CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Dec. 13, 2018) – Chattanooga Red Wolves SC has signed Brazilian midfielder Ualefi Rodrigues dos Reis to its USL League One team. Ualefi will join the club for its 2019 Inaugural Season from Brazil’s Barretos Esporte Clube, pending league and federation approval.
Ualefi rostered with Barretos EC for the 2017-18 season. A vital player for Barretos, he made an appearance in every match, adding nine assists and contributing to big wins for the club, including a 2-0 victory against rival Monte Azul. According to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Head Coach and Technical Director Tim Hankinson, the midfielder will be a great asset for the Red Wolves.
“As a defensive midfielder, Ualefi is a ball winner. Offensively, he controls the tempo of the game and facilitates possession seamlessly,” said Hankinson. “He has an innate ability to open up the game with long diagonal passes. Overall, he makes a great addition to our midfield.”
Prior to joining Barretos EC, Ualefi rostered with USL Championship’s Swope Park Rangers for two seasons. In 2016, Ualefi was the only player to start every regular season match during the 2016 season, adding four assists and placing second on the team in minutes played with a total of 2,511. He started in the USL Cup Playoffs opener against LA Galaxy II in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, recording an assist on the third goal of the 3-0 victory. Ualefi made his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut with Sporting Kansas City as a substitute at Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the CONCACAF Champions League on Aug. 23 before starting against the same opponent on Sept. 13.
The Sao Paulo native spent his early career in his native Brazil, joining Corinthians Academy in 2007 and advancing through the ranks to join the senior team in 2012. In 2012, he spent time with Flamengo’s Academy before returning to Corinthians in 2013. While with Corinthians, he won the 2011 IX Copa Ouro and Mundialito de Clubes Under-17 tournaments. The team was also victorious in the 2012 Copa Sao Paulo de Juniores.
“First, I want to thank Chattanooga Red Wolves SC for this opportunity that the club is offering me,” said dos Reis. “Everyone can expect a lot of effort to achieve our goals of winning. I am anxious for the work to begin and to bring joy to the city and to all who support us. See you soon, Chattanooga!”
He joins the Red Wolves roster as the tenth player signing for the club. Other signees include Greg Hartley, Éamon Zayed and Steven Beattie.
For more information on Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, visit www.chattredwolves.com or follow the team on social media: @ChattRedWolves on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Founded in 2018, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a professional soccer club in Chattanooga, Tenn. The USL League One founding member is led by business executive Robert (Bob) Martino and coached by Tim Hankinson. The club has plans to construct a new state-of-the-art 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium in Chattanooga for the 2020 season and will play its inaugural season at David Stanton Field at Chattanooga Christian School while the stadium is being built. For more information, visit www.chattredwolves.com.
About USL League One
USL League One is shaping the future of the game in the United States, uniting passionate fans in new markets with the thrill of a proven professional soccer experience. League One submitted its sanctioning application to the U.S. Soccer Federation on Aug. 14. South Georgia Tormenta FC, FC Tucson, Greenville Triumph SC, Forward Madison FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, Toronto FC II, Orlando City B, Lansing Ignite FC, North Texas SC and the Richmond Kickers have been revealed as teams set to compete in the inaugural 2019 season.
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