Tormenta FC’s Roster Begins to Take Shape Ahead of a Pivotal Season
After an electric second half of the season last year, Tormenta FC’s roster is slowly starting to come together, and fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about how this team is shaping up. As with any offseason, familiar faces are moving on to new opportunities, marking the end of an era for some fan favorites.
Departing Players
Mason Tunbridge (CAM) → Miami FC
Taylor Gray (LW) → FC Naples
Austin Pack (GK) → Tampa Bay Rowdies
Gabriel Cabral (CM) → Union Omaha
Makel Rasheed (CB) → Indy Eleven
Callum Stretch (CB/RB) → Sarasota Paradise
Sebastian Vivas (ST) → Free Agent
Oscar Jimenez (WB) → Free Agent
Gabriel Alves (LB) → Free Agent
Aaron Walker (CM) → Free Agent
Thabo Nare (CB) → Free Agent
Justin Malou (CB, loaned from North Carolina FC) → Free Agent
Jackson Silva Kasanze (CB/RB) → Free Agent
Joseph Perez (CB/LB) → Free Agent
Handwalla Bwana (W) → Free Agent
Jonathan Nyandjo (ST) → Free Agent
This is a LOT of roster turnover, most notably with the loss of Austin Pack in goal. The former USL1 Goalkeeper of the Year saved countless points for the Ibises and deserved his promotion to the USL Championship with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Mason Tunbridge also deserved a promotion, being transferred to Miami FC after a 13 goal, 6 assist season. Sebastian Vivas (16 goals/assists in two seasons), a valuable starter or super sub up front, is expected to sign with another USL club. Add in Taylor Gray’s move to FC Naples, and nearly the entirety of Tormenta’s attack needs replacing.
For the rest of the lineup, the loss of Gabriel Cabral in the midfield is notable, along with starting left back Gabriel Alves and starting center back Jackson Silva Kasanze. Alves is expected to sign with a USL Championship club.
While saying goodbye to players the fans grew to know and love is never easy, continuity remains an important part of Tormenta’s identity. Leading that continuity is Mr. Statesboro himself, Sam Jones, who has been part of the Tormenta system for the past 10 years. He’s joined by Yaniv Bazini, captain Conor Doyle, Anatolie Prepelita—returning after missing most of last season due to an early knee injury—and Keaton Pray, who joined the squad in August.
Key Additions Bring a Ton of Experience
Tormenta has also made several eye-catching additions, including players arriving from the USL Championship and the reigning back-to-back Goalkeeper of the Year. These moves should give fans real optimism heading into another big season—especially with the attacking power coming into the squad.
Sean Lewis arrives as one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in the league. The 33-year-old Michigan native played college soccer at Oakland University before beginning a professional career that includes stops in the NASL and the USL Championship with FC Tulsa and Indy Eleven. He later joined One Knoxville in 2023, where he truly flourished.
FC Tulsa: 11 clean sheets in 62 matches
One Knoxville: 28 clean sheets in 79 matches
Goals allowed per game: 0.96
Winning Goalkeeper of the Year in back-to-back seasons, Lewis immediately raises both the floor and ceiling of Tormenta’s defense.
Lucca Dourado, a 25-year-old Brazilian forward, joins after a productive loan spell with Forward Madison from Birmingham Legion. After finishing his college career at UCF—where he scored an impressive 43 goals in 69 matches—Dourado signed with Legion in January. He made limited appearances before moving to Madison, where he tallied 8 goals and 2 assists in 22 matches. His pace and finishing should pair well with Bazini and Niall Reid-Stephen, forming a dangerous attacking trio.
In midfield, Andrew Booth adds experience and bite. The 28-year-old Jamaican midfielder arrives from FC Tulsa, where he spent the past two seasons. Originally drafted by Minnesota United but unsigned, Booth has built a strong USL résumé with Greenville Triumph, Charleston Battery, Miami FC, and Tulsa. While he isn’t known for high goal totals, Booth excels at chance creation—and when he does pull the trigger, he brings serious power.
Defensively, Moses Mensah strengthens the back line. The 27-year-old Ghanaian began his career with WA All Stars in the Ghana Premier League, helping them win the league title in his second season. He later moved to the U.S. to attend Campbell University, earning All-Conference First Team honors in all four years as a defender. Drafted by Real Salt Lake in 2023 but unsigned, Mensah made his mark with Birmingham Legion, where his defensive work played a key role in their best-ever USL Championship season and a run to the US Open Cup quarterfinals.
Still Awaiting Decisions
There are still a few unanswered questions as the offseason continues. Chief among them is the status of Niall Reid-Stephen, Tormenta’s 2025 team goals leader. In his first season with the club, he recorded 16 goals and 10 assists across all competitions, making his return a priority.
Alon Drey, a defensive midfielder who joined last season, also remains undecided. Primarily used as a rotational player, he impressed with his ability to win duels and clear danger. Additionally, Shafer Gottlieb, a 19-year-old Tormenta Academy product, continues to develop after signing with the first team last year. Though he didn’t make an appearance, his work ethic and presence around the squad suggest his debut may not be far off if he returns.
Projected Lineup
Starting from the back, Lewis and Mensah will be shoe-in starters to replaces Pack and Alves. Prepelita started at LCB for the club early in the season before his injury, but future signings in the defense will determine if he starts or comes off the bench. Future signings are expected and desperately needed, with no clear starters at RCB and RB and no backups.
Club captain Conor Doyle is another shoe-in starter, but who will start next to him in midfield is still in the air. While Andrew Booth has vast USL experience, he did not make many appearances for FC Tulsa last season, so competition may be brought in to fill Gabriel Cabral’s vacancy.
In the attack, Dourado is expected to play on the left side with Bazini as the true #9. Reid-Stephen will be the team’s best player and lead the attack if he does return, but who would play on his right side is to be determined.
There’s still work to be done, and only time will tell how these pieces come together. But one thing is clear: Tormenta FC is moving in the right direction, with the depth, experience, and ambition needed to make another strong push toward the playoffs this season.