OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha men's soccer head coach
Bob Warming announced the addition of nine players to the Maverick program on Tuesday.
"I am grateful for the countless hours of work assistant coach
Grant Warming put in watching video, being involved in conversations and making sure we got the right people and players to help us win championships at Omaha," said Warming. "I love this group of wonderful players who are high-character people.
"We are thankful for the commitment that the families and their sons have made to make these players the kind of people that make coaching a team a pleasure," added Warming. "We appreciate the confidence and trust that their club coaches and those who have advised them in the process have demonstrated in our ability to continue the work they have done in their development."
Hugo Kametani | Forward | Kashima, Japan
Kametani enjoyed a decorated career at Pima Community College before joining the Mavericks. In his two seasons, Kametani was named the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division I National Player of the Year, a first-team NJCAA All-American, a first-team United Soccer Coaches All-American, a first-team United Soccer Coaches All-West Region, the ACCAC Region I Player of the Year and a member of the ACCAC Division I National All-Tournament and All-ACCAC Region I teams. In 2018, he scored a program-record 30 goals, including seven game-winners, to help his team win the national championship. Kametani netted nine goals and led his team to a 19-5 record as a freshman in 2017.
Warming's Words: "Hugo is a team-first person. I love this about him. Sometimes guys that score goals and receive deserved accolades put themselves above the team. That is certainly not the case with Hugo. Hugo is a real talent who values the team. He can lead the press, score goals, beat players one-on-one, create chances and works hard for the team. He had a lot of options of places to go to school at top-20 programs in DI and chose Omaha. He has the right mentality to help us win championships."
Fitzroy Cummings | Defender | Clarendon, Jamaica
Cummings joins the Mavericks from Iowa Western. Cummings tallied four goals and an assist for the Reivers in 2019 while named a First-Team All-American. The Clarendon, Jamaica, native converted one penalty kick and recorded two game-winning goals for Iowa Western. As a member of the IWCC defense, Cummings helped anchor the defense to record 14 shutouts on the season.
Warming's Words: "We needed a dominant presence in the back line after the graduation of three-time All-Summit selection
Seth Rinderknecht. Fitz joined us in January and fit right in. The team loved his dedication and focus right away. He is a very good leader on and off the field. I know he can continue to develop, help Omaha win championships, get his degree and have an opportunity to play at the next level. Fitz blocks shots, can get out of trouble on the field, has huge technical range with a variety of textures on the ball with both feet, is feared in the air by opponents on set pieces and has extraordinary power."
Ed Port | Midfielder | Reading, England
Port played two seasons while setting school and national records at Genesee Community College. Port capped his playing career with an NJCAA record 54 assists, including a season-record 33 assists as a sophomore. He was a second-team All-American and first-team all-conference and all-region selection while totaling 37 points with eight goals and 21 assists as a freshman. Port set school records for career assists (54), season assists (33), assists in a game (5) and points in a game (11) as a sophomore. He was an NJCAA All-American, United Coaches All-American, National Player of the Week, first-team all-region and all-conference in his second season at Genesee Community College.
Warming's Words: "In my experience, players who are good around the goal, are good around the goal at every level they move to in their career. While its easier to be productive at some levels, you do not lose your capacity to be good in front of goal at the next level in which you play. Ed's numbers are just phenomenal in what he has done. However, my favorite thing about Ed is that he came to Omaha to improve and become a better player. He is going to benefit from this fall's training and will be an important player for us the next two years."
Harrison Bouma | Goalkeeper | Piedmont, Oklahoma
Bouma played with the Olympic Development Program state team as a freshman and Region 3 Team as a freshman and sophomore. With the Region 3 Team, Bouma led his team to the Florida International Showcase. As a junior and senior, he played with the Sporting Kansas City Developmental Academy U19 program. Bouma became the first Academy signing by the USL's Oklahoma City Energy.
Warming's Words: "It was wonderful that Harrison was able to enroll early and join us in January. He was really developing well under the guidance of
Ugo Tritz before we had to shut down for the pandemic. Harrison is, perhaps, the most physically and mentally mature goalkeeper I have ever had out of high school and I had five goalkeepers in a row sign pro contracts. His approach every single day is so professional and positive. He is a tremendous influence on the team. He is a coach's ideal person to work with on a daily basis."
