KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Slowly but surely, manager Peter Vermes is pulling together the final pieces of the roster he will lean on in 2011.
After announcing the signing of Brazilian defender Julio Cesar earlier this week, Sporting KC followed that up by putting pen to paper on a deal with 24-year-old Serbian midfielder Milos Stojcev.
The left-footed Stojcev has been on trial with the team this preseason after spending the last two seasons with FK Borac Čačak , where he played 58 games and scored twice. The left-footed midfielder started his career in Red Star Belgrade’s academy and has spent his entire professional career in Serbia.
Vermes said he expects Stojcev, who will occupy an international roster spot, to bring a creative influence to the squad as well as the ability to play on the left wing.
“He’s a little different than the kind of midfielders that we have,” Vermes said. “He’s more of a playmaking guy. He’s very good on the ball. He can slip the final pass through. He’s very creative.”
Kansas City has now filled 26 of 30 available roster spots and has one international roster spot remaining.
Gambian trialist Omar Colley and Supplemental Draft pick Michal Mravec also remain in camp but have not been signed.
[inline_node:329618]Harrington in doubt; Bunbury, Smith making way back
Right back Michael Harrington didn’t train with the team on Thursday and is a question mark for Saturday’s game against Chivas USA as he recovers from a groin injury.
Luke Sassano is a prime candidate to replace Harrington, who started 29 of 30 games for Kansas City last season and signed a new contract in the offseason. Korede Aiyegbusi will not be available against the Goats.
Vermes said Teal Bunbury and Ryan Smith are also slowly working their way back from injury.
Bunbury has expressed a belief that he will be ready for this weekend’s game and trained with the team this week in a soft brace, but Vermes remained cautious about his young striker’s status.
“I would foresee him being prepared for possibly the Chicago game,” he said.
On the other hand, Smith is finally beginning to work his way back to fitness after rehab from his offseason knee surgery went slower than planned.
“For two months of the preseason, he just had pain when he did certain activities with his leg,” Vermes said. “Now, he has no pain at all, and he’s been running, so it’s just a matter of him getting fit. What we really have to be smart about is how we bring him into the team.”
Kamara, Thomas, Auvray called up
Kei Kamara (Sierra Leone), Shavar Thomas (Jamaica) and Stephane Auvray (Guadeloupe) will join their respective national teams following Saturday’s game against Chivas USA, leaving all three unavailable for Kansas City’s ensuing game against the Chicago Fire.
Kamara will join the Leone Stars for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger on March 27, and Thomas will lead the Reggae Boyz against Venezuala (March 25) and El Salvador (March 27) as Jamaica prepare for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. Auvray will captain his country against Racing Club de Lens of France’s Ligue 1 in Paris on March 26.
