Bradenton, Florida (September 6, 2018)— West Florida Flames has a talented group of players already embedded within the club, now their staff is once again in the National Spotlight.

The US Virgin Islands Senior Men’s National team took to the pitch to start preparing this week. They open camp with a few familiar faces on their staff.

The Head Coach of the “Dashing Eagles” is familiar to the West Florida Flames Community. Marcelo Serrano, former technical director with the Flames enters into his first year leading the squad. Serrano just accepted the job as head coach with the new USL expansion team, Austin Bold FC and now will also lead the USVI Senior MNT. 

The USVI MNT are currently prepping for the CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers that begin this Sunday. They will face off against Canada down at the IMG Academy Center in Bradenton, FL. 

The other opponents in the qualifying matches for the US Virgin Islands are Curacao, Barbados, and Anguilla.

Serrano isn’t the only familiar face with the staff. Joining them as an Assistant and Goalkeeper Coach is Jorge “Yoyo” Zavala. Zavala is a longtime member of the West Florida Flames coaching staff and is the current Director of Soccer at the Club. “This brings more exposure to the club back home. Seeing how we have such high level coaching staff regularly involved at the national level speaks a lot for the caliber of coaching we have at the Flames,” said Zavala.

Another familiar face is Flames Associate Boys and Girls Development Academy Director, Kacey White. White is a NCAA champion (UNC 2003) and former US Women’s National team member (2006-2010). White also was head coach with the U16 US Soccer Women’s National team. She joins the USVI staff as a game analyst and assistant. 

The final Flames staff member to join the USVI MNT is Performance Director at the club, Pete Calabrese. Calabrese already has a long running career as a Strength and Fitness coach at the National level and the MLS level. He will continue as the Fitness Coach with USVI.

The USVI open up the CONCACAF Nations League Qualifier this Sunday, September 9^that 4pm against Canada at the IMG Academy Soccer Stadium.