by Per Gary Moody
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the only league designated by USASA as a Tier 1 national league, is proud to announce that DMV Elite FC (Hyattsville, MD) has joined the league as an expansion team. The club will begin play in 2024.
“We are excited that DMV Elite FC has joined the NPSL,” NPSL Director of Membership Development Dina Case said. “This group has seen great success as a club on the pitch and are ready to establish themselves in a higher level league. They pride themselves on running a very professional level organization at the amateur level which aligns well with what the NPSL strives for as well. We look forward to seeing this group continue to grow as an organization both on and off the pitch.”
The club will be led by Prosper Adangwa, Manfred Tambe, Tche Njokikang, Kenne Zony, Steve Sounders, Densill Theobald, and Steven Nwamkpa.
Adangwa, who leads the club as president and founder, is very passionate about soccer and is a licensed agent. He has experience in promoting the careers of both aspiring and current professional players. Tambe, who serves as vice president and Director of Sports Operations, is an ex-professional soccer player and active healthcare professional. He is very instrumental in the overall development and wellness of players.
Njokikang uses his expertise in financial management in his roles as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, while Zony serves as both Secretary and Sales and Marketing Director. Sounders, who has vast experience in both soccer and business development, serves as an advisor to the club.
Theobald, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago men’s U-15 national team, serves as the club’s Director of Coaching. He captained the Trinidad and Tobago senior men’s national team more than 30 times, including at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, amassing 99 caps. As the club’s current head coach, Nwamkpa has extensive experience playing professional soccer in Nigeria, Georgia, Cyprus and China.
“For the first season, we have the expectation to compete at very high standards and to establish our team as one of the very best amateur teams around Maryland,” Adangwa said. “We are bound to compete both inside and outside the field of play in order to achieve this goal.”
The club’s mission is to create a diversified platform for young athletes to practice, compete, and enjoy the beautiful game of soccer with the ultimate goal of guiding them towards becoming professionals.
Shortly after its launch in September, 2022, DMV Elite FC competed in the Maryland Major Soccer League, winning both the regular season league title and the championship with an unbeaten record. The club also took part in the Morton Cup, emerging as a runner-up. DMV Elite FC won the regular season title with an undefeated record in the spring of 2023.
Fans and supporters can visit www.dmvelitefc.org or follow the team on Facebook (@dmvelitefc), Instagram (@dmvelitefc), and Twitter (@dvmelitefc).
More information about expansion opportunities in the NPSL can be found at npsl.com/expansion.
