Player Pathway

Two Roots players sign with Des Moines Menace

Grady Walston and Ephraim Lunganga move from Capital City Roots FC to USL League Two within twenty-four hours of each other.

Capital City Roots FC is proud to recognize two players who have taken the next step in their development pathway. Midfielder Grady Walston and forward Ephraim Lunganga have both signed with Des Moines Menace of USL League Two, giving the club two player movement moments in two days.

Grady, a midfielder out of Iowa Central Community College, was announced by the Menace on June 17. Ephraim, a forward out of Iowa Lakes Community College, followed on June 18. Different players, different profiles, same message: the Roots platform is doing what it was built to do.

This club is not recreational. The environment is competitive, intentional, and built around players who want to be tested. Head Coach Hamed Alic and the CCRFC staff have set a standard at training and in matches that asks players to be coachable, consistent, and ready for pressure.

The UPSL Premier Division matters in that process. Organized clubs, real games, travel, physicality, and pressure all sharpen players in ways training alone cannot. Grady and Ephraim were tested in that environment, held themselves to the standard, and earned their opportunities.

Roots Run Deep

This is the standard.

Capital City Roots FC exists to give serious local players a competitive environment, meaningful matches, and a platform to be seen. Two players moving to USL League Two in two days is proof of concept.