverbacks got their first goal in the 4th minute when Abraham Lansana scored from out wide on the right side of the box. At first, it looked like a cross, but as the ball flew over the keeper and into the left side of the net, with no Silverbacks player within close enough proximity, it became apparent that it was definitely a shot

Deon McCaulay then added two goals in the 20th and 58th minutes. His first goal composed of a corner delivered by Mitch Garcia finding a Silverbacks player, then the ball being shot into the box where it took a deflection that found Deon’s feet. He made no mistake and made it 2-0. The build-up to the third goal was like poetry in motion that started when Mitch Garcia flicked it over a defender and ran around him to get the ball to Harlley, who then passed it to Deon who finished it to make it 3-0

Meanwhile, Thomas Hunter was given the start in goal, and for most of the game, he didn't put one foot wrong. He had a clean sheet going until a Bantams player went down in the box and was awarded a penalty despite the Silverbacks defender seemingly getting all ball. Leandro Brown then sent Hunter the wrong way to make it 3-1. There wasn't much of anything he could do about it, but he still played a fantastic game. Maybe if the ref in his next start is a bit more competent, he will get his clean sheet.

Thomas Hunter started in goal for the Silverbacks. Image by Dave Williamson

What happened next blew the minds of everyone who witnessed it, and also everyone who saw it on the internet hours later. Alex Harlley noticed that the Bantams keeper was off his line, so right from kick off he the launched the ball into the air, over the keeper, and into the net to make it 4-1, which was the final score.

Silverbacks Players Celebrate after Harlley's wonderstrike. Even a Bantams player can't help but clap for him. Image by Dave Williamson

Before the game against Charleston next Wednesday, the Silverbacks still have two hurdles to clear. These two hurdles are Carolina United on Friday, and Georgia Revolution on Saturday. I know what you’re thinking: “But Taylor, I have never heard of Carolina United, who the heck are they?” Well, you might remember them from last year as Carolina Discoveries, but right before the season started, they rebranded. Apparently, they thought we needed another club called “United” in America.

The name might be different, but considering that they were blown out 4-1 by Inter Nashville, a club playing the first game in their history, it seems like they’re still the same old Discoveries. Their lone goal was scored by Daniel Revivo, who played his College Soccer at Winthrop from 2005-2009. Their game against the Silverbacks will kick off at 7:30 on Friday, at Silverbacks Park.

Like Carolina United, the Georgia Revolution also lost to a team that was playing the first meaningful game in their history last Saturday. Asheville City defeated the Revs 2-1 last Saturday. Before the game against Asheville, the Revs were defeated 7-1 by Peachtree City MOBA in a friendly.

The Revs roster does look slightly better on paper this year, partly due to the signings of former Silverbacks fan favorites Bryce Billington and Borfor Carr. Saturday’s game will be the first game at North Mt. Carmel Park in Hampton, Georgia. Probably the simplest way to get to North Mt. Carmel is exiting 75 on Jonesboro Road in Mcdonough and then turning left onto N Mt Carmel Road. If you underestimate how long it takes you to get to Henry County, there’s a decent shopping center on Jonesboro Road if you need time to kill. But apart from that, there’s about as much to see as there was when the Revs played in Conyers.

The Silverbacks will be looking to continue building momentum with wins over Carolina United and Georgia Revolution before facing Charleston Battery next Wednesday. Phoday said after last night’s win against SC United Bantams that there were be lots of squad rotation and mentioned Thierry Jules as a player that we could see in one of the two games this weekend. Now, this is just pure speculation on my part, but it wouldn’t be surprising if we also saw Kris Reaves in the mix as well. He is another young, energetic player, and Phoday said in a tweet that he is the biggest thing since Peanut Butter & Jelly, so he definitely has a high opinion of him

It’s bound to be an interesting two days for the Silverbacks. Come to Silverbacks Park after getting off work on Friday, and make the trip down to the Southside and help Silverbacks fans take over the Revs’ new home, just like they took over their old home in Conyers when the two met up. When both games have been played, Planet Of The Backs will be your home for a breakdown of both games, as well as an in-depth preview of the highly anticipated US Open Cup match between the Silverbacks and the Charleston Battery.

