By: Simon Darko Agyare, Chicago, USA(agyaresd82@yahoo.com)
Since the arrival of players like England’s David Beckham, Thierry Henry from France and Mexico’s Rafael Marquez to feature in the USA‘s Major League Soccer(MLS), the competition has seen some quality and begun attracting global viewers as its being followed by many soccer pundits However, current news making rounds has it that Ghanaian Coach Leonard Moffatt, is in the process of joining a Major League Soccer side next season.
The writer, Simon Darko Agyare, has learnt that after spearheading Columbus Soccer Academy to place second in this season’s Youth Soccer League in Columbus, Ohio,USA, Coach Moffatt, ihas earned himself a ticket to join the technical team of Columbus based MLS side, Columbus Crew after impressing the club officials. After consistent monitoring upon recommendation by a scout, the Ghanaian trainer has impressed officials and he will be joining the technical team as the club’s goalkeeper’s trainer, as officials seek to sharpen the goalkeeping department of the club. However, information gathered by this writer has it that Leonard Moffatt’s appointment has not yet been made permanent as officials requires that he is put on probation for some weeks to be monitored.
Should his appointment be made permanent, then he will be the first Ghanaian trainer to stir in the MLS.
The competition currently has a couple of Ghanaian players with the likes of Dominic Oduro, Anthony Obodai, Patrick Nyarko, Emmanuel Osei, Samuel Appiah, something that interest most Ghanaian soccer fans to follow the MLS. When this writer reached Coach Moffat for confirmation, the former Hearts of Oak and Olympics goalkeeper, claim no official contract has been signed between himself and Columbus Crew but admitted that officials of Crew were always present at his side’s League games to scout for young talents.
Moffatt, who has an ambition of joining one of Ghana’s national team bench soon believes the MLS has now come of age and has seen quality with stars like David Beckham, Henry, Laden Donovan, Marquez and will be happy to join the Columbus Crew if an official approach is made.