Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
Arguable the fastest player in Major League Soccer has decided to stay right where he is for the upcoming season.
Following a year where he scored a career-high 13 goals for the Columbus Crew, forward Dominic Oduro has decided to remain with the Crew for next season by signing a new contract with the club. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Dominic is the most explosive player in the League, and he will play an important role in our plans moving forward,” said Crew Sporting Director and head coach Gregg Berhalter in a statement. “There was lot of competition for Dominic’s signature, but he wanted to stay in Columbus, and when a coach hears that it’s a great feeling. We’re very happy to get this deal done and we look forward to seeing him back with the club in preseason training.”
The 28-year-old Oduro started every game last season and was a key player for a Crew team that was in the playoff hunt all season until faltering late in the season. As well as leading the Crew in goals last season, Oduro finished second on the team with four assists.
Oduro joins teammate Josh Williams as players to have signed new contracts with the club for next season, while new signing Weylon Francis will join the team in January from Costa Rican club Herediano. The Crew also signed defender Matt Wiet as a homegrown player during the offseason.
The Crew acquired Oduro during the last offseason from the Chicago Fire in exchange for midfielder Dilly Duka. Before playing with the Fire, where he scored 18 goals over two seasons, Oduro played with the Houston Dynamo for two seasons, the New York Red Bulls for part of the 2009 campaign, and spent his first three years in MLS with FC Dallas from 2006-2008.
——
What do you think of this news? Glad to see Oduro remain with the Crew? Think that he’ll score double-digit goals again next season?
Share your thoughts below.
Dilly Duka and…
When I heard the Fire gave up their leading scorer for some guy named Dilly Duka I’d never heard of, I was pissed. When I heard it also included the rights to Robbie Rogers, who was retired, I was perplexed. Now that I’ve seen what Duka can do, and a certain MVP we got for Rogers, I can say this was the best deal in the history of the Fire (which, admittedly, isn’t saying much.)
Still like Oduro, though, and wish him well.
Handball!
I don’t think its a handball when it’s with a second ball the size of a large excercise ball.
Doesn’t matter. That arm is in an unnatural position.
A good signing for Berhalter and Columbus. Now they just need players that can feed him the ball in his preferred attacking approach and they will be getting somewhere.