ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The Tampa Bay Rowdies have agreed to send goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena on loan to USL League One side Forward Madison SC. In return, the Rowdies have received Forward Madison goalkeeper Phil Breno on loan. Both clubs retain the right to recall the loans.
Now in his second year in Tampa Bay, Arozarena has made four starts for the Rowdies in the USL Championship season this year, in addition to two starts for the club in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With CJ Cochran handling starting duties over the last two months during the team’s unbeaten run, Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins is keen to see Arozarena continue to receive consistent minutes in net.
“Since I’ve taken this job, (Rowdies Goalkeepers Coach) Stuart Dobson and I have always discussed how difficult it is to be a number two goalkeeper,” said Collins. “We’ve had potential in that position, but they’ve not really been able to improve because the only real way they can improve is by playing games. This is really the first time that we’ve really had a great opportunity to get Raiko games. That’s the only way Raiko is going to realize his potential, is by playing games. We’d obviously love to have Raiko here to compete with CJ, but we’re trying to think about the longer term, about Raiko’s development.”
Forward Madison currently sits fourth in the USL League One standings. Breno’s 31 saves in 12 appearances this year is tied for 5th most in the league. The 26-year-old keeper was also Madison’s regular starter in 2021 as well. In total, Breno has made 39 appearances for the Flamingos. Before his current stint in Madison, Breno made 13 starts in all competitions for the USL Championship’s Charleston Battery.
“We think this short-term development will help everyone in the long term,” said Collins. “It helps that Phil Breno is able to come in. He’s played in the USL Championship. He’s played against us. So we’ve got more than able depth should we need it with him.”
Arozarena and Breno have both arrived with the new clubs this week and are available for selection this weekend. The Rowdies travel to face Loudoun United FC this Saturday before returning home to host Atlanta United 2 at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m.
