Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has added another veteran to its defensive group, signing Mekeil Williams to a one-year contract with a club option for 2022, pending USL and USSF approval.
Williams, 30, is a Trinidad and Tobago international whose club career has included stops in MLS with the Colorado Rapids and the USL with both the Richmond Kickers and Oklahoma City Energy. "Mekeil is a quality defender who can play anywhere across the back line," Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. "He is comfortable on the ball and is a seasoned pro who will add composure and leadership to our roster. We are excited to have Mekeil joining the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for the 2021 USL Championship season."
A 6-foot-1 defender, Williams most recently played for top Guatemalan side Municipal. He signed with the club in December 2019 and made 12 appearances in what ended up being a Covid-shortened season. Williams' experience in the U.S. includes spending 2016-17 with the Rapids, for whom he made a total of 38 league appearances. Williams then moved to USL with the Kickers in 2018, twice suiting up against the Riverhounds that season, and with the Energy in 2019, making a total of 55 USL appearances.
Before coming to the U.S., Williams' career included a stint in Guatemala, stops with clubs in Poland and Denmark, and time at home in Trinidad and Tobago's Pro League, where he made his professional debut in 2009 and helped his side, W Connection, win the title in 2014.
Williams has made 36 appearances for Trinidad & Tobago, appearing in both the 2015 and 2019 Gold Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the Soca Warriors. He also scored on his international debut in 2012 in a friendly against Finland.
The Riverhounds now have 16 players under contract for the 2021 USL Championship season, with players slated to arrive to start preseason at the end of March and the regular season scheduled to kick off in early May.
Players currently under contract:
Forwards - Russell Cicerone, Albert Dikwa, Alex Dixon, Josh Gatt
Midfielders - Danny Griffin, Kenardo Forbes, Louis Perez, Anthony Velarde, Todd Wharton
Defenders - Ezra Armstrong, Jordan Dover, Preston Kilwien, Dani Rovira, Mekeil Williams
Goalkeepers - Chris Morrish, Danny Vitiello
SOURCE: riverhounds.com