AFC Ann Arbor are excited to announce the signing of Jarred Dass for the 2019 season. Dass will join The Mighty Oak for his first season with the club, but he will not be unfamiliar with the club, nor all of the personnel. Dass will join Stony Brook teammate Stephen Turnbull with the club this season and will follow in the footsteps of Serge Gamwanya and nation-mate Moco Watson as other Seawolves to suit up for AFCAA. Coming off a successful junior season with the club, Dass will provide an added dose of immediate quality for the club’s attacking forces.
2018 was a breakout season for Dass, as the junior starred with Stony Brook even more so than the previous two seasons. A three-year starter, Dass’ junior season saw him score six goals and chip in three assists for his side en route to an American East regular season crown. His fifteen points throughout his junior season equaled the tally that Gamwanya produced as a senior with SB, with the six goals being a tie for the team-high with the AFCAA alum. Dass started the season with two goals in the first two games, and then finished strong with a stretch of three goals in three games.
On the connection with his teammates now for club and college, Dass said, “Turnbull told me a lot of great things and I’m happy that he will be returning with me.” In talking about what exactly Turnbull shared with him about the club, Dass noted, “The thing that stood out to me the most was when he told me about how professional the coaching staff is, and he also told me about how passionate the fans are and that really got me fired up.” The Stony Brooks contingent was extremely popular among fans for both their work ethic as well as successes on the pitch, and certainly Dass will be no different.
As a player, Eric Rudland sees plenty to like. “Dass is a special attacking player we are really excited to have with us. His versatility allows him to wreak havoc both centrally or out wide.” When talking about what makes him a special player, Dass humbly plays down his own successes. “I still have a lot to learn, but I’d have to say that my pace and skill has helped me to be a good player,” Dass notes about himself. He also adds, “I would have to say it’s my discipline and ability to be a team player that has made me a solid player.” Smarts and skill make for a dangerous combination, and these are things that the Trinidadian has in spades.
Not only is Dass experienced at the collegiate level, but like so many other members of The Mighty Oak, he has represented his country as well. “He has international experience with T&T at the U17, U20 & U23 levels and has become one of the most dangerous attacking players in the American East during his time at Stony Brook,” said Rudland of his ability on the collegiate and international level. When asked about why he decided Ann Arbor was the right place for him this summer, Dass also responded by pointing to his experience internationally saying, “As an international player I really wanted to get out of my comfort zone and put myself in a new environment. I wanted to give myself a new challenge to strengthen my mental skills as well as my physical skills. I am hoping that this experience will help in doing so.”
When it comes to the summer of 2019 for Dass, this is an opportunity to learn plenty of skills not just for now, but for the future. “I…want to gain more experience by playing in a professional environment so that I could transfer things learned at AFCAA into my school team for my next season,” Dass told AFCAA about his own personal hopes. With the coaching staff under Rudland consistently committed to helping players achieve higher levels on a collegiate level, it is no question that the Stony Brook front man has signed on for the right team.
As a message to the fans of the club, Dass said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the fans in full support!” He added, “I’m really excited to play with the club and I am confident that I will give everything I can to the club.” The pacey and skilled attacker is both versatile and dependable, making him a dangerous weapon for AFC Ann Arbor to be able to deploy during the season. Tree Town looks forward to welcoming home another member of the Stony Brook Seawolves for an exciting year of AFCAA football.
About AFC Ann Arbor
Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.