Phoenix Rising retain Ghana midfielder Gladson Awako for 2019 season

Phoenix Rising FC have confirmed that Ghanaian midfielder Gladson Awako would return to the club for the 2019 United Soccer League season.

Awako, who joined the Arizona-based side last year, after ending his five-year stay with Congolese giants TP Mazembe.

Despite the 27-year-old midfielder's slow start to the campaign, he managed to clock 1,833 minutes in 30 appearances, scoring a goal and contributing five assists.

His five assists tied for third on the club. Among players with at least 600 passes, Awako was the most accurate passer on the team, completing 84.4 percent of his passes.

The former Berekum Chelsea playmaker was also fourth on the team in chances created 30 and was named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 24.

Awako becomes the eighth player officially announced for the 2019 roster.