Our Team

RICHARD ORTEGA
Director of Soccer

Originally from Lima, Peru, Coach Richard has over 13 years coaching experience. Richard is the founder of FC Sudamerica and Sudamerica Futsal. His background includes coaching top level teams for DA, Academy, Select, Athena, Middle School, and High School programs, ages U8 to U19.

Personally, Coach Ortega has played soccer throughout his life. Beginning in Lima, Peru at a young age, Coach Ortega continued to play soccer at high school and collegiate levels in the United States. As a forward and outside midfielder for Reinhardt University, Coach Ortega excelled at the NAIA level of soccer where he had the opportunity to play with a variety of international players. In 2011, Coach Ortega graduated from Reinhardt University with a Business Information Systems Degree where he was the School of Business Student of the Year.

Coach Ortega is an intensely passionate coach displaying a strong commitment to the recruitment process. He consistently has transformed meager teams into extraordinary teams with winning records. His preferred mode of play is the free-flowing style with a heavy concentration on passing.

Coach Ortega is a very enthusiastic coach who describes the game as “the perfect way to develop character, creativity, team skills, and passion all at once”, and he is excited to make a difference in our community.

RUDI PIRES
Director of Development

Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Coach Rudi has over 13 years of coaching experience. Rudi’s background includes coaching top teams for Academy to College levels. Coach Rudi is an inspiring addition to FC Sudamerica’s diverse leadership and coaching lineup.

Rudi holds two Bachelor Degrees. He graduated in 2012 from the University of Johannesburg with a Bachelor’s in Sports Science, and in 2016 he graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Bachelor’s in Exercises Science. Rudi is a certified U.S. Soccer coach. He is also certified in CPR, Life Guarding, and First Aid.

As a player, Rudi was known for his goal scoring ability. He played as a striker and as an attacking mid-fielder. Rudi represented several prestigious soccer teams which include Platinum Stars (South Africa), the South African U/17 and U/18 National Team, and the FC Porto Academy (Portugal).

Rudi lives and breathes soccer; he has a passion for sharing his knowledge and experience in the game with others, especially with younger athletes who share his passion for the game. Rudi enjoys competing at the highest level, as well as transforming teams that have previously been overlooked, or have struggled to achieve results in the past.

TENNYSON JAMES
Director of Operations

Born on the Island of Jamaica, Coach Tennyson comes from a long family history of soccer professionals. His uncle, Tony James, was the president of the Jamaican Football Federation, inducted into the football hall of fame and served as the head of the Caribbean Football Union.

Several James family members went on to play professional football and at the tender age of 3, Coach Tennyson began playing soccer with encouragement from his family. You can say it was in his blood!

As a teenager he played for his high school team on the island and was picked for the Jamaica U16 Development National Team. He migrated to America in 1985 where he was selected to be the Captain of his high school team and led the team to the state final championships in New York City.

During the time he proudly served his country in the US Army, Coach Tennyson played center forward for the Army team and traveled the world until a substantial knee injury. After several knee surgeries and rehab he went on to be the lead scorer in the Florida Suncoast Soccer League and took home a division championship. He continued to play for the Mexican soccer league in Florida and was the leading goal scorer. Significant knee injuries and continued surgeries permanently ended his soccer playing career in 2009.

Coach Tennyson has been coaching for over 20 years, at all levels from Rec to Academy throughout Florida to Pennsylvania and Georgia.

On a personal note, Coach Tennyson and his wife relocated to Georgia in 2017 along with their two youngest boys who also have a love of soccer!

Coach Tennyson holds a Bachelor’s degree from Remington college in Electrical Engineering and currently works as a Key Account Manager with General Electric serving nondestructive testing facilities worldwide.

Coach Tennyson enjoys watching children learn from his methodological style of coaching. He is extremely passionate about soccer and holds a great love and respect for the game.

SEAN McNEW
Goalkeeper Coach

25 Years of Coaching Experience
University of North Georgia Player
North Georgia College Player

Goalkeeper Coach with NASA 91’s (State Champions)

Goalkeeper Coach with AFU 91’s DA (Including Atlanta United GK Alec Kann)

Goalkeeper Coach with Pope High School

Goalkeeper Coach with United Futbol Academy (UFA)

DANIEL RAMIREZ
Coach

Born in Dahlonega, Georgia, Coach Dani has been involved in coaching at various different levels, namely, Academy, Select and High School. As a player, he grew up playing the game for the majority of his life and competed at the collegiate level. Dani is very driven and is a natural leader, he is very excited to take the next step in his soccer career at FC Sudamerica.

JESUS “CHUY” RAMIREZ
Coach

Chuy grew up playing soccer for several well known teams including Lumpkin County High School, DUSA, ASA and UFA. He suffered a severe back injury during his high school playing days, but has since then recovered and rediscovered his passion for soccer. He has now found a new passion for working with players at the youth soccer level.