Hartford had four players – plus manager Brendan Burke – in the USL Championship Team of the Week for the first game week of the season, with Samuel Careaga and Matt Real named as first-choices, and Michee Ngalina and Antony Siaha named to the bench.
Prior to Week 25 of the 2025 season, Hartford Athletic had never had a manager named Coach of the Week. Burke has now done so four times in just 10 game weeks, as well as being named the Coach of the Month for August 2025. He’s previously emphasized that managerial honors are the ultimate team award, but there’s no denying that this is an indication of how much better Burke has his team playing than any previous manager in club history.
After Saturday’s match, Burke said of Careaga, “he makes us different,” and the performance proved it, as the midfielder had a goal and an assist despite playing less than 20 minutes. Careaga is no stranger to the Team of the Week, having received the honor on three previous occasions during his Hartford Athletic career. He’s the fifth player in club history to have received that recognition at least that often, and shows exactly why Burke wanted to bring him to Hartford on a permanent basis.
Real had previously been named to the TOTW twice during the 2024 season, while he was with Colorado Springs as the Switchbacks ultimately won the entire league. His performance was no surprise to Burke, who said “I knew what I was getting” with the left back, whom he has known for over 15 years - but it’s still a welcome performance from a player who is, at least on paper, backing up first-choice fullback Emmanuel Samadia.
Additionally, Antony Siaha and Michee Ngalina were named to the bench; both players had previously been named to the bench for the TOTW during the 2025 season. On Saturday, Ngalina had one assist, taking him to 12 all time for his Hartford Athletic career, level with Prince Saydee for the second-most all time in club history. Siaha had two key saves – both coming with the game in the balance —t o record his 13th shutout in his time with Hartford Athletic, extending a club record.
Former Latic Juan Carlos Obregon Jr. was also in the TOTW, as he scored the first goal in club history for his new side, Brooklyn FC. Hartford will see Obregon and Brooklyn in just 10 days time, as they visit Maimonides Park on March 22.
