Tampa Bay and Miami swap keepers
Hamid for Campisi
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have acquired veteran goalkeeper and former United States international Bill Hamid in a transfer from fellow USL Championship club Miami FC. The move, which also sent goalkeeper Nicolas Campisi to Miami, sees both players registered and eligible for the weekend. This is positive for both sides who are increasingly desperate for results - Miami and Tampa Bay occupy two of the bottom three spots in USL Championship Eastern Conference.
Hamid, 34, brings a wealth of experience to Tampa Bay, having spent 17 seasons as a professional. He joins the club after a solid run with Miami FC, where he recorded five shutouts in 21 appearances since February. Of late however, he has been fighting injuries.
Rowdies Head Coach Dominic Casciato expressed his satisfaction with the acquisition, stating, "We felt this was an area of the field where we needed to strengthen things up, and this move does that. Bill is experienced, and he has a lot of quality. He’s been doing well at Miami this season. So we’re happy to bring him in, and I definitely think he makes us better.”
Hamid is best known for his long and successful tenure with Major League Soccer's D.C. United, where he became the first academy player to sign a professional contract with the club. During his time there, he became one of the club's most decorated goalkeepers, notching 89 shutouts in 297 appearances and earning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2014. He was also part of the U.S. Men’s National Team that won the Concacaf Gold Cup in both 2013 and 2017.
As for Campisi, he started the season as the Rowdies starter but was benched in May and has seen limited action since. His mistakes were costly early in the season costing the Rowdies points in Las Vegas and potentially in other matches as well.
But Miami FC sees in Campisi a keeper that will be fit - Hamid’s injuries have forced Miami FC into using Felipe Rodriguez, an Academy player and the inexperienced Rafael Martell, a 21-year old German keeper with a grand total of 45 minutes of meaningful professional experience.
My understanding is Campisi is likely the starter for Miami FC beginning tonight in Indianapolis. As for Hamid, he will compete with Ethan Bandre for the top spot between the pipes with Tampa Bay. I’d expect Bandre to start tonight in Detroit.