The second phase of the Seattle
Sounders FC preseason training begins this week with the coaches and players
relocating to Southern California until
February 14. Sounders FC will train twice daily the remainder of the week at
Oxnard
College, at 10 a.m. and 4
p.m.
Significantly warmer weather greeted
the team upon its arrival in Ventura on Monday. However, temperatures will
dip into the 60's with rain in the forecast later in the week.
Besides Oliveira, Schmid will bring
at least six new faces into the fold in Ventura. Among those joining training camp are
third-round draft choice Jared Karkas of Azusa Pacific, former Kansas City forward Ryan Pore former Wake Forest midfielder Ryan Caugherty, and
former D.C. United forward Quavas Kirk. Fourth-round pick Michael Fucito of
Harvard, and Lamar Neagle of UNLV could join the team for training later in the
week.
Camp began on January 21 with 31
players. There are currently 36 players on the preseason training camp roster.
Five players left after the January 30 session in Renton, Wash.
All were members of the Sounders team in the USL First Division last season:
Hugo Alcaraz-Cueller, John Fishbaugher, Kevin Sakuda and Kenji
Treschuk.
Mandou Bojang, a central defender
formerly with Gambia's Ports
Authority and the U-20 National Team, will stay in Seattle and rejoin the team
for training there February 18. Bojang participated in the team's January 30
session.
Not making the trip to California was forward
Jarrod Smith, who has been nursing a hip flexor since the opening week. Central
defender Patrick Ianni, acquired in a January 27 trade with Houston, is expected to
participate in full training after being limited initially. Stephen King (toe)
returned after missing the January 30 workout. Midfielder Peter Vagenas
underwent arthroscopic surgery to trim articular cartilage above his knee and
should begin training in 3-4 weeks. Freddie Ljungberg, who underwent surgery to
repair a hip condition in December, continues to rehabilitate in Sweden.
