WINDSOR, Colo. – Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC announced today the club has signed forward Donald Benamna for the 2023 season, pending league and federation approval.
“This opportunity is right for me because of the love the boys showed me,” Benamna said. “Not only that, but also the project of this team. This team made history last year by beating an MLS team, and I want to make more history with them.”
The 26-year old is the second Hailstorm player to be signed after attending the club’s open tryout, which he did back in January. Destan Norman also earned a contract after trying out for the team ahead of last season.
Born in Bangui, Central African Republic, Benamna is slated to become the first USL League One player with roots in the country.
He has even represented his country on the pitch. In 2019, he joined its other top players for a friendly match against Niger’s national team. In 2020, he took part in Africa Cup of Nations qualification, playing all 90 minutes of two group stage games against Morocco.
He’s bounced between three teams since then. Hailstorm made it four by inviting him on as a trialist, and it didn’t take long for the forward to force his way onto the club’s official roster.
“This opportunity means everything to me. The last couple years were not easy for me and I waited patiently for this opportunity,” Benamna said. “It means more work and having more hunger to put this team first. It means giving all I have within my power to help the team.”
Benamna, a tryout-participant-turned-trialist with no League One experience, has a great story. But he realizes the story of his new team is far from fully written, and he is so excited to be a character in it.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, and I wanted more of it,” he said. “I believe that, honestly, the team chose me before I even signed. From the very first day of my tryout here, the boys welcomed and treated me as if I was on the team. Their love inspired me as a trialist to do everything I could to be part of this family and build something together.”
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The future home of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 118-acre Future Legends Complex, will feature 6,500-seat TicketSmarter Stadium, 2,500-seat Future Legends Field, multiple baseball diamonds, multi-purpose fields, an indoor sports arena, lodging, and retail; and will host guests for major sports leagues, tournaments, events and more.
More information is available at HailstormFC.com and FutureLegendsComplex.com.