Tormenta FC
In an effort to extend our knowledge of all of the leagues who are a part of the beautiful tapestry of lower league soccer, we reached out to Tormenta FC in Statesboro Georgia. Bernadette O’Donnell, Director of Communications and PR took our questions to the appropriate people involved in the various aspects of the club and came back with insightful answers to help us learn more about the club from South Georgia with big ambitions.
Tormenta FC was founded in 2015 and began play in 2016 - why were you founded, what is your mission... and tell us about your amazing bird badge!
“I was involved with the International Baseball Federation from 1989 – 2010, and during that time I was fortunate enough to be in three Olympics, two World Cups, four Continental Championships, and two World Baseball Classics. I traveled to over 40 countries during this time. So, while the IBAF is a smaller international federation when compared to FIFA, their missions are the same: use the power and global language of sport to build bridges among the people of the world through such competitions. That experience helped me understand that sport is more than just entertainment. And when you couple that experience with what I was witnessing in terms of the growth of soccer in the United States, I knew we could do something big. The USL’s League Two was an ideal place to begin.” Tormenta FC Owner Darin Van Tassell
As for our crest and story, “tormenta” is the Spanish word for storm. In the club’s crest, there is an ibis with cloudy skies and waves underneath. Where the story gets interesting is the meaning of the ibis. On the surface, the ibis is not one that strikes fear. But when you do a little research, you’ll come to find out that this bird is as fierce as they come. The ibis is the last bird to flee when a storm is about to hit. Once the storm has passed, it is the first bird to return back to the area it fled.
Not only is our background story unique, but it embodies what our organization is all about. At our club, we have hard-working people from top to bottom. This includes our owners, front office staff, players, and even fan base. We do not shy away from challenges. We actually invite them. Leadership and paving the way, the Tormenta way, is our identity. We’re committed to showing the rest of the country that our way of building a club is the best way.
In 2019, your first team bumped up to USL League One as the leagues shuffled, then your organization introduced Tormenta 2 in the division you had just vacated - had this always been a part of the plan, or did the league realignment provide a new opportunity?
With the addition of our professional team, it was always the plan to keep our USL League Two team running because it serves as the connecting piece between our Academy and pro team.
This allows us to not only give Statesboro professional soccer but to continue promoting our elite amateur players. It was very important for us to keep our USL League Two team as this provides our region with a clear pathway to the professional game.
Learn More: https://www.tormentafc.com/news_article/show/987720
While your League One side finished mid-table, a few solid players stood out; Marco Micaletto, Alex Morrell, and Pablo Jara. Can we expect them back in 2020 and will first team opportunities for guys like Kobe Perez, Daniel Strachen, Luca Mayr or JJ Donnelly, who led your League Two side to the top of the table, be available? Does USL allow you to move players from roster to roster during the season or all moves supposed to happen during the offseason?
“We have 11 returning members from the 2019 team, including Pablo Jara, and Marco Micaletto. We have signed Luca Mayr to the League One squad and believe he will be a huge addition. JJ is continuing with Greenville Triumph, who signed him in August. Daniel Strachan, along with so many of the other League Two guys, have so much potential and will surely land somewhere when their opportunity comes. We’ll be signing players from Tormenta FC Academy to train with the first team and could make the odd appearance off the bench or in an Open Cup game.” VP of Soccer Operations, Mike Panter
Tell us about the Ibis Foundation - what is its relationship to your club and what has been its largest success so far?
The Ibis Foundation’s main goal is to grow youth soccer across the board. While developing elite players is always the goal of the Academy, the Ibis Foundation looks at ways to help get new players involved, reduce barriers to get quality training out to different areas of South Georgia and the Low Country. Whether it’s programming where we provide the coaching aspect for a low cost, that’s helping the mission of the foundation. Soccer has seen a huge rise in participation from a grassroots level. There are so many different levels of competitiveness and there is a place for anyone at any skill level.
You can read about the Ibis Foundation’s biggest success here: https://www.tormentafc.com/news_article/show/1013970
Currently Tormenta is listed as playing on Eagle Field at Erik Russell Athletic Park, but I read that the club is pursuing a new location. What will your new home look like and when can we expect to see you move into it?
Beginning in 2021, we will move into our new 5,300 seat stadium. Once our stadium is built, we will also house the Men’s and Women’s soccer teams for Georgia Southern University. The stadium plans accommodate big events like concerts and more beyond just soccer season.
“We’re planning and designing the stadium that will be great for us and for the city over the next 25 and 30 years from now. And that takes a minute because you want to get it right. But I can tell you from the developer’s side, it’s all moving 100 percent as fast as it can,” Darin Van Tassell.
https://www.wtoc.com/2019/10/24/tormenta-fc-owners-give-update-new-stadium-retail-shops/
To try to keep up with Tormenta FC, check out their club website: https://www.tormentafc.com/