TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 15 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday, with Oakland Roots SC midfielder Lindo Mfeka voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after he scored twice to lead Roots to a 3-2 victory on the road against rival Sacramento Republic FC.  

Part of Oakland’s squad since it joined the USL Championship for the 2021 season, Mfeka had a breakout performance this season as Roots claimed its first victory at Heart Health Park in club history in impressive style. The South African playmaker opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a composed finish from 14 yards into the bottom-right corner.

Mfeka added a second three minutes into the second half as he was first to react to a knock-down in Sacramento’s half and surged into the penalty area before lifting a finish past onrushing Republic FC goalkeeper Danny Vitiello. He almost completed his hat trick in the 54th minute, rattling the underside of the crossbar with a shot from a tight angle in the right side of the penalty area that caromed out and was cleared, but then provided a beautifully weighted pass on a give-and-go with Baboucarr Njie that resulted in Jeciel Cedeño’s finish for what proved to be the game-winner for Oakland after Sacramento’s late comeback attempt.

Formella earned 63 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Indy Eleven’s Hunter Sulte finished second after recording a pair of outstanding saves – including a crucial early penalty kick stop – in his side’s 1-0 victory against San Antonio FC, a result that stretched the club’s current winning streak to eight games in league play and 10 in all competitions.

The Championship’s Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship.

USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 15
GK – Hunter Sulte, Indy Eleven: The 22-year-old goalkeeper recorded a key early penalty kick save as part of a two-save shutout that registered a -1.61 Goals Prevented mark as Indy won its eighth consecutive league outing with a 1-0 victory against San Antonio FC.

D – Triston Hodge, Hartford Athletic: The Trinidad and Tobago international notched one assist in his side’s 2-0 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and recorded eight clearances, 10 recoveries and one interception defensively at Trinity Health Stadium.

D – Lamar Batista, North Carolina FC: Batista won 9 of 13 duels – including 4 of 5 aerial duels – while recording five clearances and six recoveries and completing 56 of 62 passes as North Carolina earned a 2-0 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. on Sunday evening.

D – Akeem Ward, Memphis 901 FC: The veteran defender recorded three chances created, recorded five interceptions, six clearances and eight recoveries and completed 78 of 102 passes across two games as 901 FC took four points to move into third in the West.

M – Yosuke Hanya, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: The Tokyo native scored a pair of goals, had five shots overall, three of which were on target, and completed 3 of 5 dribbles in the Switchbacks’ 4-2 victory against Orange County SC.

M – Rafael Mentzingen, North Carolina FC: The Brazilian scored once from the penalty spot and had three shot and two chances created while completing 43 of 51 passes overall and winning 2 of 2 tackles, 5 of 6 ground duels, and 3 of 4 aerial duels in a 2-0 win against Monterey Bay F.C.

M – Lindo Mfeka, Oakland Roots SC: The South African playmaker recorded his first two-goal game since 2022, also hit the woodwork and completed 13 of 15 passes while winning 2 of 2 duels as Roots took a 3-2 victory against Sacramento Republic FC.

M - Pacifique Niyongabire, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The Burundi international provided the assist on the Rowdies’ late game-winner against Louisville City FC and had two chances created overall while completing 23 of 30 passes and winning 3 of 3 tackles and 10 of 13 ground duels defensively.

F – Bryce Jamison, Orange County SC: The 18-year-old United States youth international scored a pair of outstanding goals and had one chance created while completing 15 of 18 passes and winning 2 of 3 tackles and 3 of 5 ground duels in Orange County’s visit to Colorado Springs.

F – Michee Ngalina, Hartford Athletic: The former Championship Young Player of the Year scored twice in the opening 16 minutes, recorded three shots on target and had two chances created as Hartford took a 2-0 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

F – Maalique Foster, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: The Jamaican forward scored a pair of goals, had four shots overall and two chances created while completing 4 of 4 dribbles and 25 of 28 passes in the Switchbacks’ 4-2 victory against Orange County SC.

Coach – Gavin Glinton, Oakland Roots SC: Glinton’s side took its first victory in club history on the road against rival Sacramento Republic FC with an impressive all-around display that earned the side its fourth win in the last five league outings.

Bench: Renan Ribeiro (HFD), Stephen Carroll (DET), Joe Farrell (HFD), Bruno Lapa (MEM), Maxi Rodriguez (DET), Trevor Amann (SAC), Greg Hurst (NM)