Silverbacks Look To Rebound Against Bantams - By Taylor Peyton

It wasn’t the start to the season that the Silverbacks were looking for as they were defeated 2-1 by the Birmingham Hammers. The Hammers took the lead on the first corner kick of the game when Alex Brown put the ball in the net. Joao Johanning Mora tied the game in the 67th minute, but the Hammers would retake the lead just two minutes later from an impressive free kick scored by David Valverde, which proved to be enough for the Hammers to take the three points at Silverbacks Park

The Silverbacks attack wasn’t too strong coming out of the gate. There was some decent passing between players out wide but a lack of noteworthy chances.  The Hammers took advantage in the 17th minute when they were given the first corner of the game. The ball found its way to Alex Brown who made no mistake and gave the Hammers a 1-0 lead. After the Hammers’ goal, the Silverbacks tried to tie the game before halftime to no avail. Chances from the likes of Abdul and Adnan Bangura, Mitch Garcia, as well as Joao, all missed the target.

Early in the Second half, the Silverbacks thought they had tied the game after a designed set piece led to Abraham Lansana putting the ball into the net, but it was ruled offside. The chances that came shortly after that disallowed goal still did not come to fruition for the Silverbacks. It wasn’t until the 66th minute that the Silverbacks tied the game after Joao put the ball past Birmingham keeper Bradley Louis.

Just two minutes later the Hammers were awarded a free kick, which David Valverde impressively placed around the wall and out of Ameth Kante’s reach. Things went from bad to worse for the Silverbacks when the goalscorer Joao was both injured and shown red after a challenge on Bradley Louis in the 83rd minute.

The Silverbacks would not be able to recover from being down by a goal with only ten men, losing the game 2-1. It was a disappointing loss, but now the focus has shifted to the first round of the US Open Cup, where the Silverbacks will be taking on SC United Bantams at Silverbacks Park, with the match kicking off at 3:30 PM.

I know a lot of you will probably need reassurance, and unfortunately, since I'm writing this I guess it’s my job to be the one to provide it. Yes, the Silverbacks are having their US Open Cup game at 3:30 pm in the afternoon, on a weekday.

This is most likely a product of scheduling conflicts with the Park, which is something we saw last season with the playoff game against Carolina Railhawks NPSL. That game ended up being played at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville instead of Silverbacks Park so it could start at 7 instead of 3:30. A decent sized crowd was on hand in Gwinnett County, the Silverbacks won 4-0, and fun was had by all (except the Railhawks players but nobody cares about them), so why not do the same thing this year for a game that is just as, if not more important than that game last year? It doesn’t make sense, and I do really feel for the dedicated Silverbacks fans that won’t be able to make it because they’re working like normal people, but it is what it is at this point, so we’re just going to have to live with it and hope that it doesn’t happen again in the future. Okay rant over, now back to your regularly scheduled preview

The Silverbacks opponents, SC United Bantams, have played in the South Atlantic Division of the PDL since their debut season in 2012. They are based in Greenwood, South Carolina and play their home games at Lander Soccer Complex. They finished third in their division last year, earning the right to play in the Eastern Conference Divisional Qualifiers where they lost 4-1 to Carolina Dynamo.

This year, they’ve only just released their roster and have not provided any further information about their players. Not even their position is made clear. So it’s hard to determine just how good they are, but regardless, the Silverbacks are still going into this game as favorites. The Bantams weren’t in action this past Saturday as they don’t start PDL play until May 23rd.

The stakes are really high because if the Silverbacks win, not only do they advance, but in the second round they will host Charleston Battery, who are regarded by many as the Silverbacks’ biggest rival. For many years they competed for the Southern Derby Cup, which is said to be the first regional cup competition to be formed in America. The Silverbacks and the Battery, along with a few other various clubs based in the Carolinas, every year from 2000 up until 2008 when the Silverbacks withdrew from the USL and went on Hiatus. The competition still exists today, but perhaps it’s not the same without the Silverbacks.

As for the Silverbacks and Battery, they last played in a friendly at Silverbacks Park in 2012. The Silverbacks won 1-0 on a goal scored by Lucas Paulini. There were also dual red cards in the 67th minute, with one player from each team being sent off.

The Silverbacks have two other games this week, so Wednesday would be a good time to start winning. If you can make it to Silverbacks Park at stupid o’clock ( I know that’s not what the expression means, but I’m changing the definition for this scenario) for the US Open Cup Match, that’s great!  The more, the merrier. If not, hopefully, there will be a live stream you can watch if your boss isn’t looking over your shoulder. There’s always Twitter if all else fails. Regardless of what hand you are dealt with, try your best to enjoy your Wednesday, and look for a review of the game in question, as well as a seperate preview of Friday and Saturday's games on Planet Of The Backs shortly after.

