PITTSBURGH (December 15, 2020) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has re-signed team captain Kenardo Forbes to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2022 season, pending USL Championship and USSF approval.
The midfielder is coming off an All-League First Team season in which he tallied a club-leading eight assists en route to becoming the USL Championship’s all-time assist leader (39 career league helpers). The Kingston, Jamaica native also ranks tied for second with David Flavius in club history with 25 assists, trailing only Kevin Kerr (27).
“Kenardo has been a constant the past three years in Pittsburgh and has played a very important part in the club’s success during this time,” head coach Bob Lilley said. “He competes every day, and his abilities and leadership make players around him better. As we have started to build our foundation for next season, signing Kenardo was a top priority.”
Forbes, a four-time All-League player, has spent six seasons in the USL Championship. For his league career, he has totaled 164 games played, 17 goals and 73 points. The 2019 MVP finalist has led the Hounds in assists in each of his three seasons with the organization (2018-20).
Since entering the USL Championship with the Rochester Rhinos in 2015, Forbes has competed under Lilley for each season. In 2015, Forbes and Lilley won a league championship with the Rhinos. The midfielder assisted the game-winning overtime goal in the title game against LA Galaxy II.
In addition, the club has picked up the contract options of forward Albert Dikwa, defender Jordan Dover, midfielder Danny Griffin, midfielder Anthony Velarde and goalkeeper Danny Vitiello.
This past season, Vitiello won the league’s Golden Glove award, which goes to the keeper with the best goals-against average (GAA) over the course of the regular season. His 0.50 GAA also set a single-season club record (minimum of 500 minutes played).
Joining Vitiello on the defensive side of the ball, Dover returns as an outside back. Dover, competing for the club since the 2018 season, has started 68 of his 70 games played with the Hounds and his 6,049 minutes with the organization ranks 15th most in club history.
In the midfield, the club returns Griffin and Velarde. Griffin is coming off a strong rookie season in which he started 13 of 16 appearances. The Wethersfield, Connecticut native posted two goals and two assists in 1,208 minutes played. Meanwhile, Velarde will return for his third straight season with the team. The Reedley, California native has recorded at least 10 points in each of his previous seasons (10 points in 2019 and 12 points in 2020).
On the frontline, Dikwa returns for his second season with the club. Despite arriving with the team midseason and playing only six of 16 regular season games in 2020, the Garoua, Cameroon native racked up 15 shots, which was third most on the club. The striker scored three goals in 245 minutes, including two game-winning tallies that occurred in the 81st minute or later.
The club continues to remain active pursuing players in the domestic and foreign markets as well as scouting top players from the collegiate system. The club also expects to run invitational combines in late January and February.
