The Swope Park Rangers today announced that the club has signed Alex Molano, Nansel Selbol and Jacob VanCompernolle. The signings bring the total number of players on the Rangers’ roster up to eight as the club steps up its recruitment ahead of the team’s inaugural season in the USL.
Molano, 23, joins the Swope Park Rangers after attending November’s open tryouts, having last played for Dallas City FC and helping the side to a ninth-place finish in the NPSL South Region in 2015. The midfielder began his career with FC Dallas’ Juniors before joining the U.S. Under-17 Residency Program in 2008. The Dallas, Texas native signed for Dinamo Zagreb’s Under-19 side ahead of the 2009-10 season, before joining Bodens BK in Sweden in 2011. He made five appearances for Bodens before returning to Croatia a year later to join NK Vrapce.
Molano rejoined Bodens BK eight months later, going on to make eight appearances and tallying two assists in the 2013 season. After leaving the Swedish outfit, Molano returned stateside and linked up with Dallas City FC in April 2014.
As a member of the U.S. Youth National Team setup, Molano played five times with the U.S. Under-20 National Team in 2010, recording one assist and helping the U.S. win the prestigious Milk Cup held in Northern Ireland.
“Joining the Swope Park Rangers represents an amazing opportunity for me,” Molano said. “It’s an honor to join the Sporting organization and I can’t wait to work with Marc Dos Santos.”
“Alex has done well at the youth level and gained some experience while in Europe,” Swope Park Rangers head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “He did very well during our open tryouts and he could provide us with creativity in the midfield.”
Selbol, 18, joins the Rangers directly from Sporting KC’s Academy, where the forward currently leads the Under-18 team with 10 goals in eight appearances so far in the 2015-16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Selbol made his debut for the SKC Academy on September 20, 2015 and fired in a hat trick seven days later against the Colorado Rapids.
In Nigeria, Selbol played for C.O.D. United FC, Plateau United FC and Pawas Soccer Academy before moving to Kansas City in 2014. On the international stage, he was named to Nigeria’s preliminary roster for the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, with the Super Eagles becoming eventual champions. Selbol will join the Rangers pending the receipt of his P-1 Visa.
“It’s an honour for me to join the Swope Park Rangers and I am deeply humbled by this,” Selbol said. “I am looking forward to working hard for the team and becoming a better player through the influence of my coaches, teammates and the culture of the club. I intend to be an ambassador for my home country, Nigeria as well as the Swope Park Rangers and also hope that my endeavors will help build a Nigerian and African fan base for the club.”
“Nansel has made a very positive impression in our Academy,” Dos Santos said. “He deserves a chance at the next level and has the tools to grow as a player. We’re very excited to bring in a young player with a lot of potential.”
VanCompernolle was a four-year letterwinner at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, leading the Seahawks to the second round of the NCAA tournament following the team’s first-ever at-large postseason berth as a senior. The defender from Dallas, Texas made 74 total appearances for the Seahawks, adding eight goals and nine assists in that time while he was a first-team All-CAA and NCCSIA selection. He also earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year and first-team NSCAA Midwest All-Region honors as a senior.
While in college, VanCompernolle played for USL Premier Development League side the Ottawa Fury in 2013, making 14 appearances and recording one assist. Most recently, the 22-year-old played for Sporting KC’s former USL affiliate Oklahoma City Energy, where he made 25 starts in all competitions in 2015. He helped the side finish second in the Western Conference and clinch a first-ever playoff berth for the franchise.
“I am blessed to have the opportunity to join the Swope Park Rangers,” VanCompernolle said. “The expectations for this organization are high, and I’m excited to play a part in making this a successful inaugural season.”
“Jacob had a very strong first season in the USL,” Dos Santos said. “He showed great defensive qualities at Oklahoma City and he will certainly add some athleticism and stability to our backline.”
VITALS
Alex Molano
Position: Midfielder
Born: 4/10/92 (23 years old)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Last Club: Dallas City FC (NPSL)
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Citizenship: USA
Twitter: @dinhomolano10
Instagram: @amolano_92
VITALS
Nansel Selbol (NAHN-sul)
Position: Forward
Born: 5/31/97 (18 years old)
Height: 5-4
Weight: 140
Last Club: Sporting Kansas City Academy
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria
Citizenship: Nigeria
Instagram: @nansel_selbol
VITALS
Jacob VanCompernolle
Position: Defender
Born: 8/2/93 (22 years old)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
College: University of North Carolina Wilmington
Last Club: Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL)
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Citizenship: USA
Twitter: @Jacob_VC
