RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, November 23, 2016) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce that the club has exercised contract options for midfielders Jackson Eskay, Sunny Jane and Luiz Fernando, pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.
“We are delighted to return Sunny, Jackson and Luiz,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. “All three players made a positive impact to our attack last season and we expect even bigger contributions next season.”
Discovered at the Kickers January 2016 pro tryouts, Eskay earned his first professional contract following the three-day event. He made his professional debut during the Kickers’ 4-0 U.S. Open Cup Second Round victory win over Aromas Café FC in May, and posted his first professional goal in dramatic fashion with a last gasp game-winner against the eventual USL Champions New York Red Bulls II in July.
Recently concluding his collegiate career at The College of William and Mary, Eskay led the Tribe with six goals and eight assists in 17 appearances as team captain his senior year. A two-time All-CAA Second Team honoree, the native of Urbana, Maryland totaled 17 goals and 16 assists for 50 points over four seasons.
Splitting time between the Kickers and the Lesotho National Team in 2016, Jane made 27 appearances during his first season in Richmond, finishing second on the team with five goals and one assist.
Relocating to the United States at the age of 13, the native of Mosotho, Lesotho was an All-State Player for Trinity High School in Louisville before a standout career at the University of Maryland. An All-ACC Second Team selection 2011, he recorded eight goals and 19 assists over four seasons with the Terrapins. He kicked off his professional career with the Wilmington Hammerheads where he made 41 appearances over two seasons.
Slated to return to Richmond in 2017, Luiz Fernando earned 10 starts in 25 matches last season. The nineteen-year old midfielder contributed two goals and an assist before departing midseason to tend to family business in his native Sao Paulo, Brazil. Joining the renowned Brazilian club S.C. Corinthians as a homegrown youth player, he was a starter with the Corinthians U20s and also featured regularly with AA Flamengo before signing with the Kickers.
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