George off to Seattle Sounders on trial

National senior footballer Emerald George is off on a nine-day trial with new Major League Soccer Club, the Seattle Sounders.{{more}}

George left the state yesterday, Thursday, February 5, after procuring the necessary requirements to travel. He will team up with his potential employers this weekend and engage in the club’s training programme, and be a part of the planned warm up matches.

George, who currently turns out for local club Jebelle FC, was recommended by Thomas Rongen, the US Under-20 Men’s Football Coach, who was here last month to witness the Caribbean Zone Finals qualifiers of the Under-20 Competition.

Rongen had a look-in at several local players in an arranged practice match while he was here, and George immediately grabbed his attention.

A speedy midfielder, who mainly operates on the left side of the pitch, George was the stand out player for the country’s Under-23 team in the Olympic qualifiers back in September 2007.

He then made easy passage into the senior team the following year, and represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines in both World Cup qualifying matches against Canada last June.

George also was a member of this country’s team in their failed attempt to advance from the group stage in Martinique of the 2008 Digicel Caribbean Championships.

The Seattle Sounders was the No.1 pick to an expansion of the teams to the 2009 MLS set up, and George will be under the eyes of Vincentian Ezra Hendrickson, who is the Sounders’ Assistant Coach to Head Coach Sigi Schmid.

Hendrickson, a former Vincy Heat captain, and himself a former MLS player, resigned from representing this country internationally in 2007, and hung up his boots last year, ending his 11-year MLS career.

The lanky Hendrickson, who hails from the Central Leeward town of Layou, finished off on a winning note with the Columbus Crew, who took the 2008 MLS title.

If selected, George will join fellow Caribbean islander Khano Smith, of Bermuda, on the Seattle roster. (RT)