Phoenix FC News Release -- www.phoenixfc.com
Monday, February 11, 2013
PHOENIX -- Phoenix FC is proud to announce that it has signed seven new professional soccer players who will join the club's roster and will immediately report to the opening of pre-season training camp in Tempe. The newly signed players, pending USSF approval, are goalkeepers Andrew Weber and Sheldon Parkinson, defender Elliot Weber, midfielder Joshua Bento do O and forwards Donny Toia, Anthony Tokpah and Mason Robertson.
"This is a great mix of experienced players and promising talent, and we are thrilled to have them all at training camp," said Managing Director Rui Filipe Bento. "Players such as Andrew Weber and Donny Toia bring a wealth of professional experience, and Elliot Weber and Sheldon Parkinson add to our depth with promising collegiate numbers."
Andrew Weber played college soccer at the University of New Mexico, and played club soccer for the Tempe (Ariz.) Pros. He also played with the Cape Cod Crusaders and the Indiana Invaders in the USL Premier Development League, and he was part of the Crusaders side which won the 2003 PDL title.
Weber began his professional career with Major League Soccer’s D.C. United, signing as a developmental player on June 3, 2005. Weber took part in three match-ups with United's reserve team, subsequently joining Montreal Impact of the USL First Division in April 2006. He went on to make 29 appearances for the Quebecois team over the next two years.
Weber signed with MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes on February 11, 2009 and made his league debut on September 27, 2009 in a 2-1 win against D.C. United. He was released by the team on June 29, 2010, but re-signed with San Jose on March 7, 2011. At season's end, he entered the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft, ultimately becoming a free agent. He signed with Seattle Sounders FC for the 2012 season.
Weber is joined by his twin brother Elliot, who makes the step up to the professional ranks with the Wolves. The Arizona local grew up in Tempe and earned a soccer scholarship while playing for Mesa Mountain View High School. Weber played for Yavapai college in 2002, and for Phoenix College in 2010. Additionally, the Weber brothers were contestants on the 20th season of CBS's The Amazing Race.
They ended up in 9th place out of 11 teams and were the third team eliminated in The Amazing Race 20 at Asuncion, Paraguay.
Toia, a Tucson, Ariz. native, most recently played for FC Tucson in the PDL, where he led the side with five goals a season ago. Prior to that, Toia with Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake. Toia was signed as the first Home Grown player in Real Salt Lake history on March 14, 2011. He was a part of the RSL U-18 side that represented MLS at the JRS World Cup-Comunidad de Madrid (U-18 Club World Cup) competition in Madrid in May 2009 and the U-17 side that finished undefeated and in third place at the 2009 SUM Cup.
"I am excited to have such experienced players to provide leadership and a backbone to the team," Head Coach David Robertson said. "I am also very optimistic about the young local players who showed us great promise throughout the tryout process. We will field a team that will compete for a championship this season."
These new additions join signed players Forward Darren Mackie, Midfielder Diego Faria, Defender Devon Grousis, Forward Aaron King, Midfielder Reid Schmitt, Defender Brad Keller, Defender Renan Felipe Boufleur, Midfielder Netinho, Defender Cyprian Hedrick, Defender Scott Morrison, Midfielder Anthony Obodai, Defender Brian Holmes, Midfielder Jimmy Lara, Midfielder Thomas Ramos, Defender Jose Ramos, and Goalkeeper Humberto Soriano.