Some heads were turned in NASL circles this offseason when a number of players from both Tampa Bay and Fort Lauderdale crossed Florida Derby lines to ink new deals.

Former Rowdies captain Frankie Sanfilippo and Evans Frimpong are now plying their trade down in South Florida after several quality years of service for the green and gold.

Despite a run to the 2014 Soccer Bowl final, the Strikers new ownership elected to allow much of their roster to leave in free agency. The Rowdies were more than happy to pick up some of the key pieces from their rival’s roster. Along with signing up original Strikers player Thomas Rongen for coaching duties, Rowdies General manager Farrukh Quraishi brought in five major contributors to the Strikers underdog run to the final.

Center back Stefan Antonijevic, right back Darnell King, and midfielder Martin Nunez have all quickly become mainstays in the Rowdies gameday roster since making the move to the Gulf Coast.

King may have the most appearances for the modern era Strikers, but he was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area, so this offseason was more of a homecoming for the defender.

“I’m back on my old stomping grounds. I’ve come back and I see a lot of people I knew from previous years here in Tampa and I’m much closer to my family,” says King “It feels really good to be back around where I used to live when I was younger, where I started my soccer career in general. Obviously I started my professional career in Fort Lauderdale, but it’s great to be back home now.”

Rivalry aside, the transition to a new club is an uncertain situation for any player, but Antonjiveic and the others were able to overcome that feeling with the aid of a lengthy preseason and the right mix of personalities in the locker room. The starting center back has transitioned so well that, through only six weeks, he has played his way onto the NASL Team of the Week on three occasions.

“It’s always very difficult when you leave a team, starting a new chapter in your soccer career with a new team,” says Antonijevic. “There are a lot of challenges. You have to create new chemistry and unity on the field with new players, and with a new coaching staff you don’t really know what they’re looking for. I think the transition was unique. We had a long preseason, but it was well worth it. We were able to get in their quick, before a lot of other teams, and kind of create that team bond and winning atmosphere.”

Saturday’s match should provide another night of lively atmosphere in the stands at Al Lang. A number of sections have either sold out already or on the verge of it. Fort Lauderdale’s supporters group is hoping to bring its largest contingent in the modern era. All three players expressed excitement at the idea of taking the field for a raucous crowd.

“That’s what players want. Players always like to play in front of fans. That’s something really important, they show a lot of support and we appreciate that a lot. It’s just good for us to always have people cheer for us and be positive,” says Nunez.

“It’s gonna be a good atmosphere for us. We know what we have to do. It’ll be a little more hype for us to have that type of atmosphere. I’m excited. I hope to see some old faces, familiar faces after the game, but when it comes to gametime, I have to leave it all on the field for the team I’m on now,” says King.

“When I used to travel to play in Tampa Bay, the Striker Likers fans were always there, and they were always loud and proud, and the same goes for the Rowdies fans,” recalls Antonijevic. “The Rowdies fans are just as loud and just as proud. To be a part of that kind of atmosphere in the Florida Derby, playing for the Coastal Cup, makes the occasion worth so much more.

Neither Antonijevic nor his fellow former Strikers would say that the idea of squaring off with their previous team for the first time gave them any extra motivation. What was clear from all three, though, was that the focus is solely on building on what they’ve started in Tampa Bay.

“A lot has changed over there, from the coaching staff, organization, and obviously the players. We had a lot of good things going for us there, but that’s the past. Now we’re in the present and thinking about the future with the Rowdies right now. So we’re definitely looking forward to the game,” says Antonijevic.

Adding to the rivalry this weekend is the big impact the outcome could have the Spring title race. Through six games played, the Rowdies are tied for second place with Jacksonville. Meanwhile, the Strikers sit in a tie for third place with the Atlanta, only two points behind the Rowdies. When the final whistle blows on Saturday night, the Rowdies will only have three games left in the Spring season. Maximizing points in each remaining match.

“I think we’re moving on the right track but we have a lot to work on. We just gotta keep working hard in training every day,” says Nunez. “It’s an important game, especially since it’s at home, where three of our last four will be. It’s going to be important for us to get a win. I think training has been going well. The guys have been training hard and we’re getting ready, trying to focus on this game.”

Going up against the second highest scoring team in the NASL will be a tough ask for a Rowdies team that has struggled to find a consistent scoring identity. For the two defenders, though, the challenge of trying to suppress one of the most potent attacks in the league is certainly intriguing.

“I watch games throughout the league to see who I have to match up against, so I know they picked up a good amount of Brazilians,” says King. “They have a certain style coming forward and I should be ready for a lot of skill. They’re definitely potent, but I’m gonna be ready. I’m still gonna play my own game. I’m not gonna change how I play. I’m gonna fight for every ball like I would any other game.”

“I follow Fort Lauderdale. I still have friends that play there and I watch them play. They absolutely have a lot of key contributors in the attacking part of the field,” says Antonijevic. “They’re very crafty, witty, and very dynamic. For a defender it’s all about focus and attention. It’s all about getting the details right. What defender doesn’t want to face the best? That’s where the glory comes from. So I’m very excited. I cannot wait.”

IMAGES, TAMPA BAY ROWDIES