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PLAYER MOVEMENT: Diouf Leads Two Arrivals for Bold FC

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 04/21/20, 5:14PM EDT

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Former OCB midfielder joined by fellow SIMA Aguilas product Ciss in Austin


New Austin Bold FC signing Ates Diouf made 17 appearances for Orlando City B in USL League One during the 2019 season. | Photo courtesy Jessica Stone Hendricks / Richmond Kickers

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Bold FC announced on Tuesday the addition of Ates Diouf and Omar Ciss for the 2020 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval. Both players have previously competed at the Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (S.I.M.A.).

“Ates and Omar coming to Austin help merge the Bold with another soccer institute [S.I.M.A] that shares similar strong societal values as our organization. Values such as the courage to change bad environments, putting people first, creating winning cultures, and inclusiveness,” said Austin Bold FC Head Coach Marcelo Serrano. “I'm excited for both of these extremely talented players. We now have a very important job to transition and develop them into their professional careers. With that being said, this easily opens Austin Bold FC to the U.S. and European transfer markets to sell when they become proficient as professionals.”

Diouf enrolled at The Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy in Orlando, Florida, from Rufisque, Senegal, as a result of S.I.M.A's direct partnership with Salif Diao's SPORT4Charity project. In 2019, the 20-year-old Senegalese midfielder graduated from S.I.M.A and joined Orlando City B in USL League One. In 17 appearances for OCB, Diouf scored one goal and tallied one assist. Diouf participated in the 2020 Bold FC preseason as a trialist.

Ciss joined The Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy in Orlando, Florida, from Dakar, Senegal, also through S.I.M.A's partnership with Salif Diao's SPORT4Charity project in 2017. The 18-year-old is currently a senior at Montverde Academy and will graduate with honors in May 2020. Ciss participated in the 2020 Austin Bold FC preseason as a trialist.

“We are extremely proud of Ates and Omar for the opportunities that they have rightfully deserved as a result of their hard work and dedication in the classroom and on the field of competition,” said Head SIMA Boy's Coach and Director Mike Potempa. “Their story of success continues to prove that young people can accomplish their dreams of playing professional football while continuing their education and this is a testament of our mission here at Montverde Academy and the SIMA Program of combining education and sport to help young people with opportunity.”

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