Silverbacks Look To "Hammer The Hammers" - By Taylor Peyton

It’s been a long time coming, but the Silverbacks finally have a meaningful game on Saturday, May 6th as the Birmingham Hammers visit Silverbacks Park. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Silverbacks and Hammers. The Silverbacks did play the UAB Blazers in a few home and away friendlies during the NASL era when the grassroots formation of the Hammers was taking place, however.

This is the Hammers’ second season in the NPSL. Their first season was not the most successful, but they did manage to beat Memphis at home and spoil Nashville FC’s last ever game by defeating them 2-1 at Vanderbilt Stadium. The players returning from last year’s team such as Bradley Louis, Jack Ball, and Marietta's Gerard Barbero will be determined to improve on last year's 6th place finish in the Southeast Conference.

The Hammers have also added some talented new faces such as Pennsylvania's 2003 Gatorade Player Of The Year Dan DeMasters. DeMasters played his College Soccer for Villanova and has recently become a very successful High School Soccer Coach in Alabama. While Teaching Math at Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, DeMasters had led the Eagles to Two consecutive State Championships in 2015, and 2016. Oak Mountain also won the National Championship in 2016. DeMaster’s Eagles have made it to the quarterfinals of the State playoffs this year as well. They will be taking Grissom High School the night before he is set to make his debut for the Hammers, if he does indeed travel with the team to Atlanta.

The Silverbacks will be looking to their big name players such as Mitch Garcia, Deon McCaulay, Taka, and Joao to help guide them to three points against Birmingham, but a few lesser-known Silverbacks players have brought themselves to the forefront in the months leading up to the season, and have the potential to have an enormous impact on Saturday's game. Ebrima Njie has been involved with the Silverbacks for a few years now, including playing a big part in the Reserves team in 2015 that qualified for the 2016 US Open Cup. He didn’t play too much last year but he played a part in many of the preseason games this year, and at the moment it is safe to assume that we will see some of him this season. Santi Loaiza is a young Colombian who is looking to jumpstart his career after not being given many opportunities at his former club Once Caldas. Santi provided an assist against the Latino All-Stars, and also scored a goal of his own against the Savannah Clovers.

This will also be Phoday Dolleh’s first game as the Silverbacks Head Coach. We know all about his eye for talent, and with 20 years of coaching under his belt, he is very much qualified for their job. It might take a few games to get a good reading on what direction Phoday leans towards with his tactics, but it’ll be fun for Silverbacks fans who are into that aspect of the game.

Saturday’s opener will be the first of the Silverbacks’ four games in seven days. SC United Bantams of the PDL will be coming on Wednesday for a first-round matchup in the US Open Cup, and then the Silverbacks will host Carolina United (formally Carolina Discoveries) at Silverbacks Park on Friday night, before taking on the Georgia Revolution in their new home in Henry County. Given the Silverbacks’ history in the US Open Cup, and the fact that this roster was built with the competition in mind, the importance of Wednesday’s game against SC United Bantams doesn’t need to be explained to anyone.

Between that game, and the three NPSL Regular season games, Seeing how the squad is rotated through all four games will be interesting, to say the least. In regards to Saturday’s game, it’s possible that some players will be rested for Wednesday’s game. It shouldn’t be anything too drastic, but it's worth keeping that game in mind if you notice any omissions of players that you think should be starting.

Like every game they play in the NPSL, the Silverbacks are expected to win on Saturday. The Hammers only played one last-minute preseason friendly, and their lack of preperation is something the Silverbacks could exploit throughout the game. Kickoff is set for 5 pm at Silverbacks Park. Have fun at the game if you can make it, stream it online if you can’t, and look for a summary of the game, as well as a preview of Wednesday’s game against SC United Bantams from Planet Of The Backs in the next few days.

Praiseworthy Preseason For Silverbacks - By Taylor Peyton

It was a relatively successful preseason for the Silverbacks. They won in all but one game, and many players new played very well. The home opener is this Saturday, May 6, and the Silverbacks should be well prepared.

