By AVI CREDITOR
The Kansas City Wizards have officially added two more international players to their arsenal, and another is on the cusp of joining the fold, the team announced Monday night.
Outside midfield trialists Ryan Smith and Igor Kostrov joined the senior roster, while central midfield trialist Craig Rocastle has agreed to terms with the team but won't be added to the roster until he receives his P1 visa.
Smith, 23, plays on the left and came through the Arsenal youth system. He's played for a number of teams in England, most recently with Crystal Palace.
Kostrov, 22, is from Moldova and played last season for Maccabi Herzliya in Israel. His natural position is on the right.
Rocastle, 28, is a central midfielder with the most experience out of the bunch. His resume includes a brief stint with Chelsea in 2003 and Sheffield Wednesday in 2005. His last team was Forest Green Rovers of the English Conference.
The trio joins Stephane Auvray, Pablo Escobar and Jimmy Nielsen as international players to sign with the team this offseason.
REVOLUTION INK SECOND-ROUND SELECTIONSSecond-round picks Seth Sinovic and Zak Boggs both signed with the New England Revolution. Sinovic, a left back out of Creighton, was the 25th overall selection in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. Boggs, an attacking player, was the 31st overall pick.
The team also announced that new-retiree Jay Heaps will join the announcing booth for the team's local television broadcasts.
FIRE SIGNS TWO DRAFT PICKS
The
Chicago Fire signed draftees Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Steven Kinney
to MLS contracts. Watson-Siriboe, a second-round pick, was Big East
Co-Defender of the Year last season at the University of Connecticut.
Kinney, a third-round pick, also plays in the back and is the first
Elon University player to sign with an MLS club.
The team did not offer a roster spot to second-round pick Drew Yates.
D.C. GETS HEALTHIER
D.C. United added good news to its recent showing of good preseason form as Clyde Simms and Bryan Namoff joined the team in Charleston, S.C., where it is competing in the Carolina Challenge Cup.
Simms, recovering from meniscus surgery, and Namoff, dealing with the after-effects of concussions suffered last year, figure to be key elements of the team this season.
United also welcomed Yates as a trialist. The 29th-overall pick in the 2010 draft is a native of nearby Severna Park, Md., and played at the University of Maryland.
--------------
Do you like what Kansas City is doing to its midfield? Think Chicago and New England's rookies can make an impact in 2010? United fans, relieved to hear Namoff is progressing?
Share your thoughts below.
