Despite a successful run into the postseason, several of the Roots’ important players from 2021 left after the season. Notable players that didn’t return include Wal Fall, Quincy Amarikwa, Jeremy Bokila and Kai Greene. In addition, local Bay Area players, including Yohannes Harish, Saalih Muhammad, and Tarin Weir, also are no longer with the Roots.
Several new additions will play essential roles for the Roots in 2022 under first-year coach Juan Guerra:
Alejandro Funmayor
Fuenmayor, 25, has played professionally in Venezuela for Carabobo from 2013-to 2018 and the MLS’s Houston Dynamo from 2018 till last season. A defender, he made 38 appearances and helped the team win the 2018 US Open Cup.
Danny Barbir
Center back Danny Barbir, 24, played last year for fellow USL Championship side Sporting Kansas City II the past two seasons. He was part of the England club West Bromwich Albion development academy from 2014-2017 and made appearances for the USMNT U-15, U-17, and U-19 sides.
Edgardo Rito
A right-back, Rito 26, is a native of Venezuela. He started his career at Atletico El Vigia. He previously played for another USL side, the New York Red Bulls II, in 2019 and 2020 and made 34 appearances.
HELLA FOOTBALL PODCAST: USL preview: Oakland Roots, Sacramento Republic, and Monterey Bay
Óttar Magnús Karlsson
A native of Iceland, Karlsson was part of the Ajax youth academy. After playing for several teams in Europe, he was signed by Italian Serie A side Venezia in 2020 with seven appearances. The club loaned the forward out for the 2022 season to the Roots.
Nico Lemoine
Another loan player for the Roots for the 2022 season is Houston Dynamo player Lemoine. The midfielder has experience in the USL playing for Rio Grande Valley in 2019 before being signed by the Dynamo in 2020 and making twelve appearances.
He is a native of the Bay Area and a product of De Anza force and the San Jose Earthquakes youth academy.
Juan Carlos Azocar
Another experienced USL midfielder Azocar played for Rio Grande Valley last year, scoring seven goals in 27 games.
Wolfgang Prentice
Midfielder Wolfgang Prentice earned a spot with the Roots after an impressive pre-season. From Redondo Beach, California, he played college ball for Cal State Northridge and will provide more midfield depth.
Dariusz Formella
Formella, 26, also has USL experience playing recently for the Sacramento Republic, where he scored 17 goals in 51 appearances. Before coming to America, he played for Polish first division side Lech Poznan and was loaned out to other European teams. He is expected to play in an attacking role as a midfielder or forward.
Charlie Dennis
Dennis grew up in Brighton, England, and played college soccer in the USA. After impressing in the third division USL League One for FC Tuscon and South Georgia Tormenta FC, the Roots signed him to solidify their midfield.
The Oakland Roots play their first game of the 2022 USL Season against Rio Grande Valley at 5:30 pm. The game is on television on KTVU Plus.
