Union Omaha took fans by surprise this afternoon with the announcement of another signing: Ricardo “Ricky” Rivera. The Owls now have eleven players on their roster, much to the chagrin of the rest of the league. Some players have already reported to Omaha and started training for the upcoming regular season, which kicks off for the Owls on April 9th in Madison, Wisconsin against Forward Madison.
Ricky Rivera returns to Union Omaha following an injury-shortened 2021 season. After signing with the club in August of 2021, Rivera wasted very little time before producing a goal for the Owls during an away match at North Carolina FC on September 4th. Having progressed through his physical recovery, the 24 year-old Puerto Rican National Team player is ready to endear himself to fans. In the press release from the club earlier today, Rivera said:
“I am really excited to continue my professional career with this great organization and the support of the Búhos fans. I am healthy and ready to show what I am capable of to the team, the staff and the fans! Last year we were champions and we are going to work hard to achieve nothing less than that. Counting on your support to go the whole way! Viva Búhos!”
His enthusiasm was matched only by Union Omaha coach Jay Mims in the same press release:
“We are happy to have Ricky back this season as he showed some great qualities playing as a striker. Now with a full season ahead of us, I know Ricky will have a chip on his shoulder and be eager to work for the team and help us have a great year.”
After a League One Championship, in which there were complaints lodged regarding sand spread across the playing surface, it seems fitting that Union Omaha would sign a player who has a history of playing professional beach soccer. Ricky Rivera brings that wealth of experience from his time spent at Caparra FC, a club based in his home country of Puerto Rico. With his competitive experiences on multiple surfaces, League One clubs should be wary of the dual-threat he possesses.
Rivera looks to step into the big shoes of the offensive production from last season. Union Omaha finished the 2021 League One regular season with 44 goals, 27 of which came from Greg Hurst and Evan Conway. With the departure of Hurst and Conway, Mims has been assigned the difficult assignment of replacing the high-yielding duo. Recent signings, like Rivera, give a sliver of signs to what the club’s offense could look like come April. This has the potential to be a fast-moving offense, capitalizing on fast breaks. Without speculating too much, Mims is signing players that will bring excitement to Werner Park, as well as the rest of the League One stadiums.
Los Búhos are still assembling their 2022 roster, which means there are still plenty of news, updates, and analysis from Who Gives A Hoot. Make sure to follow us on social media for Union Omaha fun. If you’re looking for even more ways to enjoy Union Omaha news, make sure to check out the latest episode of the Who Gives A Hoot podcast. The voices you love will keep you entertained with offseason developments, all with their own fun and unique twist on the club and league. ¡Viva Búhos!
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