USL Pro club VSI Tampa Bay FC signs Gambian Karamba Janneh

Karamba Janneh

United Soccer Leagues side VSI Tampa Bay FC has announced the signing of Gambian striker Karamba Janneh for the club’s 2013 inaugural season in USL PRO, this blog can exclusively reveal.

Fresh off the back of an outstanding season with Ocala Stampede of the Premier Development League, PDL, 23-year-old Janneh was one of the standout players for the PDL Southeast Division Champions.

“Having played for me with the Stampede this past summer, Janneh is a lad that we immediately targeted to bring to Tampa,” said Head Coach Matt Weston. “Karamba caused havoc with his pace and movement upfront and is a player who has so much raw talent.”

The Gambian-born Janneh was named to the PDL’s All-Southern Conference team this past summer and ended the season with nine goals in 15 games.

With lightening pace and an eye for goal, Janneh signs his first professional contract for VSI Tampa Bay FC after a collegiate career plundering goals in junior college at Monroe College & Otero where he became leading goal scorer with 11 goals and helping the team to the National Championship Final.

About VSI Tampa Bay FC

VSI (VisionPro Sports Institute) Tampa Bay FC is an American soccer team that will begin play in the USL Pro league, the third tier of the American soccer pyramid, in 2013.

The foundation of the team was announced on November 16, 2011 alongside the creation of sister VSI Tampa Flames teams for the amateur USL Premier Development League (PDL), women’s W-League and youth Super-20 League.

The VSI Tampa Flames were established in 2011 as part of a broader move by the English soccer development academy, VisionPro Sports Institute, to build a foundation for youth and professional soccer in the United States.

VSI partnered with the local Brandon, Florida area youth soccer organization, West Florida Flames, to build “the perfect platform for vertical progression, giving talented youngsters the opportunity to progress from junior soccer all the way through to the professional game,” according to VSI’s CEO, Simon Crane.

With the USL Pro team to serve as the pinnacle of the youth pyramid for men, VSI also announced the formation of teams in the USL PDL, Super-20 League and women’s W-League, all within the organization of the United Soccer Leagues (USL). These teams started play in 2012.

On November 22, 2012, the team changed its name to “VSI Tampa Bay FC” and named Matt Weston as the Head Coach.