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Caffa Ready for ‘Special Game’ against Roughnecks

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/18/18, 8:27AM EDT

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Foxes playmaker looking forward to facing off with former club for first time


Photo courtesy Kiel Maddox / Fresno FC

FRESNO, Calif. – Juan Pablo Caffa only spent one season with Tulsa Roughnecks FC, but last year was a memorable one for both the Argentinean and the club as the playmaker led the Roughnecks to their first trip to the USL Cup Playoffs.

So after the 33-year-old’s move to Fresno FC this offseason, there was a sense of anticipation for the veteran as to when his new club would play his former one, a game that arrives on Wednesday night at Chukchansi Park.

“Yes, you always notice these games on the schedule,” said Caffa. “I spoke with some teammates from last year, and we checked when were going to play and it's a special game to play against them.”

Caffa recorded nine goals and eight assists for the Roughnecks a season ago to earn USL All-League Second Team honors, and that form has carried over to the Foxes. Caffa recorded his second goal of the season in Fresno’s last outing, a 1-1 draw with Saint Louis FC on April 7 that extended the club’s undefeated streak to four games.

Fortunes haven’t been so kind to the Roughnecks, who are still looking for their first win of the season after a 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers 2 at ONEOK Field that saw Tulsa produce numerous chances but be denied a victory due to an excellent goalkeeping display by T2’s Kendall McIntosh.

That performance coupled with the two-week break that has allowed the Roughnecks to not only get healthy but also integrate a pair of loanees – former PDL standout Jon Bakero from the Chicago Fire and Femi Hollinger-Janzen from the New England Revolution – has Tulsa Head Coach feeling more optimistic about his club’s fortunes.

“With the two weeks off, we have gotten a lot of guys healthy, and we have everyone available for the match on Wednesday,” said Vaudreuil. “It is the first time since February that we have been in that position. We are also bringing in a couple of guys on MLS loans that will give us even more reinforcements.”

As much as he enjoyed his time competing for Vaudreuil and the Roughnecks, though, Caffa isn’t going to make life easy for Tulsa’s back line as Fresno looks to continue a solid start to its inaugural season.

“I know a lot of the people there and it was a team that I really enjoyed,” said Caffa. “But, at the same time, I'll have the same desire to win as if were any other match.”

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