ST PETERSBURG, FL – An invaluable piece to the success of the Tampa Bay Rowdies over the last two seasons is remaining in place for 2022. On Tuesday, club captain and forward Sebastian Guenzatti will continue to call Tampa Bay and Al Lang Stadium home after agreeing to a new contract.
“”I’m so excited to be back home and looking forward to another year here in Tampa Bay,” said Guenzatti. “Like always, we’ll leave everything out there on the field to put this club in a great position again. We’ve created a very good group, a family. The new guys coming in, I know they’re going to do a great job as well. The coaches have done a great job picking all the guys for this year.”
Guenzatti’s talent has been evident to all who have watched the Rowdies in recent seasons, but it was his tenacity and work rate that Rowdies Head Coach Collins was impressed by when he first took charge in 2018. Collins handed the captain’s armband to Guenzatti before the start of the 2019 season and the Uruguayan-born attacker has worn it ever since.
This past season, Guenzatti became one of a select few in the Rowdies modern era to appear in over 100 matches for the Green and Gold. He now ranks third with 125 appearances since 2017.
“Seba has been pivotal in all the success this team has had over the previous two seasons,” said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. “It would be easy to just forget how hard he has worked to make it possible. It is this work ethic that encapsulates everything it should mean to play for the Rowdies. Hard work, team first, and a never say die mentality. I am delighted that Seba will continue to lead this team on and off the field for the future.”
Guenzatti, 30, had a career-year in 2021, leading the Rowdies with 22 goals, besting the club record of 19 goals he set himself back in 2019. With 58 total goals since joining the Rowdies in 2017, Guenzatti is just three goals away from surpassing club legend Georgi Hristov as the club’s all-time leading scorer.
With Guenzatti confirmed to return, the Rowdies have four strikers on the roster with 50 or more goals in the USL Championship. Returning forwards Steevan Dos Santos and Lucky Mkosana, as well as newcomer Kyle Greig have all proven themselves to be consistent scoring threats throughout the years. Last year’s Rowdies squad finished the year with 65 goals, which was tied for second-most tallies in the USL.
The Rowdies have now secured the return of 15 players from last year’s team, which finished with the best record in the regular season and claimed the club’s second straight Eastern Conference title. With the addition of four new players so far, the Rowdies roster stands at 19 players. Announcements regarding new signings will be made soon.
Confirmed 2022 Rowdies Roster so far:
Goalkeepers: Raiko Arozarena.
Defenders: Jordan Scarlett, Aaron Guillen, Timmy Mehl.
Midfielders: Conner Antley, Lewis Hilton, Laurence Wyke, Yann Ekra, Leo Fernandes, Sebastian Dalgaard, Dayonn Harris, Jake Areman, Junior Etou.
Forwards: Steevan Dos Santos, Lucky Mkosana, Juan Tejada, Jordan Adebayo-Smith, Kyle Greig, Sebastian Guenzatti.
The USL Championship recently unveiled the full 2022 schedule for all 34 teams across the league. Following their season opener at Birmingham Legion FC on Sunday, March 13, the Rowdies will kick off their slate of 17 home matches with a matchup against Indy Eleven on Saturday, March 19. The best way for fans to ensure they don’t miss a second of the action at Al Lang Stadium is by securing season tickets today. Packages start as low as $170 for all 17 home games and can be purchased by calling 727-222-000 or by visiting https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/tickets.
