Electric City Football Club Sign Three Players to Finalize Men's Team
/The men’s team is set for the Electric City Football Club (ECFC) for their inaugural 2022 League 1 Ontario season as they signed Josh Penello, David Schaefer and midfielder Yuki Mandai as the team’s final signings on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of ECFC.
Penello made the team after attending the open tryouts on April 2nd during a two-week training camp trial period. He played in a number of positions including fullback and midfield in the friendly last week against the Club’s U21 Reserve team Skillz FC before officially signing with the team.
Penello was a two-time OCAA All-Star and a two-time MVP during his college career with the Fleming Knights. Photo courtesy of ECFC.
“Josh is a perfect example of what we hope to bring to the youth soccer community in Peterborough,” said Rob Jenkins, ECFC president. “At a young age, he had to leave Peterborough to compete at a higher level and develop his skills to try to reach the next level. Our hope is that by bringing these opportunities to Peterborough we are going to see more players like Josh able to reach the next level right here in their hometown.”
The Peterborough native spent some time playing in the Toronto FC Academy system and came back to Peterborough with Cavan FC. During his time there, Penello led his team in winning the Ontario Soccer league’s Provincial East title in 2019, to gain promotion to the OSL Elite league.
“Growing up in the Peterborough area and wanting higher competition in soccer meant you had to travel to find it,” said Panello. “Having ECFC being developed in my hometown made me want to be a part of this franchise and see where it can take me and this city.”
Schaefer registered eight points in his third season with MRU. Photo courtesy of ECFC.
ECFC signed Mount Royal University striker David Schaefer. Schaefer is a 21-year-old attacker from Berlin, Germany and played for famous German Club BFC Dynamo Berlin with the U19’s before moving to Canada for school in 2018 and spent time with SV Empor Berlin during 2020.
“David is a player who the coaches were very impressed with during his trial here at ECFC. He went through a lot to get here and that is also very impressive. He was battling illness for a number of weeks prior to the tryout, he flew himself across the country and paid his own way to be here to be part of ECFC.” said Jenkins, “He is a clinical striker who will add to an already exciting group of attacking players at ECFC.”
Schaefer just finished his third year at MRU where he finished the season with seven goals in 12 games. He played his most recent club football with Peachtree City MOBA in Georgia in the USL 2.
“This is a professional environment that I am excited to thrive in,” said Schaefer. “The fans can expect to see a disciplined and intelligent attacker. I am a technical player that covers a lot of distance and has a good understanding of the game, and I will be giving it my all to help this club.”
Mandai scored four goals in a five-game stretch with the South Coast Flame FC from July 27 to Aug. 24. in 2019. Photo courtesy of ECFC.
