FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Revolution II players Mayele Malango and Joe Rice have teamed up with Revolution eMLS player John “JKO” Oliveira to compete in USL eCup: FIFA 20 Edition, beginning play on Monday, May 4. The six-week tournament, which includes 32 clubs from across the USL Championship and USL League One, will feature weekly brackets across three divisions with promotion and relegation at the end of each week. The initial bracket and matchups will be determined via a live draw on YouTube today at 3:00 p.m. ET.
All clubs have the opportunity to compete on behalf of a charitable cause during their matches, which will be streamed live on Twitch. The Revolution II team will play to benefit the Revolution Charitable Foundation and the Kraft family’s Together while Apart initiatives supporting COVID-19 relief efforts. A link to donate to Together while Apart will be available for fans to lend their support throughout the live streams, with 100 percent of all donations going directly to the purchase of personal protective equipment and medicinal supplies for the brave doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, first responders, and other essential workers who are fighting COVID-19 on the front lines.
Complete tournament rules, details, and rosters may be found here. Follow Revolution II on social media on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest news and updates.
Malango joined Revolution II in January 2020 after two collegiate seasons – one with Salem State and another with UMass Lowell. As a freshman with Salem State in 2017, Malango led the MASCAC with 17 goals and 43 points in 19 games, earning MASCAC Player and Rookie of the Year honors. In 2018, he transferred to UMass Lowell, where he appeared in all of the team's 18 games. The 23-year-old attended Lowell High School, where he was a two-time Lowell Sun Player of the Year and led the Red Raiders to consecutive Merrimack Valley Championships. A native of Kinshasa, Congo, Malango and his family relocated to Massachusetts in 2017 as part of the United Nations’ refugee program.
Rice is one of two goalkeepers on the Revolution II roster, and the team’s lone member with previous USL League One experience. He joined New England in March after suiting up three times for the Richmond Kickers in 2019. Prior to joining the professional ranks, the Fairfax, Va. native played one season for Lionsbridge FC of the Premier Development League (now USL League Two), seeing action in 12 games. Rice, 24, graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he made six appearances and one start for the Rams.
Oliveira, 26, is in his third season as the Revolution’s eMLS competitor, having initially signed as the club’s first-ever esports pro ahead of the inaugural 2018 eMLS campaign. The Oak Bluffs, Mass. product and University of Massachusetts Boston student re-signed with the club in December 2019, and brings more than 15 years of competitive FIFA experience. In April, Oliveira also competed alongside Revs midfielder Diego Fagundez in eMLS Tournament Special on FS1 and FOX Deportes.
