ST. PETERSBURG— Lucky Mkosana is back in green and gold.
The forward played for the Rowdies in 2013 and 2014 — he was a fan-favorite then and still is now.
"That wasn’t why we signed him, we signed him for what he can do on the field and what he can bring to the locker room,” said Rowdies head coach Neill Collins. "But the fact that the fans have taken to him again is an extra bonus.”
Since Mkosana left the Rowdies he’s played with the New York Cosmos, Penn FC and Louisville City. Through all those moves, he kept in touch with his fans back in St. Pete.
“I'd try to talk with them and have good relationships off the field, to me, that’s more important to have an impact on the little kids,” Mkosana said. “To me, that’s one of my purposes.”
The Rowdies have transformed since he left — the team moved to the USL, has new owners and a new coaching staff. However, some things have remained the same.
"Just the energy when you walk on the field, the locker room, the staff, everyone just wants you to be better, wants you to do good,” Mkosana explained. "It’s hard to explain — to put into words — but it’s just that energy you get when you’re playing for them.”
That energy is fueling Mkosana in his return. In his first game back, he set up the game-winning goal in added time, propelling the Rowdies to a 2-1 victory against Ottawa Fury FC. In his second game, he scored the tying goal against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, helping the Rowdies remain unbeaten on the road.
"Scoring goals and the feeling you get after scoring goals, it’s amazing — it’s unreal,” Mkosana said.
But the veteran forward impacts more than just the stat sheet.
"Where I’m from in Zimbabwe, whenever we play, we try to enjoy,” Mkosana explained. "When you’re on the field, you forget about all your problems and that’s one thing I love about the game. You have your teammates on the field and you are fighting for each other. That to me, it means a lot, that we are able to accomplish one thing with 11 players on the field and it’s something special.”