(Savannah, December 16, 2015) — Tormenta FC is delighted to announce the appointment of Borja Pérez as its first-ever Head Coach. The soccer expansion franchise was announced as the Premier Development League’s newest member in August of this year. The team will begin its inaugural season in May 2016.
The role as head coach for Borja Pérez, which formally begins in January 2016, will work closely with Darin Van Tassell, Tormenta FC’s Owner and President, and General Manager Ben Freakley as they prepare for their inaugural season. Pérez will also work closely with the local Storm Soccer Academy – which will exist under the umbrella of Tormenta FC – under the guidance of Tormenta’s Owner and General Partner, Jeremy Aven.
Pérez comes to Georgia from a storied coaching career in Europe, where he currently serves as the Head Technical Coach for the S.D. Basurto soccer club – as well as the Head Fitness Coach for the Sestao River Club — both located in Bilbao, Spain. He has a Level Two Foundation Degree in Soccer from the National Centre of Soccer Coaches (CENAFE) in Madrid, Spain. Perez is a graduate of the University of León with a degree in Exercise and Health Science.
“Today marks another important step in our franchise history,” said Van Tassell. “Borja brings such an impressive resume to Tormenta FC. The Statesboro and Savannah community will benefit from his presence, and our players will be so fortunate to have him guiding our sidelines. “Borja’s successes at the European level with training, technical emphasis, strategy, and fitness are exceptional.” Aven added, “Having him leading our PDL players on their path to professional soccer – as well as his influence on our youth players to play at the highest of levels – quickly makes Tormenta FC one of the more unique and comprehensive soccer programs in the South. Watching soccer is the missing ingredients for so many youth players in this country. The youth and adults in the area that are passionate about the sport are eager to embrace a minor-league atmosphere. Tormenta FC will fill that void in this market in the summer. Our community loves soccer, and we now hope they will grow to love Tormenta FC as their team.”
The team name was announced in October. “Tormenta” is the Spanish name for storm, representing the tormenting the club will bring to its opponents and the intense force of nature its players seek to embody. The centerpiece of the logo is the glossy ibis, a local bird known for its bravery. The ibis is the last to take cover in a storm and the first to return after a storm has passed. The ibis is leading a storm and looming over all things soccer in South Georgia. Midnight Navy, Sky Blue, Silver and Magenta make up the club’s new official colors, paying tribute to the storm in the sky, storm in the ocean, and passion for soccer in the community.
The South Georgia team will begin play in May with the start of the 2016 PDL season. The club will play its inaugural season on the campus of Georgia Southern University. The PDL season features a 14-game regular season schedule with seven home games.
The PDL is operated by the United Soccer League (USL), the strongest U.S. men’s professional soccer league below Major League Soccer (MLS). Since its inception, the PDL’s chief goal has been to help develop players to play in the professional ranks. Among its alumni are current U.S. National Team players such as Brad Guzan, who was the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 2004, and DeAndre Yedlin, who was an All-League selection in 2012. Other former PDL standouts, including Gyasi Zardes, Brad Evans, Tim Ream and Graham Zusi, were members of the United States’ squad for the 2015 Gold Cup, while up-and-coming players such as Matt Hedges, Sean Johnson, Darlington Nagbe and Andrew Farrell also previously starred in the league.
The league has also been the home for standout performers across Major League Soccer, including 2015 MLS All-Stars Dax McCarty of the New York Red Bulls, Kei Kamara of Columbus Crew SC and Tony Beltran of Real Salt Lake. The past four MLS Rookie of the Year selections have also been PDL alumni, the most recent being former Real Colorado Foxes forward Tesho Akindele of FC Dallas.
The league has consistently been a proving ground for top young North American players, with 70 percent of those selected in the MLS SuperDraft during the past six seasons having had PDL experience as they moved toward their professional careers.