Dalton State College

The Silverbacks preseason started on April Fools Day in Dalton, Georgia. The opponents were the Dalton State College Roadrunners. It was a fairly uneventful 1-1 draw for the Silverbacks with Omanovic Mojo scoring the Silverbacks lone goal after coming on for Abdul Bangura, who had picked up a minor injury. Apart from the goal the biggest event was the linesman reportedly telling Avery Shepherd to shut his *explicit* mouth, prompting an angry reaction from the Silverbacks

Team Photo before the game against Dalton State. Image by Dave Williamson

Son of Pitches FC

This game was part of the fan fest which although not very well-attended, was a fun time had by those who did go. As expected, the Silverbacks ran circles around them, winning 7-0. Taka, Shepherd, McCaulay, and Fernandes were amongst the scorers. The game was followed by the Silverbacks Front Office taking on the same Sons of Pitches team. This was a bit more of a fair fight, and it was fun to see the likes of Justin Hanover, Dave Williamson, Marco Zucchi, and Drew Dekutowski playing on the field.

Avery Shepherd scores a goal at Fan Fest. Image by Dave Williamson

Latino All Stars

Against one of their more formidable opponents in preseason, the Silverbacks went on to win 2-1. It was scoreless at halftime but second half goals from Avery Shepherd and Taka led the Silverbacks to a 2-0 lead. A penalty save by Thomas Hunter in the 74th minute helped the Silverbacks hold onto that lead. The Latino All Stars did manage to score a late consolation goal.

Savannah Clovers

In the first of a home and away series against the Clovers, the Silverbacks won 7-2. Deon McCauley, Santiago Loaiza, Abraham Lansana, Thierry Jules, and Avery Shepherd were listed as the goalscorers. Taka was credited with at least 3 assists. The two teams will meet again on August 19th in Savannah

Deon and Taka embrace after a goal. Image by Dave Williamson

Atlanta United
In this (mostly) closed door friendly in Marietta against the other team in town, the Silverbacks fought to a 0-0 draw. There was a small amount of controversy as Deon McCauley had a goal ruled offside, but Video Analysis Specialist Bert Leonard insisted that it was actually onside.

Silverbacks and Untied players battle in the air. Image by Dave Williamson

Life University

The Silverbacks capped off their preseason with a 5-1 win against Life University. The Silverbacks conceded a goal early but Thierry Jules then proceeded to steal the show, scoring 4 goals in the first half. The majority of the match was streamed on Periscope by a member of Westside 109 who was in attendance.

Jules scores one of his four goals against Life. Image by Dave Williamson

The results in these preseason games had to be very encouraging for Silverbacks fans. Now the time has come for them to pack the park on Saturday. Buy your tickets if you haven’t yet, keep an eye on Planet Of The Backs for a preview of the game against Birmingham, and get ready to have a blast on Saturday

Q & A With "The Furious Foreman" - By Taylor Peyton

The Furious Foreman (no relation to Eric Foreman) is the capo of Magic City Brigade, a supporters group for the Birmingham Hammers. The Foreman reached out to me on Twitter saying that he would be willing to do a Q & A session with me if I was interested. I took him up on his offer, drew up some questions, and emailed them to him. What you see below are his answers.

Q: Personally, I think the formation of the Hammers is one of more interesting stories in the region, and maybe even in the country. What can you tell me about the founders of the club?

A: The entire Board is made up of guys who care about growing the game at a grassroots level. From what I’ve seen, not a single Board Member has struck me as having a “get paid and leave” type of attitude; and that is refreshing to see.

Q: Looking at the players that have been confirmed for 2017 so far, who really excites you?

A: So many great guys playing this season! Starting off with #1 in the net and #1 in our hearts, Bradley Louis; returning players in Christian Adkins; Jack Ball; Gerard Barbero, Alec Daley, and Srdjan (Sergi) Djkovic. I’m excited to see how some of the new faces perform; especially Oliver Cylowski and Daniel DeMasters. Too many great players to narrow it down to just one.

Q: Last year was the Hammers first year in the NPSL, and they did manage two good wins against Memphis at home and on the road at Nashville, but ultimately finished last in the conference. Do you think they are in position to improve on that this year?

A: Absolutely. Last season we didn’t have the chemistry that Coach Koch and his staff bring this year. Having  a group of guys returning who were a part of that I-65 Cup Champion team against Nashville FC (RIP) I think they now understand how much this game means to the supporters, and are determined to put a better product on the pitch this year.

