



RICHMOND, Va. – (Tuesday, February 9, 2021) – The Richmond Kickers have signed defender Esteban Calvo for the 2021 USL League One season, pending league and federation approval.
“We are always looking to improve our club with good people and quality players,” said Darren Sawatzky, Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach. “Esteban represents a young outside back with the ability to get forward and he is not afraid to mix it up within a game. We see him having an immediate impact in the way we want to play while bringing his personality to a competitive locker room.”
Joining the Kickers from USL League One rivals FC Tucson, Calvo played in 14 matches in the 2020 season, starting in all but one of those games. A vital piece in the Tucson backline, Calvo ranked high in several important defensive categories for FC Tucson: he was first on the team in tackles (34) and tackles won (16), second in interceptions (25) and third in clearances (27), blocks (6) and duels won (79). Known for his all-around qualities, Calvo is also a strong distributor of the ball, with an 87 percent completion rate of his passes in 2020.
“It feels like a new opportunity,” commented Calvo. “I am excited to start up a new season in a new team in which I have big expectations based on last year’s results. Darren called me and he was very straight forward about his plans for the team, and I feel we had a connection in the way he wants to play and the way I like to play. I’ve heard a lot about him from my college coaches, and I know for a fact he is a great coach and that makes me feel more comfortable. I feel we both can help each other a lot, that’s what I am striving for and I am eager to start.”
Having played against the Kickers on two occasions last season, Calvo said that he feels like “the team was clinical, taking the opportunities and finishing them. It is a really balanced team all over the field and I know this year we will have a lot of new players so I hope we can all get connected to be the best team we can be.”
A native of Escazu, Costa Rica, Calvo played high school soccer at Montverde Academy in Montverde, FL, contributing to the school’s 154-match unbeaten streak, and won two national championships. In 2016, Calvo was named both Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida and the USA Today All-USA Player of the Year. He played his first two years of NCAA Division 1 soccer at Florida International University, making 29 appearances before transferring to Coach Sawatzky’s alma mater, the University of Portland. Over two seasons with the Pilots, he would go on to play in 33 matches, with 28 starts. The defender scored two goals and added three assists over his final two college seasons.
“For myself, I want to be the best version of me,” concluded Calvo. “Trying to get better to beat myself everyday and being able to help the team in every aspect I can. I know Darren wants me to play in a certain position, but if he needs me somewhere else, I will do the best I can to help there as well. As a team, I definitely want to get to the playoffs. I know we have to do it game by game, but I have high expectations and winning the championship would always be the best result we could aim for. That is always a possibility if we play as a team and have a good culture.”
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RICHMOND, Va. – (Wednesday, February 3, 2021) – The Richmond Kickers have re-signed striker Stanley Alves for the 2021 USL League One season, pending league and federation approval.
“We are looking forward to watching Stanley take the next step in scoring goals regularly with us in 2021,” stated Darren Sawatzky, Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach. “As a rookie, he was clinical during the preseason and was unfortunate to take on an injury early that limited his early season participation. As we progressed through the season, he got stronger and started to show his scoring form, culminating in a good goal against Orlando City B. We see Stanley hitting the onion bag more this year and his character fits with the pillars of our club.”
“I’m excited to be coming back to Richmond for another year under Darren,” said Kwesele. “The energy he brings is infectious and the group has definitely started to take on his DNA which is something that mixes well with the passion of our unique and dedicated fanbase.
“Returning to Richmond was an easy decision because of the dynamic of the group. Last season, we spent a lot of time isolated from regular life in the city so it was key for us to develop stronger bonds within the organization. From the front office to the coaching staff, there are so many genuine people who do a great job of helping the team operate on a daily basis.”
RICHMOND, Va. – (Wednesday, January 6, 2021) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the re-signing of midfielder Matt Bolduc on a multi-year deal starting with the 2021 USL League One season, pending league and federation approval.
“Matt has been a great ambassador and competitor for the Richmond Kickers and we wanted to make sure he was here with us as we build into the future,” said Darren Sawatzky, Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach. “He is a very good attacking player and he creates goals when we need them most. Matt’s vigor and intensity will help the young players understand our culture and he will complement our team in what we are working to accomplish here.”
Bolduc made 14 appearances for the Kickers in his fourth season in Richmond in 2020. The veteran attacker was tied for first in the club for assists with four, making it the second year in a row when he led the team in assists. He also scored one goal — the first of the Sawatzky era — in the season opener at Greenville Triumph SC. A constant threat to the opposing defenders, Bolduc led the team in key passes (11) and chances created (15) while maintaining a passing accuracy of 78 percent, an impressive feat for a winger.
“First off, I’ve always said this, I don’t care how many people we get at City Stadium, these are the best fans in the country, especially in League One,” commented Bolduc. “It feels like yesterday that I signed mid-season while Leigh [Cowlishaw] was still in charge and from then I’ve learned a lot from the experience I had with both him and with David Bulow. Last year, I saw a lot of progression with the club and the team. Finding a more consistent winning mentality and fighting for each other on the pitch are two things Darren has instilled in our group and I can’t wait to start training.”
Starting his Kickers career in 2017, Bolduc signed with the club just after the start of the season, scoring two goals and adding an assist in 15 appearances. He would go on to make 24 appearances over the next two seasons. 2019 became a breakout year for Bolduc, boasting a career-high six assists to lead the club that season.
“Goals for 2021 are pretty simple,” continued Bolduc. “Go one step further than last year. We were a win away from going down to Greenville for the final and in those scenarios it comes down to who shows up on the day. So we go again and look to improve everyday through October.”