Orlando City's friendly match this week is a way to help Puerto Rico as the island continues to recover from Hurricane Maria, but one player wanted to give more.

Midfielder Antonio Nocerino purchased and donated 100 tickets for Orlando City’s benefit game against the Puerto Rican national team Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Orlando City Stadium.

All proceeds from the event, called “Fuerza Puerto Rico,” will go to the United for Puerto Rico initiative to raise funds and aid recovery efforts following the destruction on the island.

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com and range in price from $20 to $65.

“My family is happy [to donate] 100 tickets,” Nocerino said. “The community of Orlando has a big heart and I hope the people come to watch the game and help Puerto Rico.

“I am fortunate in my life and I have everything — I have a good life, I have a good family — but when people don’t have those opportunities … it’s important to help.”

Lions coach Jason Kreis said he hopes other players follow Nocerino’s lead.

“It’s fantastic,” Kreis said. “We do a lot of talking about how important the character of the player is to us as a team. It’s not just about what they can provide for us on the field, it’s also about what type of men we’re looking to have in this team. I’m really please Antonio can do that and hopefully the players can follow suit and maybe look at it as a little bit of a challenge.”

Lions reportedly offer contract

The search for more fire power is on as Orlando City begins its offseason, and the club reportedly is hoping to find some in 27-year-old Norwegian forward Jo Inge Berget.

Orlando City offered a contract to Berget, according to multiple news outlets in Sweden. His contract with Swedish club Malmö FF expires at the end of the year.

Berget also told reporters when asked whether he would sign with Orlando City or Danish club Brøndby, "It's certainly nicer and warmer in Orlando than it is here. It would be fun, but we'll see.”

Orlando City typically remains quiet about player deals until they are finalized.

When asked about Berget’s comments, Kreis said, “I think the most important thing for us to say is that first and foremost we’re really happy that players are recognizing that Orlando would be a great place to play. We’ve seen it now on multiple, multiple occasions where our name is being thrown around with some very good players, and so we take that as a little bit of an honor and we take some pride in that, but going past that we can’t comment on any of the situations because it’s not ethical.”

The club does have an established relationship with Malmö, also the former home of Lions midfielder Yoshimar Yotún.

Berget, whose last name means “mountain,” can play as a forward or winger. He bounced around clubs in Norway, Italy, England and Scotland before landing at Malmö, where he’s found success the past three seasons. He has helped the club to two Swedish championships and recorded nine goals and two assists this year.

He’s also made 19 appearances with Norway’s national team.

Trialist trains with Lions

A new face joined Orlando City for training ahead of Saturday’s Puerto Rico friendly: former MLS and Manchester United forward Kenny Cooper.

“It’s been a while since he’s knocked around with a MLS team and he still wants to resurrect his career, so we thought we’d have a look,” Kreis said of Cooper.

Cooper, 33, who was born in Baltimore but grew up in Dallas, is another journeyman. He began his career in England but never broke into Manchester United’s first team. He joined MLS and played for FC Dallas from 2006-09. He then went back to Europe, playing in Germany and England again before returning and playing for five MLS clubs from 2011-15. He is now a free agent.

ardelgallo@orlandosentinel.com