Atlético Ottawa Adds Six Players as Team Looks to Fill Out Squad

August 10, 2020

Ottawa, ON (August 10, 2020) – Atlético Ottawa adds six players today as Coach Mista looks to build overall squad depth ahead of The Island Games . With the recent arrivals of forwards Mohamed Kourouma, Maksym Kowal, midfielder Ben McKendry, defenders Jarred Phillips, Milovan Kapor, and goalkeeper Horace Sobze Zemo, the squad now sits at 23 players. These players have been training with the club for some time and were following the Canadian Premier League’s health and safety self-isolation protocols with their teammates prior to departing for The Island Games in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on August 8.

Kourouma joins from fellow Canadian Premier League side HFX Wanderers after appearing in 26 games for the club scoring one and assisting three. The 29 year old is more suited to being a Left Winger but can also play deeper on the left side of the midfield.

Kowal, 29, split last season between FC Ukraine United and Vaughan Azzurri scoring 16 times in 18 appearances, including 14 goals in as many appearances for Vaughan Azzurri leading League1 Ontario in scoring.

McKendry, scored once in nine appearances last season for Nyköpings BIS of the Swedish third division. The 27 year old is a Canadian international, appearing four times for the Canadian Men’s National Team set up, including one senior appearance. He has scored at both the U-20 and U-23 level but is yet to find the back of the net at the senior level.

Phillips joins from League1 Ontario side Vaughan Azzurri where he appeared nine times, helping his team to three of the Azzurri’s seven clean sheets during the 2019 season. The 25 year old fullback has been a big part of two League1 championship teams in 2016 and 2018 featuring 62 times for the Azzurris since 2016.

Kapor, 29, joins the club from Uzbek Super League side FK Buxoro. The Toronto, Ontario native made three appearances last year in central defence but can also play in defensive midfield.

Zemo, who was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon joins Atletico Ottawa from Laval University. The 27 year old keeper appeared ten times for League1 Ontario side Ottawa South United Force keeping one clean sheet.

“We are excited to announce the addition of all six of these players, as we now have a full roster for The Island Games, which we believe will provide us with much needed depth in such a competitive environment,” said Fernando Lopez, CEO Atlético Ottawa.

The final roster for Atletico Ottawa’s inaugural season includes forwards Maksym Kowal, Ben Fisk, Francisco Acuña, Bernardinho, Malcolm Shaw, Matteo De Brienne, Kunle Dada-Luke, and Mohamed Kourouma, midfielders, Ben McKendry, Antoine Coupland, Tevin Shaw, Ajay Khabra, and Victor Martinez, defenders, Milovan Kapor, Jarred Phillips, Malyk Hamilton, Vashon Neufville, Michel Djaozardy, and Brandon John, and goalkeepers Horace Sobze Zemo, Ricky Gomes, and Nacho Zabal.

Atlético Ottawa is the Canadian Premier League’s 8th Club who joined the league in 2020 and will play their inaugural matches in August at The Island Games in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Learn more about how you can support the Club and its exclusive membership program The Collective here. Follow @AtletiOttawa on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.