Muckette joins Hodge and Paul at USL team, Memphis; 13 T&T players now in US second tier

Gems at Lajoya

Central FC midfielder and Trinidad and Tobago international Duane Muckette is set to be the third Soca Warriors player at Memphis 901 FC, after the United Soccer League (USL) Championship team announced his capture this morning.

Memphis FC revealed today that they have inked deals with Muckette and former New York Red Bulls II goalkeeper Scott Levene—both 23 years old—pending league and federation approval.

Photo: Central FC stand-in captain Duane Muckette (left) takes a crack at goal while Defence Force midfielder Jerwin Balthazar looks on during the FCB Cup final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on 20 July 2018.
(Copyright Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

Muckette should join compatriots Leston Paul and Triston Hodge at the second tier US club. There are two other familiar faces at the fledgling club, as Jamaican midfielder Ewan Grandison played alongside Muckette for the ‘Couva Sharks’ last season while American defender Wes Charpie was his teammate at the University of South Florida.

Memphis sporting director Andrew Bell believes the former QRC student, who can operate as a ‘10’ or deep-lying playmaker, has the technical qualities to be a hit at ‘The Bluff City’.

“Duane is an electric and dynamic young player,” Bell told the club website. “He has great energy, and his ability to stretch the defence will be very important for us. Duane possesses the work ethic that the City of Memphis will certainly recognise and appreciate.”

KFC Munch Pack

At present, Memphis have 13 players for their inaugural season, which kicks off at the AutoZone Park on Saturday 9 March against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Muckette was a regular member of Soca Warriors head coach Dennis Lawrence’s travelling squad in 2018 although he has just one senior international cap as a substitute. The 28 year old Paul, a tidy, composed holding midfielder, has 17 senior caps while the 24 year old Hodge, a left back, has 16 senior caps.

Photo: Then Central FC midfielder Leston Paul (left) holds off St Ann’s Rangers defender Sedale McLean during TT Pro League action on 20 February 2016.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

There are nine other Trinidad and Tobago players confirmed with USL teams for the 2019 season, who are: Leland Archer, Ataulla Guerra (Charleston Battery), Shannon Gomez (Sacramento Republic), Jamal Jack (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC), Andre Fortune (North Carolina FC), Neveal Hackshaw (Indy Eleven), Kevan George (Charlotte Independence), Mekeil Williams, Cordell Cato (both Oklahoma City Energy FC), and Noah Powder (Real Monarchs).

Only Guerra, Hackshaw, Cato and George received international call-ups last year.

Guerra was the only Soca Warriors player among the league’s statistical stand-outs in 2018 as his 15 goals was the USL’s joint ninth highest goal tally. The former Central playmaker was also named on the USL All-Star second team.

Goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh, who can represent Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, recorded 11 shut-outs for Louisville City FC, which was the seventh best mark in the USL. Ranjitsingh, who was an unused substitute for Trinidad and Tobago’s last two World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and the United States, has since moved to MLS team, Orlando City.

Photo: Charleston Battery midfielder Ataulla Guerra.
(Courtesy Charleston Battery)

Editor’s Note: The number of Trinidad and Tobago players in the USL was updated from 10 to 13 after Oklahoma City Energy FC announced the capture of versatile defender Mekeil Williams and winger Cordell Cato and Noah Powder’s move to Real Monarchs was confirmed.

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95 comments


  1. Warning: Undefined variable $userid in /www/wired868_759/public/wp-content/plugins/user-photo/user-photo.php on line 114

    Congratulations ⚽️ ⚽️

  2. Hopefully Coach Hart will recruit a few for his Halifax team.

  3. Any where better than playing in the pro Ttpro League ,I hope the guys keep striving for excellence so that they can elevate to the MLS, Liga MX and maybe even to the Prem.

  4. Those Americans feel their smart huh , only taking our players in to the 2 division leagues, Because they know we’re in the goal cup this year , well played

  5. allyuh feel is joke ??..i reading the Michael Carrick book i got for christmas..reach page 75 and he all ready mention two trinis…those were the days .

  6. Add to the list: Mekeil Williams (Oklahoma City Energy FC) and Nathan Lewis (Lansing Ignite FC – USL League One)

  7. For real it is time our players look outside for there new and better life getting good God’s blessings to him

  8. go and work hard Duane I believe in your ability now you have to prove it

  9. Opening doors guys…awesome. Congrats

  10. I know that sooner than later he wudda finally got a contract to play in meh second sweetest country in the real professional league, Congratulations to the midfield general and continue flying our flag very high…….BOOM

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