Radanfah Abu Bakr on trial with Philadelphia Union

[Tallman]

Philadelphia Union roster not quite finalized
By Dave Zeitlin (CSNPhilly.com)

Because of the delay in reaching a new collective bargaining agreement, Major League Soccer delayed its roster compliance deadline for the second time.

But Philadelphia Union released its preseason roster following Friday’s exhibition game. And in addition to all the names fans know – including recent signee Roger Torres and former Temple star J.T. Noone, who will likely be signed soon – there was another unfamiliar name on the list: Radanfah Abu Bakr.

Until now, there’s been no official mention of Abu Bakr, a 23-year-old defensive trialist who hails from Trinidad and Tobago and played professionally for Swansea City in Wales last season.

With him included, that makes 23 players on the preseason roster. The Union can keep 20 men for its senior roster and four more for its developmental squad.

If Abu Bakr does make the team, he’ll join a seasoned defensive unit that already includes Orozco, Califf and Shavar Thomas, an eight-year MLS veteran.

“That’s one of the theories on the field,” said Thomas, a native of Jamaica. “You like to have experience in the back.”

[judge101]

hope he makes it not a big MLS fan but say what good luck boy

[weary1969]

hope he makes it not a big MLS fan but say what good luck boy

COSIGNNNNN

[Sando prince]

Play yuh football Abu

[Andre DosSantos]

Seattle is playing some nice ball tonight, really enjoyable football. Score is 1-0 in Favor of Seattle thus far. It could be a 3-0 or 4-0 game but we will see how it goes

[Deeks]

Thanx. Getting it on JustinTV

[Andre DosSantos]

No problem Deeks.

[DeSoWa]

      Off to a great start! F U P U lol


Big Up!

[Themanfriday]

Darn I missed it. What was the final score?

[Andre DosSantos]

Darn I missed it. What was the final score?

2-0 was the final score, decent game alot of hard tackles. 5 yellow and 1 red for PU

[maxg]

Was ABU trial successful ? Was he allowed to enter the US ?

[weary1969]

Was ABU trial successful ? Was he allowed to enter the US ?

COSIGNNNNN

[Jah Gol]

That stadium in Seattle real cool. The pre game coverage was excellent too. I got a sense of real football culture there.

[DeSoWa]

That stadium in Seattle real cool. The pre game coverage was excellent too. I got a sense of real football culture there.

It's the best you will ever get in the MLS, only TFC might come a distant 2nd in Atmosphere!




Big Up!

[DeSoWa]

Sounders spoil Philly's expansion debut with 2-0 win

http://blog.seattlepi.com/sounders/



A year ago they were the expansion Sounders. Now they are the experienced Sounders.

And the difference?

Nobody wearing a Seattle uniform seemed satisfied Thursday even after a 2-0 victory over a first-year Philadelphia Union club on the opening night of Major League Soccer's new season.



Beating their new MLS brethren in front of a national ESPN2 audience and 36,241 supporters at a sold-out Qwest Field was viewed merely as a necessary first step out of the gate for a Sounders squad intent on following up their initial success with something better this season.

And they know that will take better efforts than the one displayed Thursday against a new squad that played a man short for the final 50 minutes after defender Toni Stahl drew his second yellow card.


Big Up!

[Mad Scorpion a/k/a Big Bo$$]

I eh go lie ah really like what they doin in Seatle as it pertains to this franchise!

[Deeks]

I saw the game on JustinTv. It was and end to end all out affair. Seattle deserved to win. If the Union play with that fighting spirit for the rest of the season, a lot of teams will be in for a surprise. Not a bad performance by Philly.

Seattle has a long soccer history. Their NASL team was very competetive and played in the Soccer Bowl final against the Cosmos with Pele and company in a very close game(2-1). Pele's first and only NASL title. They had good crowd attendences and use to play in the old Seatttle dome and the fans were just as rabid. Of course they were priced out of the players market at the time, which cause the demise of the old league. So pro soccer is nothing new to them.

Two other cities which have soccer pedigree is Minnesota(Minnesota Kicks) and Rochester(Lancers). Even Baltimore had their days in soccer with the Bays.