Galaxy to host 2009 Pan-Pacific Championship in February
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Just when we thought the inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship played in Hawaii last year would also be the last Pan-Pacific Championship, along comes Soccer United Marketing and dumps the second edition of the tournament right in our backyard.
The Galaxy will host the second edition of Major League Soccer’s Asian outreach program on Feb. 18 and 21 at the Home Depot Center, and the teams joining Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena’s team-in-rebuilding will be Oita Trinita of Japan, the Suwon Samsung Bluewings of South Korea, and Luneng Taishan FC of China.
The Galaxy, which will still be without on-loan David Beckham and on-loan Landon Donovan, will open against Oita Trinita at 8 p.m. on Feb. 18, after the Samsung Bluewings and Luneng Taishan kick off the tournament at 5:30.
The Galaxy, which begins preseason training Feb. 1, finished third in last year’s event.
The Pan-Pacific Championship will give L.A. fans the first chance to see two newly signed players in competitive games -- Jamaican national team goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, a probable starter in 2009, and midfielder Leonard Griffin.
-- Grahame L. Jones