Photo by Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports
By SKYLAR ROLSTAD
In his own words, the past few days have been a whirlwind for Amobi Okugo. As his playing time at Orlando City waned, he came into training Monday morning to the news that he had been traded to Sporting Kansas City for Servando Carrasco.
That whirlwind for Okugo has actually been in motion for the last couple years, as he left a starting job with the Philadephia Union for MLS expansion team Orlando City. In Orlando, Okugo said his performance dropped compared to his teammates and that led to his departure.
“I started out fairly well,” Okugo said. “I thought I did very well with the exception of the New England game and after that I felt I was on a short leash and that’s what [Orlando coach Adrian Heath] felt.”
Orlando City drew 2-2 with the New England Revolution on May 8. Okugo did not earn another start for the rest of the season after that match.
Okugo, however, said he was excited to join Kansas City and contribute to a team with players he is familiar with, friends like Benny Feilhaber, Ike Opara and Jalil Anibaba, as well as a coach he worked with while playing for a Generation Adidas team then coached by now-Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes.
“The people that were playing were doing well enough for me to get traded,” Okugo said. “I’m happy to be in a situation where the coach wants me and the coach knows me.”
“He’s a great kid,” Vermes said. “He’ll fit into our team really well from that point of view.”
Vermes said Okugo, who will wear No. 20 for Sporting, would likely be available to play in Sporting’s match Friday away against Real Salt Lake. He also looked forward to Okugo’s ability to play three positions, defensive midfielder, centerback and center midfielder, to which Okugo responded positively.
“On the field,” Okugo said when asked his best position. “I am ready to play anywhere the team wants me.”