FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2019
Contact: Bernadette O’Donnell
Tormenta FC 2 Kicks off Player Signings for 2019 Season
Team will Host Round One of US Open Cup May 7
With Tormenta FC’s first professional season well underway, Tormenta FC 2 has now kicked off its player announcements for the upcoming season. Tormenta 2 has signed forward JJ Donnelly, defender Juan Pablo Puelma, defender Jordan Skelton and midfielder Christian Lue Young to its USL League Two team, pending league and federation approval.
This is Tormenta FC’s fourth year yielding a League Two team, and eleven players from its 2018 League Two squad moved up to this year’s professional team. Tormenta FC 2 will continue developing young talent and will serve as the connecting piece between Tormenta FC Academy and the professional team.
“The Deep South Division looks set to be very competitive yet again this summer and that has a lot to do with what South Georgia Tormenta FC 2 is putting together in Statesboro,” League Two Director of Operations and Technical Development, Jason Collister said. “The players that have been brought in for the 2019 USL League Two season will be placed in a great environment that will challenge them and allow them to grow and develop on a consistent basis under Head Coach Ian Cameron. We’re looking forward to watching this group compete and try to repeat as division champions and possibly add a deep run into the playoffs.”
Hailing from London, England, forward JJ Donnelly played for Brentford FC’s academy for 6 years growing up. Donnelly graduates this year from Campbell University with an accounting degree. While on Campbell’s men’s soccer team, he helped them win the Big South Conference in 2018. In 2017, he was named Big South Attacking Player of the Week twice and ranked 12th in the country for goals with a total of thirteen.
“JJ enjoyed a successful college career, and we’re excited to see how he can develop his game for the next level,” League Two Head Coach Ian Cameron said.
Juan Pablo Puelma is a defender from Vina del Mar, Chile. Like a number of Tormenta players, Puelma attended Palm Beach Atlantic University. There, he captained the men’s soccer team and made the All-Conference Tournament Team his senior year. In 2017, he played for Midland-Odessa FC and helped the team reach the NPSL finals. While growing up in Chile, he spent ten years with Everton of Chile’s youth academy. “Juan Pablo is a modern outside-back with the technical proficiency to play down the right side in a back four or as a wing-back,” Cameron said.
“I am extremely happy to join Tormenta FC 2, as I have heard it is an awesome club, full of great people,” Puelma said. “Also, I am sure that this is the best way for me to get a pro contract in the future which is the main reason why I chose to sign with Tormenta FC 2.”
“Jordan Skelton is a natural leader and someone we expect to be part of Tormenta for many years to come,” Coach Cameron said. At six foot four and 190 pounds, Skelton played for Mississippi Brilla FC for two years where he was named PDL Defender of the year and appeared on the PDL All-League team in 2018. The Englishman captained the Lander University men’s soccer team and made the All-American team in both 2017 and 2018.
“I am excited to sign with Tormenta 2 and am looking forward to the up and coming season,” Skelton said. “I choose Tormenta FC because of the high quality and professional standards.”
Christian Lue Young is a cybersecurity major at Akron University, graduating in 2020. The winger played for Akron during its MAC championship in 2017 and helped the team reach the NCAA Tournament finals in 2018, where they were runner-up.
“Chris Lue arrives having been part of an Akron team that played some outstanding soccer this season on their way to the College Cup,” Cameron said. “He has speed and versatility, and he is used to being part of a competitive environment. We’re excited to help develop these guys and share their talents with our fans and community.”
Tormenta FC 2 will host League One team, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, for Round One of the US Open Cup on May 7 at 8 pm in Erk Russell Park. The team’s first regular season match is against Peachtree City MOBA on May 11 at home at 8 pm.
For additional information and scheduling interviews, call (478-508-2604) or email: bodonnell@https://www.tormentafc.com.
