Colorado Springs, CO (February 21, 2020) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC announced today the club has signed Abraham Rodriguez, Abdul Rwatubyaye, Sebastian Anderson, and Niki Jackson on loan from the Colorado Rapids, pending USL Championship, MLS, and USSF approval.
Per the Right of Recall incorporated in the loan agreement, the Rapids retain the right to recall the players at any point during the MLS regular season, subject to MLS roster compliance guidelines.
"We're incredibly excited about the players that are getting loaned to us," said Switchbacks Head Coach, Alan Koch. "They trained with us already. I think their attitude and mentality have been first class. We have thoroughly enjoyed integrating them into the team. We're going to embrace them and push them to help our team have success and help them in their own personal development."
Colorado Springs, CO (February 21, 2020) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC announced today the club has signed Abraham Rodriguez, Abdul Rwatubyaye, Sebastian Anderson, and Niki Jackson on loan from the Colorado Rapids, pending USL Championship, MLS, and USSF approval.
Per the Right of Recall incorporated in the loan agreement, the Rapids retain the right to recall the players at any point during the MLS regular season, subject to MLS roster compliance guidelines.
“We’re incredibly excited about the players that are getting loaned to us,” said Switchbacks Head Coach, Alan Koch. “They trained with us already. I think their attitude and mentality have been first class. We have thoroughly enjoyed integrating them into the team. We’re going to embrace them and push them to help our team have success and help them in their own personal development.”
Abraham Rodriguez signed a homegrown contract for the Colorado Rapids on February 20, 2020. While on a USL Academy contract with the Switchbacks, the 17-year-old goalkeeper started 16 games for the Switchbacks in 2019, making 55 saves, including two penalties. Rodriguez made his debut on March 30, 2019 against Phoenix Rising. In that match, Rodriguez made 11 saves, including a penalty, in route to being named the USL Championship Player of the Week becoming the second-youngest player to ever earn the award. The Colorado native signed a professional contract for the Switchbacks on August 8, 2019.
Name: Abraham Rodriguez
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165 lbs
Date of Birth: 7/19/02
Age: 17
Hometown: Broomfield, Colorado
Abraham Rodriguez signed a homegrown contract for the Colorado Rapids on February 20, 2020. While on a USL Academy contract with the Switchbacks, the 17-year-old goalkeeper started 16 games for the Switchbacks in 2019, making 55 saves, including two penalties. Rodriguez made his debut on March 30, 2019 against Phoenix Rising. In that match, Rodriguez made 11 saves, including a penalty, in route to being named the USL Championship Player of the Week becoming the second-youngest player to ever earn the award. The Colorado native signed a professional contract for the Switchbacks on August 8, 2019.
Name: Abraham Rodriguez
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5′ 9″
Weight: 165 lbs
Date of Birth: 7/19/02
Age: 17
Hometown: Broomfield, Colorado
Abdul Rwatubyaye was signed by the Colorado Rapids in May of 2019 before being loaned to the Switchbacks for the remainder of the season. The Rwandan International logged 1,821 minutes in 21 appearances during the 2019 USL Championship season while also scoring three goals as a center back.
Name: Abdul Rwatubyaye
Pronunciation: WAH-too-BYAH-yay
Position: Center Back
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 175 lbs
Date of Birth: 10/23/96
Age: 23
Hometown: Kigali, Rwanda
Abdul Rwatubyaye was signed by the Colorado Rapids in May of 2019 before being loaned to the Switchbacks for the remainder of the season. The Rwandan International logged 1,821 minutes in 21 appearances during the 2019 USL Championship season while also scoring three goals as a center back.
Name: Abdul Rwatubyaye
Pronunciation: WAH-too-BYAH-yay
Position: Center Back
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 175 lbs
Date of Birth: 10/23/96
Age: 23
Hometown: Kigali, Rwanda
Sebastian Anderson signed a homegrown contract on April 3, 2019 to become the current youngest signing in Colorado Rapids history. The right back also became the youngest player in Rapids history to make his professional debut on April 27, 2019 as well as the youngest goalscorer in club history on July 20, 2019 against New York City FC. The Colorado native started three games for the Switchbacks in 2019.
