Photo: Courtesy of Harrisburg City Islanders

Harrisburg City Islanders announced Monday that standout striker, Lucky Mkosana, has been loaned to the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the remainder of the fall 2013 NASL season.

After injuries slowed his early season progress, Mkosana finished the USL campaign in impressive form, scoring 13 goals to go with 2 assists. The Rowdies, who take on the Carolina Railhawks and Union original Nick Zimmerman this Saturday, can look to the red hot Mkosana, who ended his season with the City Islanders on a tear that saw him score 10 goals in his final 8 games, including two hat tricks.

Mkosana, who was originally drafted by the Chicago Fire and has also trialed with Columbus Crew and the Union, is eager to keep up his goalscoring form. He was quick to praise City Islanders head coach Bill Becher and his staff for putting him in the position to succeed, saying, “The coaches encouraged and believed in me even during tough times (getting back from injury), and for a forward that’s important and builds up confidence.”

While it will be a new challenge for the 25-year-old Dartmouth College grad, Mkosana is familiar with the Rowdies.

“My friend Evans Frimpong has been playing on the team so I have been following them the past years,” Mkosana said.

When asked about his readiness for the NASL and his ability to make an immediate Impact, Mkosana said he is eager to try his luck in a new setting.

“I feel confident for sure and want to continue doing well,” Mkosana said. “The NASL is a pretty good league, competitive, and very professional. It just comes down to taking care of your body, resting, eating well and obviously working hard at practice too.”

The Rowdies currently sit tied with Minnesota United for fourth place after having drawn four of their first five matches in the fall campaign.