Colombian Defender to Join Sounders?

There are many reports surfacing that 24 year old defender John Kennedy Hurtado has joined the Soudners from Deportivo Cali-the same club striking sensation Freddy Montero joined from. (Here’s one: http://mlsseattle.blogspot.com/2009/02/sounders-to-sign-columbian-defender.html)This is great news on two levels.

First off, If indeed the transfer goes through, Seattle have found themselves not only a top notch defender to add to our current group of already decent defenders, but also a comrade that can help Montero settle down in America.

Second, it proves that not only is the young MLS better than the Colombian league, but that we are moving away from the “athlete” sort of players and bringing in some technically sound guys. 

EDIT: Goal.com says it’s official. Nothing from the official site yet. Ironically, the lastest news is about the “newest” defender Tyrone Marshall. http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2009/02/18/1116427/colombian-defender-hertado-inked-by-sounders

Looks like it’s official now: http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/sounders/2009/02/18/hurtado_signs.html

 

But what can you say about the Sounders as a team? I don’t think any expansion team has experienced this type of hype. From signing Ljungberg and Montero to the fan excitement level, the Sounders have found themselves in a position not just to get settles in the league, but also to hopfully make a deep run in the play-offs. Finally, Coach Sigi Schmid has said that the team is about  “75 to 80 percent”  ready. Whether this means a few more new faces in training camp, such as Hurtado’s, or getting ready tactically and physically, I”m not so sure. One thing’s for certain though: His son won’t be playing for us this season. He is “no longer with the team” which means he probably sucked and got cut 🙂

 

Hurtado’s Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kennedy_Hurtado