Orlando City SC’s summer recruitment drive currently stands at seven new faces after Antonio Matarazzo and Tobenna Uzo were selected as the Lions’ next picks in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
Selected in the third and fourth rounds, 22-year-old midfielder Matarazzo arrives from Columbia University while 21-year-old Nigerian striker Tobenna Uzo checks in from Coastal Carolina.
The duo’s inception as the latest Lions comes hot on the heels of Adrian Heath’s team selecting Richie Laryea and Hadji Barry as the seventh and thirteenth picks overall back on January 14th.
>> MLS SUPERDRAFT RULES EXPLAINED HERE <<
It seems clearly apparent that both Matarazzo and Uzo may be linking up with Anthony Pulis’ Orlando City B this term with the Orlando Sentinel’s Paul Tenorio having made the point that many of the Lions’ summer additions have been made with a nod to the future.
>> CLICK HERE FOR ANTONIO MATARAZZO’S PROFILE <<
In Mason Stajduhar, Laryea, Barry and the latest two additions, there has been a clear focus upon recruiting youth this off-season while it is only really Joe Bendik and Kevin Alston that are expected to contest a place in Heath’s starting eleven for the here and now.
>> CLICK HERE FOR TOBENNA UZO’S PROFILE <<
Nevertheless, coach Heath pointed out in his comments that Orlando City B provides an alternative developmental path that didn’t exist for the likes of Conor Donovan last term.
Heath said: “Well I think the good thing is we have that alternative option for them (Matarazzo & Uzo).
We wish both Matarazzo and Uzo the very best of luck as they embark on their new careers in the Lions fraternity!
You can welcome Tobenna Uzo to the club right now by hitting him up on Twitter at @Aye_Tobyy!