Tropics bring back Arico and Manfut

LAKELAND, Florida (May 17, 2019) -  The Florida Tropics will be bringing back two fan favorites for the next two seasons as both Anthony Arico and Antonio Manfut have inked new deals with the Major Arena Soccer League Club. Per league and club policy, no additional details about the deals will be released.

Arico will be starting his fourth season with Florida; he was an original member of the Tropics when they kicked off in November, 2016. His high energy style of play has worked well for the team at both midfield and defense where he has split time. In 58 games with the Tropics, he has 25 goals and 21 assists. Before coming to Florida, Arico played with the St. Louis Ambush and Milwaukee Wave.

Manfut established himself as an immediate fan favorite with a similar all-out style of play at both ends of the floor, and with his creative goal celebrations. He came over from the St. Louis Ambush in a mid-season trade. In his last three season, with additional stops in Rio Grande Valley and Syracuse, he has scored 54 goals and added 27 assists in his 64 games.

The Cleveland native spent five years total with Syracuse – now Utica City FC – where he appeared first in the 2013-14 season. In 84 total games with the Silver Knights, he tallied 49 goals.

“While we have committed to bringing in new, top talent, it is just as important if not more so to keep intact the core of players we have identified as warriors and winners going forward, and Anthony and Antonio fit that description perfectly,” “Coach Clay Roberts said. “They both approach the indoor game with a passion, enthusiasm and dedication that makes them the quality players they are.”

The Tropics have already announced the signing of two of the MASL's top nine goal scorers last season in Gordy Gurson and Ricardo Carvalho, as the league's free agency period runs through the end of the month, with more player signing news expected to be announced in the coming days.

The squad will start its fourth season of professional indoor soccer at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland in late 2019. For more information, visit www.fltropics.com.