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South Georgia Tormenta FC are winners of the 2022 USL League One title, as well as the USL W League title, and have been nominated by members of Protagonist Soccer’s staff as a Club of the Year candidate for their phenomenal achievement. Tormenta went into the League One Final as the number #3 seed and defeated #6 Charlotte Independence, then #2 Greenville Triumph to get there. Their opponent, Chattanooga Red Wolves, had an equally excited playoff run - they were the #4 and defeated #5 Union Omaha and the highly regarded regular season champions, #1 Richmond Kickers, to get into the Final.

Usually in a final you get two teams who play not to lose, but they went after one another from the first whistle. Kazaiah Sterling struck first, from the penalty spot in the 35’, to give the home side the lead. Just before the half, Alexander Tejera struck back in the 45+3’, to bring Chattanooga on equal terms. Despite a handful of good chances, neither team could capitalize and the fixture looked destined for extra time, until Kazaiah Sterling received the ball through traffic, made a deft move through the channel on left hand side and drew in a few defenders with a short run toward the top of the box - he found space out right and sent a through ball into the channel on the right where Jamil Roberts was making a run which caught the Red Wolves’ defenders by surprise. What happened next will give them nightmares until next season begins - Roberts struck the ball one-time with his left and blasted it into the back of the net for the winner in the 82’

When the final whistle blew, the sides were nearly even by every measure but the home side were able to treat their fans to a championship in their home stadium. South Georgia Tormenta FC are the fourth different champion in the league’s four years of existence. They’ll look to be the first to win back-to-back USL League titles in 2023, but will face an expanded league as both Lexington Sporting Club and One Knoxville SC join the league.

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The USLPA and USL announced, effective immediately, as of November 3, 2022 - that a Collective Bargaining Agreement has been ratified by both the USL Board of Governors as well as the USL Players Association. The CBA is a historic first for USL League One specifically and the agreement is set to last for five years.

More than just an initial CBA for USLL1, this is an historic first for third division men’s soccer in the America’s, according to the league’s website. “[the CBA] defines the standards by which players are signed and employed… the League One CBA establishes a minimum compensation structure and new standards for player contracts, per diem rates and appearances. The CBA also includes new requirements for working condition standards and grievance procedures.”

USL Championship set a similar Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2021 and both the league as well as the Players Association are proud of the accomplishment, “The USLPA would like to credit the USL and its League One Clubs for their collaborative approach to the bargaining process. We would also like to thank our dedicated legal team and CWA for their unwavering support throughout the process. Most of all, we are grateful for our committed player pool who are constantly striving to improve the sport.”

by Joshua Duder