ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (WFLA) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ U.S. Open cup match against F-C Naples will be a family affair, as longtime Rowdies midfielder Leo Fernandes is set to face his younger brother, Gustavo. And according to Leo, the trash talking has already begun.
“My brother sent out the first text before the draw went out and he said, I quote, “We want Tampa,” said Fernandes. “So, I took that personally,” Fernandes said jokingly.
The passion for soccer runs deep for the Fernandes family. Leo and his three brothers all played Division I soccer or professionally, and their father also played professionally in Brazil.
“It’s going to be fun; it’s like a dream come true for our family. We’ve always wanted to play each other in the pros. It just takes me back to those days in the backyard playing 2v2 in every sport. It’s going to be a lot of fun and we’re just so happy we can make it work,” Fernandes said.
It’ll be all business once the Fernandes brothers take the pitch, but regardless of the result, Leo says he’s incredibly proud of his brothers.
“Just to see where there at right now is a good feeling as an older brother. I always tell them to keep pushing, keep striving for more, and the best is yet to come,” Fernandes said.
