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| Ochocinco |
The club will not offer Ochocinco a contract, but he showed enough potential to remain part of Sporting Kansas City and train with the Major League Soccer club’s reserve team.
Coach Peter Vermes called him “an honorary member” of the team.
And that’s just fine with Ochocinco, who spent a week training with Sporting Kansas City appeared in a reserve team match on Monday.
“It’s awesome,” Ochocinco, 33, said before this morning’s training session. “Basically I can stay here and train as I please, which is really cool. Words can’t describe how thankful I am to be able to be here.”
Ochocino, who last played competitive soccer in high school, has always had an affinity for soccer and pursued his dream by trying out for Sporting Kansas City while the NFL players are locked out of their facilities after the collective bargaining agreement with the owners expired.
“He’s been a pleasure to have here,” Vermes said. “He’s progressed in the days he’s trained with us.
“We told him we would not be offering him a contract with the team, but we feel his stay here has been so good in so many ways, we would offer him an opportunity to train with our reserves when they train in the afternoon on certain days of the week and continue to work on his fitness while he’s waiting for the lockout to finish, just because we think he’s become an honorary member of Sporting Kansas City.
“He has been fantastic in all ways. In the locker room with the guys, and just with the staff and everyone else, it’s been a real pleasure.”
Ochocinco, a six-time Pro Bowler, took part in today’s training session but said he would return home and “get some things situated so I can be here for a long period of time.
“Playing with these guys on this type of level …” Ochocino said … “People don’t understand … I understand because I understand the game, but I’ve been away from it so long, how good these guys really are. To be able to stay out here and practice with them until the lockout gets resolved … I’ll be in ridiculous shape.”
In another development, Sporting Kansas City confirmed it will host English Premier League club Newcastle United F.C. on Wednesday, July 20 in an international friendly at Livestrong Sporting Park.
The match will be included in all Sporting Kansas City season ticket packages.
“This match will continue the presence of prominent soccer matches in Kansas City and will be an outstanding opportunity for supporters to see Sporting Kansas City play against another strong team from the English Premier League,” Sporting Club CEO Robb Heineman said. “We are excited to bring a club that has such a passionate following and we are hopeful that their great fans will join us in Kansas City at Livestrong Sporting Park.”
Sources: http://www.kansascity.com
