Twice the Kicks: Twin Brothers Bring Their Soccer Talents to the Pro Ranks in Savannah

Story by Stephen Prudhomme  |  Photography by Erich Perez

Aaron and Moises Martinez are 25-year-old twin brothers who started playing soccer in their hometown of Mexico City and continued in Colorado. They competed for elite youth and adult teams before taking their talents to college.

Befitting their twin status, they’ve competed on the same teams. Their latest stop is in Savannah, where they’re together one again, playing as professionals.

The brothers, who live in Bryan County, play for the Savannah Clovers FC, a Tier 3 professional team that competes in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) and holds its home games at Memorial Stadium. The league features teams from Maryland, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, California and Arizona and is split into east and west divisions.

The league runs from March to September. Playoffs are in October. The Clovers will play some 25 to 30 games in a season.

Players are full time professionals who have competed in college or at a professional academy. The soccer is top notch and competitive as players gain experience as professionals and look to move up to the top levels of the sport.

Among this group of talented players are Aaron and Moises Martinez, whose soccer odyssey started over 20 years ago and eventually led them to Savannah and another opportunity to operate as a dynamic duo on the pitch.

Born to Play

The twins come from a soccer family. Their father and older brother played the sport. It was only natural they followed suit. “We loved playing soccer,” said Aaron, who is 3 minutes older than Moises.

When they were 10 years old, they moved to Colorado. Two years later, they enrolled in the Colorado Rapids Academy and honed their skills competing in various tournaments around the country. “There were very competitive teams,” Moises said.

The Martinezes moved to the college ranks and played at Salt Lake Community College in 2017 and 2018. Aaron transferred to Colorado Mesa University (CMU), a Division II school, and played there from 2019 to 2021 (missing the 2020 season due to the pandemic) before graduating with a degree in business administration and management and working a variety of jobs while keeping his soccer skills sharp by competing in a summer semipro league and on a number of under 23 (U23) teams in Colorado.

Moises took same time off after leaving Salt Lake Community College and pursued a number of vocations, including training and coaching for Greeley FC, before going to Colorado Mesa State and playing soccer in 2022 and 2023 and graduating with a degree in sports management. Although the brothers were used to being together on the pitch, Aaron said it was a good challenge to be apart and compete with other players while at CMU.

Signing with Savannah

In 2023, Aaron became the first player to sign with the Savannah Clovers, who were coached by Dave Proctor. A former professional player in England, Proctor coached for 20-plus years with the Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, and Nashville SC in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Proctor coached Aaron and Moises in several age groups at the Colorado Rapids Academy. “He’s a very good coach,” Aaron said.

In April, Moises joined the Clovers, thus presenting Proctor with the challenge of telling the twins apart.

“Thankfully they wear different colored soccer boots so I can tell them apart,” Proctor said. “I still call them by the opposite name to this day.”

Proctor described the twins as very technical, tenacious players who are very skillful and have good passing range. Aaron, he noted, has a bit more tenacity in the tackle. They both possess great attitudes and work ethics and are great guys off the field, Proctor added. “The twins have the greatest smiles, especially after a win,” the coach said.

Aaron, a midfielder, said the team is very professional, with players and coaches setting a high standard. Focusing on getting goals and assists, which he said teams at the higher levels are looking for, noted he’s trying to earn player of the month honors and working hard to reach that next level.

Working on Their Craft

Top professional soccer players have seven figure salaries. The Martinez brothers might reach that level one day. For now, however, they’re playing for the love of the game and a possible shot at a big payday.

“We make a modest salary,” said Aaron, who shares an apartment with Moises. “Housing is included. We stay afloat. The goal is to reach our highest potential. We’re working on our craft. This is the best route to go.”

Moises, a wing who previously played the striker position, describes the league as very competitive and shares his brother’s goal of jumping to the next level in several years. He said there’s an adjustment going from college to the pros.

“It’s more organized and at a higher competitive level in the pros,” Moises said. “The training is more intense. Players compete for the love of soccer. There are a few holes on a college team. In the pros the players are all picked and good.”

The Clovers

The Clovers are a community-based soccer team that started in June 2016 as an amateur club with a mission of bringing the highest levels of soccer to Savannah and having players, fans and businesses serve the community. The team competed in the United Premier Soccer League for five seasons and played in the 2020 and 2021 NISA Independent Cup.

 In 2022, the team received a large financial investment. This allowed it to turn professional and be sanctioned as a National Division Three League member by the United States Soccer Federation. The Clovers began their inaugural season in March 2023 with Aaron in the lineup, followed a year later by Moises.

It’s a Twin Thing

Although they’re identical twins, Aaron and Moises have differences on and off the field. Aaron has shorter hair. Moises said Aaron’s more intense on the pitch. Aaron noted they’re both defensive minded but Moises is crafty and offensive minded.

Playing on the same team as professionals is rewarding for the duo. Moises said Aaron paved the way for him and is a great motivator. He further described him as very crafty and a talented player.

Playing with his brother, Aaron remarked, gives him strength and great motivation to see Moises playing well. “Playing alongside my twin brother is great and a dream come true,” Aaron said.

Sometimes, the reality of competing as professionals interrupts that dream. Aaron said they share the mentality of giving 100% percent every day.

“My spot is on the line,” Aaron said. “I’m ruthless, even if it’s my brother.”

Although Moises said Aaron is more intense on the pitch, he’s focused in his own right. “We share that intensity and that makes us better,” he said.

There’s a definite change in climate between Colorado and southeast Georgia. In Colorado, the air is thinner and drier. Cold weather and snow can appear throughout the year and make it challenging to play soccer. Those two are largely absent in Savannah and the surrounding area, much to Aaron’s delight.

“I love the heat,” Aaron said. “It’s hard to play in cold weather. I get a good sweat every time I play. It’s very green. I like that as well.”

Moises, proving the brothers aren’t identical in every way, isn’t as fond of the warm and humid weather. “I prefer cold weather,” he said. “I don’t mind the warm weather… It takes time to adjust to it.”

The Martinezes have had to adjust to the weather and playing professionally, but there’s the comfort of doing it together, just as they’ve done for all but 3 minutes of their lives.

“I know exactly where he’s going to be when we’re playing soccer,” Aaron said. “We’re very compatible with one another.”