Ready or not Pittsburgh City United FC make their UPSL debut

Since coming on to the scene in early June, it’s been a whirlwind for Michael Monsour, owner of Pittsburgh City United FC, a new soccer club which is expected to make its debut in the United Premier Soccer League when they take on FC Inter Atlantic at Fairland Recreation Park in Burtonsville, Maryland on Saturday evening (7:30 p.m. kickoff).

The club will make its home debut next Sunday, August 28, when they face Germantown, at 6:30 p.m. at Highmark Stadium.

Heading into its inaugural match, the club has scrambled to put in three plus weeks of training despite missing a number of players and its renowned manager, Barry Smith, who was appointed to the club last month. due to travel restrictions.

Despite the obstacles, Monsour has pushed ahead and has been hands on in the early stages in getting the new club off the ground.

For Monsour, his club’s debut Fall 2021 season will get underway on Saturday night despite some of the obstacle they face.

“Our first game is going to be a challenge with Ramesses (McGinnis), Jett, Pat Miller arriving to the team next week, and (Ike Chidi) Bright and Dante (Nicholas) recovering from injury. But the team is up for the challenge against what we expect to be a very talented Inter Atlantic team,” Monsour said.

One of the challenges Monsour has faced is getting the club’s appointed manager, Barry Smith, to make it over from The United Kingdom, as travel restrictions continue.

In the interim, Monsour will be taking on the role as the team’s interim manager.

“As the process of getting Coach Smith over the pond has been difficult with the travel ban on UK, I have been tasked with Coach Smith’s blessing to act in the role of interim manager until his arrival. We know that further challenges are ahead, but that will not stop us from giving everything we have for this team and for our mission.”

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Some of the players PCUFC has named to the roster include a veteran center back Ike Chidi Bright, along with a number of players from the United States Virgin Islands, who have played for their respective National Team.

While the club has formerly announced a number of its player additions, they have a full-roster ready to go for Saturday’s opener in Maryland.

Here’s the team’s projected lineup:

Pittsburgh City United Rostet

1 Sam Sharpless
2 Jean Emmanuel Geffrard
3 Pat Miller
4 Chide Bright Ike
5 Dor Alon
6 Jett Blaschka
7 Christian Kapanda
8 Marquis Flowers
9 Dante Nicholas
10 Ramesses McGuiness
11 Giraldo Santiago
12 Judler Delva
13 Perez Youmbi
14 Frank Kada
15 Ndayisanga Emmanuel (Passi)
17 Greg Paluku
18 Jake Woodward
19 Mutibi Simushi
20 Ikechukwu Agbaeze
23 Osmon Jouejati

You can follow Pittsburgh City United FC’s twitter account for team updates (@pittcityunited)

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