Q: Some Silverbacks fans aren't very keen on 5pm start times on Saturday nights, but how do you feel about it as a traveling fan?

A: Well, kicking off at 4pm/5pm is never ideal especially with the traffic issues Atlanta is currently facing. As a supporter, the kick off time doesn’t matter to me; all it means is more time to bake in the Southern Summer sun while supporting our Boys in Red.

Q: I was looking on the Hammers website and unless I missed something there were no preseason games played. Are you concerned the Hammers might not be as prepared for this game as they could be?

A:  It is a little concerning. The Hammers field more currently enrolled University athletic students than I think other NPSL clubs do, and I know that plays a role in the availability of players for preseason matches. At the end of the day; the game that matters is the one currently being played. It wouldn’t be that shocking to see the Silverbacks up 3-1 at half and the Hammers win 5-3.

Q: There are two friendlies scheduled for the end of May with youth teams of Atlanta United and Chivas. Do you think they'll help get the Hammers name out to people who initially missed the memo?

A: I think the matches against the ATLUTD and Chivas de Guadalajara academies will open the local interest of the club. There are some suburbs that may not know who the Hammers are; and I think those matches will peak their interest.

Q: Birmingham and Atlanta aren't very far from each other, so how many Hammers fans do you think will be making the trip?

A: It’s hard to say. I’d like to say we’re bringing close to 100, but realistically I hear murmurs of 30 or so fans.

Q: Lastly, is there anything else about the Hammers that you feel like people should know?

A: First off, I want to thank you or having me on as a guest. The Hammers are coming this year hungry and looking to make a name for ourselves. The Hammers don’t have any competitions in the US Open Cup, so look for our boy to give their all, every match. I also run a fan blog, www.bhamhammersblog.wordpress.com, feel free to check out my Season Preview: 2017. It’s been a pleasure.

The pleasure is all mine Foreman, safe travels to you and the rest of your crew on Saturday. Hopefully by the end of the game, the Silverbacks will be victorious, and you will well and truly be the "Furious" Foreman

Brace Yourself... Preseason Is Coming - By Taylor Peyton

The season is growing ever closer, and the Silverbacks are doing big things all across the board. The player signings have been fantastic, and the friendlies scheduled are very appealing to fans

Ricardo Oliveira and Kentaro “Taka” Takada are two players that are completely new to the Silverbacks. Oliveira played his College Soccer for Barton College and has some PDL experience with the Panama City Beach Pirates and seems to be very well liked because the news of his signing was met with responses saying that he is a good player and an even better person. Kentaro Takada made his name playing for Minnesota United, and St. Louis FC. Like Ricardo, he is very well liked by those who have seen him play. Judging by the acclaim of these two players by those who are familiar with them, there’s no reason to believe they won’t fit right in with the Silverbacks

The rest of the Silverbacks roster can best be described as a combination of the 2014 and the 2016 teams. Abdul Bangura, Avery Shepherd, Mitch Garcia, and Alex Harlley are the most recent former Silverbacks that have been confirmed for this season. It was pretty easy to figure out that Bangura and Shepherd would be coming back, maybe to an extent Garcia returning was predictable, but like Deon McCauley, the announcement of Alex Harlley was a very pleasant surprise for Silverbacks fans.
Harlley’s initial stint with the Silverbacks got off to a shaky start when he was sent off on his debut against Ft Lauderdale. Eric Wynalda’s faith in the Togolese winger allowed him to prove himself to be an exciting and useful player for the Silverbacks after that, despite the team finishing last in the NASL that season. Silverbacks fans had high hopes he could build on his flashes of brilliance in 2015, but he didn’t get much playing time under Gary Smith and was gone by July. He then joined the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and struggled to find his footing there, but in his second stint with the Silverbacks, he will surely get his chance to shine in the NPSL, and in the US Open Cup.

Abdul Bangura missed 2016 with an injury, but he is still a household name amongst the Silverbacks fan base because of his longevity with the team, his leadership skills, and his defensive prowess. He has been with the Silverbacks since 2014 even wore the Captain’s armband on occasion while the Silverbacks were still in the NASL.