Soane Deminguet Folituu | Midfielder | Caen, France
Deminguet Folituu competed for two seasons at Southeastern Community College before joining the Mavericks. As a freshman, Demingue Folituu appeared in 13 matches with 11 starts while earning First-Team All-Conference honors with five goals and seven assists. In his sophomore campaign, he helped the Blackhawks reach the ICCAC playoffs and recorded 33 points with 13 goals and seven assists. Deminguet Folituu earned First-Team All-Academic honors in 2018 and Second-Team All-Academic honors in 2019 for his performance in the classroom.
Warming's Words: "Soane impressed me so much in the recruiting process. While he is an obvious talent, his team wasn't great last season. He remained positive and encouraging and simply worked harder to get the ball and be as productive as possible. This character quality is not easy to find. We want men of character in our program who the team can count on when things are not perfect and in fact, their attitude can lift the team when moments are not ideal. Soane will be a very influential player for Omaha and I believe his best soccer is ahead of him as a seven, 11 or 10."
Mauricio Felix-Alvarado | Defender | Omaha, Neb.
Felix-Alvarado played two seasons at Omaha South before joining the Mavericks. In his sophomore season, he helped the Packers to a 19-2 record while scoring four goals and passing out eight assists on the campaign. Felix-Alvarado netted five goals and dished out six assists while helping Omaha South capture the conference and state championships with a 21-1 record. Felix-Alvarado played club soccer with Nebraska Futbol Club and was a four-time state champion with the program.
Warming's Words: "Mauricio is a winner. The first high school match I watched when I moved back to Omaha was an Omaha South match. He was the first player I asked about and liked him immediately. He can become a very good DI two-way left back. He has a strong mentality. He is from Omaha and wants to represent his city successfully at the highest collegiate level. I am looking forward to working with him and watching his development."
Mikkel Fodstad | Forward | Hovik, Norway
As a freshman, Fodstad played at the highest junior level in Norway. Fodstad netted 11 goals in 12 matches while making his debut on the senior team as a sophomore. In his junior and senior seasons, he combined to score 21 goals in 34 matches, including 20 goals in his senior campaign.
Warming's Words: "Mikkel is a hard-working player who can develop into a handful for opponents. He wants to get a goal, wants to get behind defenses, wants to press. He will benefit from a semester learning to play DI soccer. I am impressed with his enthusiasm and passion for wanting to become the best version of himself."
Adrian Garcia | Defender | Barcelona, Spain
Garcia spent two seasons at Illinois Central College before arriving at Omaha. As a freshman, Garcia appeared in 14 matches while making 12 starts. He was a member of the ICC defense that held opponents to one goal or less in nine matches and scored two goals on the year. Garcia medically redshirted in his sophomore season after suffering a season-ending injury.
Warming's Words: "Adrian demonstrated his leadership quality by instantly becoming captain of his ICC team as a freshman. He was intending on competing this fall as a captain again for ICC when the season was suddenly changed from fall to spring because of the pandemic. An exceptionally dedicated student, he is going to benefit from a full semester of training this fall at the Division I level. He is an aerial threat, can break the forward line by coming up in the hole and making the right pass and will find his voice at this level."
Kenji Mboma Dem | Forward | Plaisir, France
Mboma Dem competed in club soccer for Black Rock FC and in high school at the prestigious Northwood Prep School in New York. He helped his team advance to the semifinals of the U-19 Dallas Cup in 2018. In 2019, Mboma Dem netted 26 goals and dished 12 assists to lead his team to the U-19 IMG Cup Tournament title. In the classroom, he earned the Underclassmen English Second Language Award.
Warming's Words: "I need to thank Jon Moody from Black Rock and my old acquaintance David McCauley from Northwood for alerting me to Kenji. He was not on our radar and I am so glad they got us connected. It is wonderful when people who have earned your respect reach out to let you know they have a talent who they think will be a good fit. Kenji has great feet and is intelligent in his game. In my experience, great feet are the most important physical quality for a player to continue to advance in the game. When great feet are combined with a mind open to the possibilities in the game, the upside can be tremendous."
