PHOTO | TROY HULL

Garinger High graduate Tresor Mbuyu has signed on for a third season with the Charlotte Independence after leading the team with 11 goals and five assists in 2022.

The Charlotte Independence have re-signed six players for the 2023 USL League One season.

The returning Jacks are: defenders Clay Dimick, Shalom Dutey and Héctor Acosta; midfielder Omar Ciss and forwards  Tresor Mbuyu and Khori Bennett.

“We are delighted to maintain a core group of our players from our first USL League One Season and are looking forward to announcing additional player signings as we build the roster for 2023,” coach Mike Jeffries said in a statement. “This group of players came together well in 2022 and were consistent contributors to our successes last season. The current signed group of players all had breakout seasons in 2022, and I look forward to seeing them continue their developmental progress.”

Dutey, who returns for a third season with the club, started in 28 of 31 games and led Charlotte in clearances and blocks while co-leading in interceptions. Dutey scored four goals in 2022, one of which was during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Mbuyu, a Garinger High grad who returns for a third year, punctuated a breakout season with 11 goals and five assists in 2022. Mbuyu was also named USL League One Player of the Month in April after recording three goals and one assist in the team’s first month of competition.

Bennett posted a strong debut season with the Jacks, scoring 11 goals to tie Mbuyu for the team lead and sixth-best in USL League One. He also added four assists and recorded the team’s lone hat trick.

Ciss, who earned USL League One All-League first team and nominee for Young Player of the Year, scored three goals and tallied two assists in 30 starts. He also led the team in tackles (34) and duels won (142).

Dimick, who started every match for Charlotte in 2022 as a team captain, is committed to a fourth season. He helped the Jacks to six clean sheets and tied for the team interceptions lead with 37.  

Acosta started as a defender in 15 matches in 2022 while scoring two goals in addition to an assist.

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