Avery Shepherd proved to be one of, if not the most clutch player for the Silverbacks last season. He always managed to score at the best possible times. The best example would be his winning goal against Tobacco Road in the Conference championship game. Now he’s back, and Silverbacks fans can only hope he continues to score big goals in big games like he did last season

After he had signed for the Railhawks, Silverbacks fan thought they had seen the last of Mitch Garcia. Carolina decided not keep him around in the end, sort of like how they decided not to keep the name Railhawks. So the Silverbacks captain from last season, as well as his deadly deliveries and free kicks, will be back in 2017. Shortly before it was confirmed by the club, Garcia hinted at a return to the Silverbacks on Instagram by posting a photo from last season with the caption “When you’re heading back to Atlanta for something much bigger this time.”
Along with player announcements, intriguing regional friendlies have been announced as well. The first of which come on April 1 against Dalton State College, in Dalton at the odd time of 11 am. It seems the game has produced at least a little bit of buzz in the area because the mayor of Dalton was amongst those who retweeted the Silverbacks’ announcement of the game. The following friendly against Savannah Clovers on April 22 was announced a while back, but it’s still exciting nonetheless.
A mid-season friendly against Peachtree City MOBA has also been announced for May 24  in Peachtree City. It is in between the Silverbacks games against New Orleans and Knoxville. There are also two post-season friendlies scheduled against Savannah Clovers and Lowcountry United from Charleston. The latter friendly taking place at Silverbacks Park.
If you aren’t already excited, the Silverbacks opponent in the first round of the US Open Cup will be announced on April 12. This roster is being built with a deep run in the Open Cup in mind, so there is the possibility that the Silverbacks can do something great in the US Open Cup.
Save the dates of all the friendlies, and make it to the ones that you can, but the most important thing is having your schedule clear for the home opener against Birmingham because that is when the fun will really start. Keep an eye on Silverbacks Social Media for news, keep an eye on Planet Of The Backs for Silverbacks reading material, and keep pounding your chest!

Silverbacks Roster Starting To Take Shape - By Taylor Peyton

It started with the announcement that Joao Johanning Mora had re-signed, and now “Player Announcement Season” is in full swing. Since the first announcement, the Silverbacks have confirmed at least three more members of their 2017 squad.

The Second player to be announced was Liberian Midfielder Abraham Lansana, who had a great 2016 with the Silverbacks after spending three years with Harnosand FF in the Swedish Second Division. Lansana served the Silverbacks well in the midfield last year, and will most definitely do the same this year. Unfortunately, the Silverbacks decided to repay Lansana for his services by using a picture of him holding a Silverbacks scarf with his eyes seemingly closed with the caption “Dreaming about Opening Day yet? Looks like he is!” I see what you did there Social Media guy (or girl, I’m not 100% sure), let’s just hope he keeps his eyes open on the pitch during the season.

Goalkeeper Ameth Kante signed, and it seems he will be the Silverbacks number 1 this year after backing up Bryce Billington in 2016. There hasn’t been any indication as to where Bryce Billington will be playing yet, but after a stellar 2016 season, as well as an excellent performance at the NPSL Showcase it seems that it will be somewhere in the USL, NASL, or possibly Europe. The Silverbacks, however, are in good hands with Kante. The Senegalese keeper started for Silverbacks in one game last year against Myrtle Beach Mutiny. In An interview with Senegalese website Wiwsport.com, Kante said that several European have contacted his agent to sign him, but he decided it was in his best interest to stay in Atlanta for another season.

The most recent announcement is also a former Silverbacks player, but he did not play for the Silverbacks in 2016, or 2015 for that matter. Belizean forward Deon McCaulay, whose claim to fame is being the joint top goalscorer in 2014 World Cup Qualifying with 11 goals, played for the Silverbacks in 2014 and scored 3 goals for them, including the lone goal in the 3-1 loss to Chicago Fire in the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup. Since leaving the Silverbacks, he returned to Belize and played for Verdes in the Premier League of Belize. McCaulay was the league’s top scorer for the 2015-16 Opening season with 10 goals and two hat-tricks. This announcement totally came out of the blue, and my initial reaction was jokingly asking “what year is it?”, but all jokes aside it’s an excellent signing that will boost the attack.

Four players don't make a full team, so there are bound to be more announcements made soon. Keep an eye on Planet Of The Backs for more analysis of player announcements, as well as an upcoming article regarding the Silverbacks Home and Away series against Savannah Clovers, as well as a breakdown of the Silverbacks possible US Open Cup opponents.