ports Rowdies Sign Defender Eddie Ababio

TAMPA -- The Tampa Bay Rowdies have announced that they have signed former Major League Soccer defender Eddie Ababio, pending league approval.

Ababio, 24 years old (5-11, 175), is from Accra, Ghana, but is no stranger to the Tampa Bay community. He moved to Tampa Bay when he was eight years old and grew up playing for HC United (now Tampa Bay United) and Gaither High School. He then joined the US Under-17 National Team Residency Program at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

From 2006-10 Ababio played for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, where he finished his college career with 13 goals and 12 assists. Ababio was drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids of the MLS.

The Rowdies host the Puerto Rico Islander for the last meeting between both teams during the Regular Season on tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Pete.