TULSA – FC Tulsa is halfway through its 2021 season, and we are halfway through our Midseason Watch List series. Before we get to today’s piece, let us catch you up if you missed either of the first two entries in our four-part series.
Tuesday – Midseason Offensive Player of the Year
Wednesday – Midseason Defensive Player of the Year
Today, we are going to break down the race for Newcomer of the Year. Before we do…a quick disclaimer. Three FC Tulsa players returned to the franchise this past offseason after previously having spent time with the club: Joaquín Rivas (2017-2018 with the Roughnecks), Jorge Corrales (2017) and Mo Jadama (2017). While technically all three are “new” to FC Tulsa, for the purposes of this piece, we will only look at players who stepped onto the ONEOK Field pitch in 2021 for the very first time in a Tulsa jersey.
With that out of the way, on to the Watch List!
FRONT RUNNER – Kembo Kibato
It’s sometimes easy to forget that Kibato is just 20 years old and playing his second season of professional soccer. With a preseason injury to USL Championship legend Lebo Moloto and an in-season minor knock to Eric Bird, Kibato has had to pick up the slack in the central midfield. He’s made 14 appearances with nine starts and has accrued 856 minutes, the 11th most on the club.
The loanee from Rio Grande Valley FC has scored two goals, added an assist and looked the part of a USL Championship veteran despite having less than one full season’s worth of appearances as a professional player (26).
He is a well-rounded center mid as well, as he ranks in the top seve on FC Tulsa in blocks, tackles and tackles won defensively. His 86.7% passing accuracy is the highest of any FC Tulsa player, and he is the only player that isn’t a “true attacker” with multiple goals for FC Tulsa in 2020.
While he may not always be in the Starting XI, look for Kibato to continue to play a key role for FC Tulsa – like he did when scoring the final goal in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Birmingham Legion FC.
RUNNER UP – Austin Wormell
When FC Tulsa signed Wormell off Rogers State University’s roster in February, right in the middle of his senior season, the hope was that the Tulsa native would fill out the goalkeeping corps and possibly develop into a starting keeper in down the road. No one could have guessed that opportunity would come just nine matches into the 2021 season.
That surprising progression is credit to Wormell’s talent and hard work with Tulsa throughout the preseason and regular season as he made his way up the depth chart.
He recorded his first professional victory in his first start, recorded his first clean sheet in his second and has already claimed a win over Central Division leaders Louisville City FC this season. Not bad for a rookie.
While Wormell still has plenty of room to grow, it’s nice to know that FC Tulsa has two solid keepers in net with Wormell and Sean Lewis.
HONORABLE MENTION – Lucas Coutinho
Coming from Tormenta FC in USL League One, Coutinho was another offseason signing who flew under the radar amongst USL Championship fans. Those who had seen him in League One, however, knew better.
While he remains buried a bit on the depth chart, behind others who can play attacking midfielder such as Rodrigo da Costa, Joaquín Rivas and Lebo Moloto, Coutinho has made the most of his limited minutes. He’s totaled 182 minutes in seven appearances with two starts.
In those 182 minutes this season, Coutinho has one goal and one assist to go along with five chances created. While it’s a much smaller sample size, Coutinho creates one chance every 36 minutes, a number that’s better than even da Costa, who creates one every 44 minutes.
DARK HORSE – Jason Johnson
Yes, we know he’s only just arrived and had two appearances, but if Saturday’s match was any indication, “JJ” will move quickly up this list. Johnson has one come on as a sub in his debut and then made his first start. In only 88 total minutes across those two matches, Johnson has one assist, three shots and three chances created. If not for a slightly heavy touch while rounding the Birmingham keeper on Saturday, he would have had a goal to add to that as well.
The striker formerly of Phoenix Rising and Louisville City has looked as good as advertised and could be a major force for FC Tulsa down the stretch in 2021.
With still 16 matches left, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Johnson play his way not only into being the Newcomer of the Year, but also into the Offensive Player of the Year race as well.
Okay, just one more to go! Stay tuned tomorrow as we look at the best Moments of the Year at the midseason.
