Lights, camera ...
CFC set to open season under local spotlight
Arriving to Chattanooga Football Club in 2013 as a young up and coming soccer talent, Jose “Zeca” Ferraz knew he was joining an elite amateur soccer team.
Zeca’s fearless play and charismatic personality has been everything the club could ask for and more as he has helped CFC compile an 89-32-24 record since his arrival.
From scoring a goal in a 2018 exhibition match against the MLS’ FC Dallas to helping provide countless National Premier Soccer League conference championships, Zeca has engrained himself in to the DNA of the club.
Now, the 28-year-old Brazilian striker/forward is excited to begin his eighth season and first professional one as Chattanooga hosts the Georgia Revolution at Finley Stadium to start the NISA Independent Cup on Saturday at 8 p.m.
Fans will not be allowed, but the match will be televised locally on The CW. It will be the first professional game in the state played since sports were shut down due to COVID-19 in March.
“Turning professional is really a dream come true,” said Zeca, who scored six goals in 13 matches to help Chattanooga FC win its eighth and final National Premier Soccer League conference championship last July.
“This is the first professional contract I have signed. I have been with CFC for a while. I love the people around the club and the community and am excited to help the team in any way I can again.”
In four of Zeca’s seven seasons the club has won at least 15 matches, which included a 16-9-6 overall record in a two-part 2019 campaign.
However, his familiar face is one of just a few returning for a brand new chapter as Chattanooga FC enters the professional
realm. The only other returners from last year’s team are striker Jowayne Laidley, defender Soren Yuhaschek and midfielders Cameron Woodfin and Juan Hernandez. Woodfin and Hernandez combined for eight goals and 19 assists in 2019.
“This is a completely different squad from what we have had in the past couple of years,” Zeca said. “A very important aspect of this beginning phase and playing again is having strong communication. What I try to do is be someone who can introduce the new guys to Chattanooga. I take the guys on hikes and show them all the good things this city has to offer. It’s a great place to play.”
Staying organized defensively is the biggest key to Saturday’s match according to CFC head coach Peter Fuller.
With standout goalie Phil D’Amico gone, his absence will now put more pressure for newcomers to step up defensively.
Richard Dixon, who was the first professional player signed by CFC and played well in his time with the Chattanooga Red Wolves last year, is expected to lift a heavy load on the back line along with
Erik Panzer and Raymond Lee.
“Richard is a huge piece to the puzzle back there,” Fuller said. “I look forward to watching Erik play. He has played in Scandanavia, England, the New Zealand Premier League and in the Australian National League. He and Ray Lee, who has played in the MLS and USL Championship, are going to be guys we are going to count on.”
Joao Costa and Felipe Oliveira will both be missed after scoring 11 goals each last season. CFC will look to Sean Hoffstatter and Ian McGrath to help pace an attack that outscored its opposition 73-34 in 2019.
Hoffstatter was the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year in 2018 as he scored 17 goals for West Florida in 14 regular season matches under head coach and CFC technical director Bill Elliott.
McGrath, a 6-foot-4 midfielder, has USL Championship and Scottish Championship League experience. He scored CFC’s first professional goal in a 1-1 draw with Oakland Roots on February 29 before NISA league play was halted due to COVID-19.
Fuller also mentioned midfielder Topher Marshall and forward Kaleb Jackson as new faces to keep an eye on in the attack.
Chattanooga and the Georgia
Revolution split their two NPSL matches last season with each winning hard fought matches on the road. Both sides will be allowed seven substitutions.
“We are all excited to showcase ourselves on TV,” Zeca said. “We don’t have a lot of chances to do that. It’s nice to have that exposure and reach more people in their houses and the ones who wish they could be here. Hopefully we give fans a good show and start the reboot to the season in a strong way.”