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Red Bulls sign trialist Sekagya

IbrahimSekagya1 (IbrahimSekagyaFacebook)

By DAN KARELL

Since losing Heath Pearce to season-ending hip surgery, the New York Red Bulls have been shopping for another experienced defender to provide squad depth and spot starting ability.

As of Thursday, the search is over.

The Red Bulls announced that Ugandan defender Ibrahim Sekagya has signed a contract with the club on a free transfer from sister club Red Bull Salzburg. Per club policy, terms and conditions of the contract were not disclosed but reports state that the contract is two-and-a-half seasons long and makes Sekagya one of the top wage earners on the team.

Sekagya had been trailing with the Red Bulls since late June and upon the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 visa, he will be available for selection.

Sekagya, 32, is a former captain of the Uganda National Team, representing his country in World Cup qualifiers and the African Cup of Nations before retiring from international play in 2012.

Previously Sekagya spent six seasons at Red Bull Salzburg, playing in 165 matches and winning the Austrian championship on three occasions. Prior to Salzburg, the Ugandan played his soccer in Argentina at Arsenal de Sarandi, Ferro Carril Oeste, and Atletico Rafaela.

The newest Red Bull becomes the sixth Ugandan to play in Major League Soccer, a list that includes former Metrostar Tenywa Bonseu and former D.C. United forward Robert Ssejjemba.

What do you think of this news? Do you see the Red Bulls continuing to search for defenders?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Am ugandan and some comments here are really insulting redbulls signed an experienced centr backs perhaps more experienced than any defender at redbulls now and some idiots in here still separate in colors and country he was a fomer ugandan captain and in the picture above u can prove he was still the fomer redbulls salzburg captain before he moved playing in europe is another level…. Besides why dnt u see him play and then judge with your sick mind stupid racist and hell ya it aint the 60’s anymore as I speake the greatest country is ruled by a black man(obama) and am backing sekagya for greatness plus some comments were rilly positive… Big ups to u tazz

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  2. Seems he can play anywhere along the back four which should help. Hopefully an improvement over Barklage/Kamara/Lade, which isn’t setting too high a standard. Also hopefully, this is not the last RBNY signing of the transfer period. Need some width badly and could also use another striker.

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    • And hopefully the haven’t overpaid him. I don’t doubt that he can be useful but I wonder if the new NYRB management has any conception of how to build a team with a salary cap.

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      • So sorry, but I don’t follow the orders of random halfwits on the Internet. Believe it or not, I will do as I please and support the team I please. If you’d like to treat the supporters experience like you are a battered wife who keeps going back to her abusive husband, that’s your choice, Nancy.

  3. The article states that he will be one of the top paid players on the team and also goes on to say that he was acquired for depth, not to be a starter. Is anyone else struck by the sheer stupidity of that? What is the fetish this team has with depth and spot starting defenders? Is there a rule that NYRB has to have an overpaid defender on the bench? Well, our overpaid bench defender just went down, so I guess we have to replace him with an equally overpaid defender! I hope the report of his salary is incorrect or else I may just get in line for NY City season tickets now.

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    • Waaaaaah – little overreactive??
      They are not going to announce him starting rights way. A true NYRB fan knows Petke says everyone competes for minutes.

      Go to City light – who needs ur weak suppport

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      • Wagner is right. The fact that the article says he’s been signed for depth and spot starting doesn’t mean it’s so.

        If you want to head up to the Bronx and watch New York Yankees FC, be my guest. No real supporter would consider that. I figured you were joking though.

      • Not sure what you mean but I think so, according to my passport at least. I don’t know what your definition of a “real” supporter is but mine doesn’t include people who’ll go support some other club because they don’t like some personnel moves.

      • Not sure what you mean but I think so.

        I don’t know what your definition of a “real” supporter is but mine doesn’t include people who’ll go support some other club because they don’t like some personnel moves.

    • Wagner is right. The fact that the article says he’s been signed for depth and spot starting doesn’t mean it’s so.

      If you want to head up to the Bronx and watch New York Yankees FC, be my guest. No real supporter would consider that. I assumed you were joking though.

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    • Just go support NY City. If you’re really that quick to drop your whack “support” for NYRB, then you never really supported to begin with. Do us all a favor and just jump ship.

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      • Ha! Was my comment hyperbolic and partially in jest, of course! But to be honest, i’m an unabashedly country before club guy so your jibes have no effect on me. I highly doubt NYRB management would agree with your sentiments. They need as many supporters to watch their matches as possible. I didn’t grow up as a NYRB fan, so I have no childhood bond with the club. I go to my matches and sing with the supporters in section 101 and enjoy the heck out of it, but if NYC puts forth a better product closer to home, I have no problem jumping ship or supporting both teams. Let’s not pretend NYRB is West Ham with generations of fans pa$$ing down their support. Heck, the team just got sold several years ago and changed their NAME TO A SOFT DRINK! I love my NYRB but can’t for the life of me think of anything they’ve done to earn my lifelong, unswerving devotion. If you feel differently, then good on you, but to me, my stance makes much more sense.

        Sincerely,

        NYRB fan for now

      • Wow, you sure do have have lots of rules about how you are supposed to support a team. Why don’t you type those up for me on nice, soft paper so I can wipe my crack with it. For some reason i dont care much about delusional people on the Internet who think they are somehow the arbiters of how people should or shouldn’t support a team.

      • Your focus is on singing – join a glee club for the year and a half till Yankees FC comes around . They will be closer to ur trust fund Manhattan apartment.

  4. Thank the heavens! We finally have some speedy, creative wings for our forwards and CMs to combine with. It’s about time! Wait…. who is this guy? Aw #$@#!

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  5. This was the big news? This was the big signing of an African national?

    D*mnit this league is such a joke sometimes.

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    • What do you mean by african national ??? Do your home work well b4 insulting yourself by posting bogus comments. How many african nationals play or have played in european league or is he the 1st to play in mls?? Do you remember adou ?? I think for us soccer lovers it doesnt matter what country or color a player is… its the spirit of sportsmanship wake up!!! this isnt the 60’s any more

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      • Just an african national signing with mls ??? Redbull knew Ibrahim before all of us, and they are very much aware of what he’s capable of ….origin of players doesn’t mean anything. If he was from the states or EU will such a degrading phrase still be used???

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