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Renato Bustamante Joins Central Valley Fuego FC

By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 01/18/22, 11:30AM EST

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Veteran Peruvian forward brings strong local connections in return to pro ranks


Veteran Peruvian forward brings strong local connections in return to pro ranks | Photo courtesy of Fresno FC

FRESNO, Calif. – Central Valley Fuego FC announced on Monday it has signed forward Renato Bustamante as the club continues to build its roster for its inaugural 2022 USL League One season. The signing is pending league and federation approval.

A native of Lima, Peru, Bustamante has played both in the college ranks in the Central Valley at Fresno Pacific and for both Fresno Fuego in USL League Two and Fresno FC in the USL Championship over the course of his career. He is now reunited with former Sunbirds and current Fuego FC Head Coach and Sporting Director Jaime Ramirez, for whom he played collegiately.

“Very excited to work again with Renato,” said Ramirez. “In 2015, he captained our team to our first NCAA DII National Tournament appearance in school history, after moving from NAIA to DII in 2012. Renato is a born leader. He has the ability to motivate his teammates to play at their highest potential. We'll rely on him to model championship soccer to the younger players.”

Bustamante most recently played in the professional ranks for Fresno FC, where he made 34 appearances and recorded three goals and one assist across the 2018 and 2019 Championship seasons. The 31-year-old had previously played two seasons for the Fuego in League Two, including in 2017 recording eight goals and seven assists in 13 appearances for the side to earn League Two All-Western Conference honors.

While competing for the Firebirds collegiately, Bustamante recorded 26 goals and 23 assists in 56 appearances across three seasons. A sophomore transfer after competing for NJCAA program Truman College – where he earned Junior College All-America honors as a freshman – Bustamante was twice voted to the All-PacWest Conference Team, and in 2014 was named to both the NCAA Division II Daktronics All-West Region Second Team and the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team.

“The Central Valley is my soccer home and it's an honor and a privilege to wear the Fuego jersey at a professional level,” said Bustamante. “I'm grateful for President Chris Wilson and Head Coach Jaime Ramirez for believing in me. I can't wait to represent the Central Valley's soccer community on a national stage.”


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