Finalists Arrive in Los Angeles Wednesday Evening for National Final of SUEÃO MLS 2009
Published on April 8, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Wednesday, April 8, 2009) - Twelve talented and previously undiscovered soccer players, selected by scouts from 1,800 participants during regional tryouts hosted by D.C. United, LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire, will unite in Southern California starting tonight, Wednesday April 8, for four days of intense competition to determine the champion of the nationally-televised player search Sueño MLS 2009 - built by The Home Depot.
The ultimate winner will be crowned on Sunday, April 12, live (EST) on "República Deportiva" (Sports Republic), the popular Univision weekly Spanish-language sports show that chronicles the tryouts in a "reality show within a show" format.
The "Final 12" players are:
NAME AGE POSITION HOMETOWN TRYOUT
César Bazán 23 Forward Derwood, MD D.C. United
Ricardo BuendÃa 16 Defender Cicero, IL Chicago Fire
Josué Chávez 15 Midfielder Elgin, IL, Chicago Fire
Max Ferdinand 22 Forward Reading, PA D.C. United
Manfredis Hernández 19 Defender Mount Rainier, MD D.C. United
Alberto López 17 Midfielder Aurora, IL Chicago Fire
Oussana Maukran 26 Goalkeeper Alexandria, VA D.C. United
Mikon Orellana 15 Midfielder Provo, UT LA Galaxy
Steve Palma 16 Forward Grand Junction, CO Chicago Fire
Javier RodrÃguez 16 Defender N. Las Vegas, NV LA Galaxy
Héctor Ramos 18 Defender Mexicali (México) LA Galaxy
César Silva 18 Forward Anaheim, CA LA Galaxy
Under the leadership of two-time MLS head coach and current MLS Technical Director, Alfonso Mondelo, the Final 12 will participate in pro-style training sessions, scrimmages against the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA Under-18 teams and various media activities.
Assisting Mondelo as "celebrity scouts" will be Peruvian World Cup legend Teofilio "Nene" Cubillas, Team USA's all-time great and World Cup veteran Marcelo Balboa, and former Mexican National Team and Chivas Guadalajara goalkeeper Martin "El Pulpo" Zúñiga. The three will provide guidance on and off the field for the Final 12, who will also attend the Honda Super Clasico between the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center on Saturday, April 11 as part of their activities.
Now in its third year, Sueño MLS 2009 - built by The Home Depot, included tryouts in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago, with four winners from each city moving on to the four-day finals in Los Angeles. The original winner from 2007, Jorge Flores of Anaheim, CA, is now a member of the Chivas USA roster and the United States Under-20 National Team.
Major League Soccer Stories from April 8, 2009
- USA Rugby Comes To Buck Shaw Stadium May 31 - San Jose Earthquakes
- Revolution's Nyassi wins MLS goal of the week honors - New England Revolution
- Finalists Arrive in Los Angeles Wednesday Evening for National Final of SUEÃO MLS 2009 - MLS
- Crew returns home to face Colorado Saturday - Columbus Crew SC
- Chivas USA introduces 'Stimulus Plan' featuring July 11 Honda Super Clásico vs. LA Galaxy - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Real Salt Lake to Host 3-v-3 Soccer Tournament - Real Salt Lake
- FC Dallas Launches Official Social Netorking Site: MyFCDallas.com - FC Dallas
- Rapids Win on Penalty Kicks over LA Galaxy in U.S. Open Cup Play-In Match - Colorado Rapids
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