North Sound SeaWolves Sign 3 International Players, Including a Brazilian

The continues to shore up its roster, signing Joao Fonseca, Buba Findi Jammeh and Nasyir Rodriguez for the upcoming Premier Development League season.

The signings give the Edmonds-based SeaWolves an international flavor. Jammeh won the African Youth Championship playing for the Gambia U-17 team in 2009, Rodriguez played in the Trinidad and Tobago youth system and Fonseca played for clubs in his native Brazil.

“I think it’s a good experience for everyone when you can have players from different parts of the world,” SeaWolves coach/owner Alex Silva said. “You can learn a lot; everyone has different styles, personalities. But first, they have to be good players, and these guys are.”

Jammeh represented his home country in the 2009 U-17 Africa Championships in Algeria, helping Gambia to win its second title in that tournament. The left back/left midfielder went on to play for the Steve Biko FC in the Gambia first division.

“He’s a physical player and that’s what we’re looking for in the back,” Silva said. “He has great experience playing at a very high level and I’m excited to see what he can bring to our team.”

Rodriguez played for the Trinidad & Tobago youth program and the midfielder/forward has gone on to play in that country’s professional leagues.

“He’s good with the ball, very quick and knows the game really well,” Silva said. “He’s going to help move the ball and will get it to guys in good positions.”

Fonseca trained with several Brazilian clubs, including Esporte Clube Bahia in Brazil’s first division. The midfielder played at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and transferred to Belmont College where he will play in the fall.

“He has a lot of the qualities we know about Brazilian players,” said Silva, himself a Brazilian. “He’s creative and physical and works very hard on and off the ball. He likes to attack and has a lot of style. He’s going to be fun to watch.”

The SeaWolves are a member of the Northwest Division of the PDL, the highest level of amateur soccer in the United States. Their 16-game season begins May 20 at Fraser Valley.

on the campus of starting June 1 against the Washington Crossfire.