Head Coach: Joao Garcia
Venue: Silverbacks Park
2023 Regular Season: N/A (Expansion Team)
2023 Season Recap:
N/A
Offseason Recap
The new expansion club was announced on January 11, initially as Georgia Lions FC. Since then, the club has had player tryouts up the road in Dalton but has been quiet on social media for months. There were rumors about changes in ownership and that the club was still searching for players and appointing a coaching staff. The club changed its colors and name briefly to Georgia Lions SC in February, but not many updates afterwards. Then, on April 3, the National Independent Soccer Association announced that the club had reorganized its front office and had been rebranded as Georgia FC. According to Kartik Krishnaiyer of Beyond the 90, the club had been dealing with front-office issues that caused the club to withdraw from this year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and parted ways with the Dutch Lions brand altogether. Preston Jarneski is the newly named director of Business Operations, Kerem Daser (Coach K) is the new sporting director, and Joao Garcia will lead Georgia FC in its inaugural season as the club’s Head Coach. Garcia had previously coached in the United Premier Soccer League, leading Ginga Atlanta to an undefeated season and winning the UPSL National Championship title during the fall 2020 season. Garcia also coached the Brazil Arena Soccer National team from 2017-2019 and has a UEFA B license.
Key Departure
N/A
Key Returnee
N/A
Key Arrivals
Based on their roster in their inaugural match against Club de Lyon FC, this squad for the 2024 season will include some familiar faces.
In goal yesterday was Nicholas Nelson, who had previously played with Club de Lyon FC and Chattanooga FC in NISA. Defender Jungwoo So also played with CFC last season. Midfielder Ian Cerro returns to the league after spending last season with Rio Grande Valley FC Toros in the USL Championship. He had two goals and added two assists in 28 appearances for RGVFC. Cerro also played for former NISA clubs Chattanooga FC and Chicago House AC. Other notable NISA veterans on this squad include forward Jeffrey Otoo, who played for ALBION San Diego and Valley United FC. Forward Patrick Okonkwo, who scored the first goal for Georgia FC yesterday, spent time with Chattanooga Red Wolves SC of USL League One and Atlanta United 2 when that club was in the USL Championship in 2019 as well as Charleston Battery.
Player to Watch
Well, as the commentators mentioned in yesterday’s broadcast, this team was put together within the past week before their first match. Getting a draw in your opening matchup is a good start, and players with NISA experience like Ian Cerro, Jeffrey Otoo, and Jungwoo So to help guide this club in its inaugural season will help. Goalkeeper Nicholas Nelson can be the key difference maker for this club, stepping up for big saves to keep Georgia FC in matches throughout the season. Remember, he played ten matches for Club de Lyon FC last year and got two clean sheets during CDL’s inaugural season last year. With all the changes to this club off the field, let’s see what Georgia FC can do on the field. Atlanta SC was the last metro Atlanta team that played in NISA in the Fall 2019 season and finished with 8 points out of 6 matches played. It will also be nice to see pro soccer back at Silverbacks Park again.
NISA Today FC Podcast 