Name: Sebastian Anderson
Position: Right Back
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 140 lbs
Date of Birth: 8/8/02
Age: 17
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Sebastian Anderson signed a homegrown contract on April 3, 2019 to become the current youngest signing in Colorado Rapids history. The right back also became the youngest player in Rapids history to make his professional debut on April 27, 2019 as well as the youngest goalscorer in club history on July 20, 2019 against New York City FC. The Colorado native started three games for the Switchbacks in 2019.
Name: Sebastian Anderson
Position: Right Back
Height: 5′ 9″
Weight: 140 lbs
Date of Birth: 8/8/02
Age: 17
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Niki Jackson joins the Switchbacks with Major League Soccer and USL Championship experience. The forward was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the fourth round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft before scoring three goals during his rookie campaign, all on the road in clutch situations with two equalizers. In 2018, Jackson played in 4 games for the Switchbacks, totaling 219 minutes. The pacey forward played 4 games for the Rapids in 2019 before being loaned out to play in 23 games for the Charlotte Independence, adding five goals and two assists in the USL Championship.
Name: Niki Jackson
Position: Forward
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 175 lbs
Date of Birth: 8/25/95
Age: 24
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Niki Jackson joins the Switchbacks with Major League Soccer and USL Championship experience. The forward was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the fourth round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft before scoring three goals during his rookie campaign, all on the road in clutch situations with two equalizers. In 2018, Jackson played in 4 games for the Switchbacks, totaling 219 minutes. The pacey forward played 4 games for the Rapids in 2019 before being loaned out to play in 23 games for the Charlotte Independence, adding five goals and two assists in the USL Championship.
Name: Niki Jackson
Position: Forward
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 175 lbs
Date of Birth: 8/25/95
Age: 24
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Goalkeepers: Sean Melvin, Abraham Rodriguez
Defenders: Kris Reaves, Ever Rubio, Jordan Burt, Joan Cervos, Arturo Diz Pe, Abdul Rwatubyaye, Sebastian Anderson
Midfielders: Rony Argueta, Mamadi Camara, Hiroki Kurimoto, Aidan Daniels, Andre Lewis, Uvaldo Luna
Forwards: Austin Dewing, Luke Ferreira, George Lebese, Christian Volesky, Niki Jackson
Goalkeepers: Sean Melvin, Abraham Rodriguez
Defenders: Kris Reaves, Ever Rubio, Jordan Burt, Joan Cervos, Arturo Diz Pe, Abdul Rwatubyaye, Sebastian Anderson
Midfielders: Rony Argueta, Mamadi Camara, Hiroki Kurimoto, Aidan Daniels, Andre Lewis, Uvaldo Luna
Forwards: Austin Dewing, Luke Ferreira, George Lebese, Christian Volesky, Niki Jackson
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will open league play in the USL Championship on March 7th when the team travels to Oklahoma City to face the Energy FC. The Switchbacks home opener is set for March 14th where the team will face San Antonio FC in a rematch of 2019's final game of the season that resulted in San Antonio missing the playoffs. Tickets are available HERE.
Full 16oz beers will be available for only $1 for the first 30 minutes after gates open at EVERY Switchbacks home game in 2020! Tickets will start at just $12 so for the price of a Switchbacks ticket and 2-5 beers, it's cheaper than buying 2-5 beers at a bar or restaurant.
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will open league play in the USL Championship on March 7th when the team travels to Oklahoma City to face the Energy FC. The Switchbacks home opener is set for March 14th where the team will face San Antonio FC in a rematch of 2019’s final game of the season that resulted in San Antonio missing the playoffs. Tickets are available HERE.
Full 16oz beers will be available for only $1 for the first 30 minutes after gates open at EVERY Switchbacks home game in 2020! Tickets will start at just $12 so for the price of a Switchbacks ticket and 2-5 beers, it’s cheaper than buying 2-5 beers at a bar or restaurant.