TULSA – FC Tulsa is halfway through its 2021 season, and we are halfway through our Midseason Watch List series. Before we get to today’s piece, let us catch you up if you missed either of the first two entries in our four-part series.
Tuesday – Midseason Offensive Player of the Year
Wednesday – Midseason Defensive Player of the Year
Today, we are going to break down the race for Newcomer of the Year. Before we do…a quick disclaimer. Three FC Tulsa players returned to the franchise this past offseason after previously having spent time with the club: Joaquín Rivas (2017-2018 with the Roughnecks), Jorge Corrales (2017) and Mo Jadama (2017). While technically all three are “new” to FC Tulsa, for the purposes of this piece, we will only look at players who stepped onto the ONEOK Field pitch in 2021 for the very first time in a Tulsa jersey.
With that out of the way, on to the Watch List!
FRONT RUNNER – Kembo Kibato
It’s sometimes easy to forget that Kibato is just 20 years old and playing his second season of professional soccer. With a preseason injury to USL Championship legend Lebo Moloto and an in-season minor knock to Eric Bird, Kibato has had to pick up the slack in the central midfield. He’s made 14 appearances with nine starts and has accrued 856 minutes, the 11th most on the club.
The loanee from Rio Grande Valley FC has scored two goals, added an assist and looked the part of a USL Championship veteran despite having less than one full season’s worth of appearances as a professional player (26).
He is a well-rounded center mid as well, as he ranks in the top seve on FC Tulsa in blocks, tackles and tackles won defensively. His 86.7% passing accuracy is the highest of any FC Tulsa player, and he is the only player that isn’t a “true attacker” with multiple goals for FC Tulsa in 2020.
While he may not always be in the Starting XI, look for Kibato to continue to play a key role for FC Tulsa – like he did when scoring the final goal in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Birmingham Legion FC.
RUNNER UP – Austin Wormell
When FC Tulsa signed Wormell off Rogers State University’s roster in February, right in the middle of his senior season, the hope was that the Tulsa native would fill out the goalkeeping corps and possibly develop into a starting keeper in down the road. No one could have guessed that opportunity would come just nine matches into the 2021 season.
That surprising progression is credit to Wormell’s talent and hard work with Tulsa throughout the preseason and regular season as he made his way up the depth chart.
He recorded his first professional victory in his first start, recorded his first clean sheet in his second and has already claimed a win over Central Division leaders Louisville City FC this season. Not bad for a rookie.
While Wormell still has plenty of room to grow, it’s nice to know that FC Tulsa has two solid keepers in net with Wormell and Sean Lewis.
HONORABLE MENTION – Lucas Coutinho
Coming from Tormenta FC in USL League One, Coutinho was another offseason signing who flew under the radar amongst USL Championship fans. Those who had seen him in League One, however, knew better.
While he remains buried a bit on the depth chart, behind others who can play attacking midfielder such as Rodrigo da Costa, Joaquín Rivas and Lebo Moloto, Coutinho has made the most of his limited minutes. He’s totaled 182 minutes in seven appearances with two starts.
In those 182 minutes this season, Coutinho has one goal and one assist to go along with five chances created. While it’s a much smaller sample size, Coutinho creates one chance every 36 minutes, a number that’s better than even da Costa, who creates one every 44 minutes.
DARK HORSE – Jason Johnson
Yes, we know he’s only just arrived and had two appearances, but if Saturday’s match was any indication, “JJ” will move quickly up this list. Johnson has one come on as a sub in his debut and then made his first start. In only 88 total minutes across those two matches, Johnson has one assist, three shots and three chances created. If not for a slightly heavy touch while rounding the Birmingham keeper on Saturday, he would have had a goal to add to that as well.
The striker formerly of Phoenix Rising and Louisville City has looked as good as advertised and could be a major force for FC Tulsa down the stretch in 2021.
With still 16 matches left, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Johnson play his way not only into being the Newcomer of the Year, but also into the Offensive Player of the Year race as well.
Okay, just one more to go! Stay tuned tomorrow as we look at the best Moments of the Year at the midseason.
