Kalamazoo FC

KZFC
Full name Kalamazoo Football Club
Founded 2015
Stadium Soisson-Rapacz-Clason Field, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Capacity 2,200
Owner Mike Garrett
President Mike Garrett
Manager Brian Clements
League NPSL
Website Club website

Kalamazoo FC (KZFC) is a semi-professional soccer club from Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The club competes in the National Premier Soccer League, the fourth-tier soccer league of the American soccer pyramid. Soisson-Rapacz-Clason Field (also known as Mayor's Riverfront Stadium) serves as the club's home venue.[1] It has a capacity for 2,200 spectators.

Current season

2018 NPSL Great Lakes Conference Standings

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 AFC Ann Arbor (C, Q) 12 9 1 2 31 4 +27 29 Midwest Region Semifinal
2 Grand Rapids FC (Q) 12 7 3 2 29 14 +15 23 Midwest Region Quarterfinal
3 FC Columbus 12 6 4 2 27 11 +16 20
4 Detroit City FC 12 5 4 3 36 15 +21 18
5 Kalamazoo FC 12 4 5 3 22 25 −3 15
6 Milwaukee Torrent 12 3 5 4 17 22 −5 13
7 FC Indiana 12 0 12 0 4 75 −71 0
Source: NPSL standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head to head; 3) goal differential in head to head results; 4) wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) fewest losses; 7) coin toss. If three or more teams are tied on points, a mini-table involving only the tied teams is used, and teams are ranked in the mini-table on points. If two teams are tied on points in the mini-table, the two-team rules for classification apply. If three or more teams are tied on points in the mini-table, they are ranked based on 1) wins in conference competition; 2) total goal differential in conference competition; 3) fewest losses in conference competition; 4) coin toss.
(C) Champion; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Players

Roster

[2] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 United States GK Elijah Michaels
2 France DF Jean Carre
3 United States DF Jordan Veillette
5 United States DF Carson Brinks
6 United States MF Kyle Hernandez
7 Brazil MF Vini Schwindt
8 United States MF Nick King
9 Niger FW Lawan Arbary
10 Zimbabwe FW Dumisani Manyange
11 Brazil MF Lucas Malaguez
12 United States FW Janum Sailor
13 United States MF Esteban Russell
14 United States MF Yovany Duran
16 United States DF Luke Morrell
No. Position Player
17 United States MF Donovan Michael
19 United States DF Jonathon Nord
20 United States MF Mason Darling
21 United States MF Cameron Sipple
22 United States MF Josh Robison
23 France MF Arthur Prunis
26 United States MF Ryan Melgar
27 United States MF Jeo Garcia
29 France FW Paul Liagre
37 United States MF David Magallon
44 United States MF Nick Le
45 United States GK Hasten Biddlecome
46 United States DF Dylan Fillwock

Reserves

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
15 United States FW Joe Higashi
18 Argentina MF Martin Blanc
25 United States GK Jared Hazen
28 United States MF Jarvis D'Souza
33 United States DF Cody Clapper

Players

  • Brandon Bye – MF, Drafted 8th overall in 2017 MLS draft

Updated June 2018

Team history

2015

Kalamazoo FC was founded by local businessman Mike Garrett. On December 21, 2015 the club was officially named "Kalamazoo FC" as stated in an email by the team owner. By doing so the club became the sixth and newest member of the NPSL from the state of Michigan.[3]

2016

KZFC played its first official game of its inaugural campaign as the visiting team to AFC Ann Arbor on May 13 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The match outcome would result in a 2–1 loss to AFC Ann Arbor. The first goal in Kalamazoo FC franchise history came in the thirty-second minute from Midfielder Jose Garcia to put the visiting team ahead 1–0.

The first victory in franchise history took place on May 22 against NPSL powerhouse side Detroit City FC in front of a crowd of 1,585 spectators.[4]

The series with the Michigan Stars was the only series where Kalamazoo FC was able to win both matches and the Ann Arbor series was the only series where KZFC lost both matches, all other series were split with the opponent.

Brandon Bye led team with 5 goals this season and was followed by Jose Garcia and Jay Mcintosh who each tallied 3 goals.

During the end of the season banquet the team gave out awards to Beau Prey who was awarded the Supports Player of the Season who was voted on by season ticket holders. Offensive Player of the Season went to Amadou Cisse and the Defensive Player of the Season was awarded to Lou Plascencia. David Whitaker who was the team captain that season was also voted the Overall Excellence award by the coaching staff based on his defensive and leadership abilities shown during the season.

The team would end the season with a record of 4–6–2 and finish 6th in the Great Lakes Conference.

The 2016 team featured Western Michigan University's Brandon Bye who would go on to be the 8th overall pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft to the New England Revolution.

2017

Coach Lumumba Shabazz returned as Head Coach for the 2017 season. Coach Shabazz added Brian Clements to the staff as his first assistant. Assistant Coach Jacob Puente also returned for the 2017 season. Another new edition to the coaching staff was Nick Losiewski.

Kalamazoo FC opened the 2017 season on the road at Ann Arbor FC and suffered a 2–0 loss to the eventual division winner. Kalamazoo FC also played Ann Arbor FC for their first home game of the season and once again fell to Ann Arbor by a score of 2–0.

Kalamazoo FC played two exhibition matches during the 2017 season. One against La Liga Latina and the other against Oakland County FC. La Liga Latina is a member of a predominantly Hispanic League that is considered to be one of the top leagues in Southwest Michigan. Kalamazoo FC would go on to beat them by a score of 4–1. Oakland County FC is an amateur team who is a member of the Premier League of America and Kalamazoo FC would win the match by a score of 3–0.

In the 2017 season Kalamazoo beat two teams both home and away. Those teams were Lansing United and Milwaukee FC. Kalamazoo won the matches against Lansing by the scores of 3–0 and 4–1. Kalamazoo defeated Milwaukee by scores of 3–2 and 2–1.

Kalamazoo FC would end the 2017 campaign with a record of 5–6–3 and finished 5th in the conference. Some end of the season awards went to Fuad "Ade" Adeniyi as the Supporters’ Player of the Season and Offensive Player of the Season. Alex Ruddock took home the award for Defensive Player of the Season and Tommy Clark was given the Overall Excellence Award.

2018

Kalamazoo FC hired Brian Clements as the teams’ head coach for the 2018 NPSL season.

Kalamazoo FC will once again participate in the 2018 Michigan Milk Cup as a Pot 1 team and will face Force FC from Pot 2.

Team Awards

2016

  • Offensive Player of the Season – Amadou Case
  • Defensive Player of the Season – Lou Plascencia
  • Supporters Player of the Season – Beau Prey
  • Overall Excellence Award – David Whitaker

2017

  • Offensive Player of the Season – Fuad "Ade" Adeniyi
  • Defensive Player of the Season – Alex Ruddock
  • Supporters Player of the Season – Fuad "Ade" Adeniyi
  • Overall Excellence Award – Tommy Clark

Year-by-year

Year Tier League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Average
Attendance
2016 4 NPSL 6th of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes West (4–6–2) Did not qualify Ineligible 1,200
2017 4 NPSL 5th of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes (5–6–3) Did not qualify Did not qualify 1,000

References

  1. ↑ "Kalamazoo FC to play home games of inaugural season at Mayors' Riverfront Park". Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "'Kalamazoo FC' tabbed as name for new National Premier Soccer League team". Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  4. ↑ "Kalamazoo FC tops Detroit City FC for first win in club history". Retrieved 2016-07-08.
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