The members of FC Naples, the city’s first professional soccer team, are all highly proficient in the many fundamentals of the game and have notched individual achievements. Yet, perhaps a more important shared characteristic is that virtually all of them have been integral parts of winning soccer programs, either in Southwest Florida, around the United States or overseas. For while the dazzle of ball control or a booming free kick may be electrifying to watch, what counts most is putting the ball in the opponent’s net, with teamwork being the paramount ingredient to such success.

Passion for harmonious, cohesive play has been on full display recently, with the team’s highly anticipated first-ever game in the national USL League One — against the Chattanooga Red Wolves at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, at Paradise Coast Sports Complex — fast approaching.

“With 23 players, 12 different nationalities and in our first year, it can be a challenge creating a team culture,” FC Naples Head Coach and Sporting Director Matt “Gaffa” Poland said. “They’ve been doing really well, but we have to be patient.” He added he has arranged for many off-field outings for the players for further bonding.

“Communication … we’re always building chemistry,” said winger Sebastian Joffre, whose addition to the roster on Feb. 10 creates another dimension of excitement. The Bolivia native grew up in Naples and played for the Gulf Coast High School Sharks, for whom he scored a game-winning goal in overtime in the Class 4A state championship game as a senior in 2018. “Everyone knows their roles.”

Joffre, who has competed in Brazil, England, Belgium and the U.S. — most recently playing in 19 games for Real Monarchs in MLS Next Pro, scoring three goals — is excited to be playing in Naples again.

“It’s great to be back home,” he said. “I can’t wait to play in front of the community.”

“He’s explosive, dynamic,” said Poland, adding he was already familiar with Joffre, having coached the winger four years ago. He also believes Joffre’s play will “inspire youngsters in the community. It’s a realistic dream to play pro soccer,” the coach said.

“We’re learning from each other,” said another recent signing, midfielder and Milwaukee native Luka Prpa. He has extensive experience playing for MLS Next Pro’s Chicago Fire II, for whom he recorded nine goals and nine assists in 41 appearances during the last two seasons. “We’re a close group, on and off the field,” he said.

Prpa also excelled in the USL Championship league, playing more than 50 matches for Hartford Athletic and Rio Grande Valley.

Attacking midfielder Jayden Onen, the team’s first signee last December, is happy to contribute, regardless of how.

“I like to create, whether at the end of a play or if I’m setting up someone else,” said the North London native who played for both Sheffield and Reading in the English Football League and Lexington in United Soccer League, earning a nomination for its Young Player of the Year award in 2023. “We’re learning about each other more and more,” he said.

The rest of the current player roster is: Striker Karsen Henderlong, a native of Valparaiso, Indiana, who played for Indy Eleven in the USL last year and was a first team All-Big East selection in 2021 for Indiana University; forward Tyler Pasnik, who played for Scotland’s Rangers club and Huntsville City in Major League Soccer Next Pro; and forward Justin Weiss, selected twice to the firstteam All-Big Ten while playing for Indiana University.

Midfielders Kevin O’Connor, a veteran of Cork City and Ireland’s U21 National Team, the Europa League and English Championship; Chris Heckenberg, who played two seasons for South Georgia Tormenta; Marc Torrellas, who earned positions on both the 2023 and 2024 USL League Two Team of the Year with Chicago City and the Des Moines Men- ace; Ian Cerro, who starred for both USL’s Rio Grande Valley and NISA’s Georgia clubs; and Roscoe Rubenstein and Thomas Bowe, whose last clubs were Athlone Town and Orlando City, respectively.

Right back Julián Cisneros, originally from Elk Grove Village, Illinois, who played for Loyola University, College Soccer News’ Men’s National Team of the Week in October 2023; and left back Ian Garrett, who played professionally in Finland and Sweden, and then for the Rochester, New York, club.

Other defenders include Bric Evans, a native of Santa Monica who captained the North Texas club to the 2019 USL League One regular season title; Max Glasser, who played two seasons with Monterey Bay club and earned All-Big West Conference honors three times playing for University of California-Davis; Jake Dengler, a Baltimore native with 100–plus pro game appearances in three seasons in USL play; and Rodolfo Sulia and Gustavo Fernandes, who previously played for Academia Quintana and the Chattanooga Red Wolves, respectively.

Goalkeepers Tony Halterman, of Dyer, Indiana, formerly with Chicago House team with pro experience in Sweden and Finland; Joel Serrano, who guarded the net for the Puerto Rico national team plus the Los Angeles Force and Chicago House; and Edward “Lalo” Delgado, who had impressive stints with the Las Vegas Lights, Phoenix Rising and Northern Colorado Hailstorm pro USL clubs.

Tickets now available

FC Naples announced that single-game tickets for the team’s inaugural season are now available. Tickets can be purchased online at tickets. fcnaples.com or in person at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples.

For the full season schedule, club merchandise as well as special promotions, visit fcnaples.com.