By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
'I FEEL HONORED' Pacheco trains with the Red Bulls
Montclair, N.J. -- The only thing El Salvadoran left fullback Alfredo Pacheco needs to play with the Red Bulls is an International Transfer Certificate from his soccer federation.
"I'm ready," he said after practicing with the MLS club for the first team at Montclair High School on Tuesday morning.
"I feel really happy to be here. It's like all players' dream to play outside your own country. That's everybody's dream. You get the opportunity for a lot of people to see you outside your country and . . . to keep playing on the National Team."
Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos said the club asked for Pacheco's ITC last week. An MLS team has to contact the U.S. Soccer Federation, which in turn contacts the El Salvadoran federation. The Red Bulls are awaiting a fax from U.S. Soccer.
Agoos said if they get the ITC in time Pacheco will be available to play at the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
"It's up to the El Salvadoran Federation's disgression," he said. "We hope he will be available this weekend."
Pacheco first met with Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio in El Salvador, where the two had dinner together. Osorio has called the El Salvadoran international "The Professor."
"We talked about what the Red Bulls mean," Pacheco said through a translator. "He showed me how big New York is and how big the team's expectations were. I feel very proud that he picked me to come to this team. I feel honored."
Pacheco worked out with the first group of the team in a split squad session along with Juan Pablo Angel, Jorge Rojas and Carlos Johnson. He looked sharp.
"It's a fast team," he said. "I see the players. They're thinking fast with the ball."
When asked if Salvadoran international teammate and midfielder Eliseo Quintanilla, a former MLS player, told him anything about the league, Pacheco refused to comment.
"I would not want to talk about it," he said. "It is a personal thing."
But former L.A. Galaxy midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos, now a coach in El Salvador, gave him some pointers.
"I've got all the respect for Mauricio," Pacheco said. "This league fits perfectly for El Salvadorans for that kind of style for Salvadorans. I have to be ready with a mentality to come here and be a winner."
Asked about Central and South Americans adapting to the physicalness of MLS, Pacheco replied, "We try to incorporate the physical aspect of the game in El Salvador. It is something we've done the past few years.
We play with the U.S. National Team team. They've got speed. We know how fast this [is] . . . We have to put up a mentality to match that and be ready as a professional to speed up and get into shape."
Third choice
The Red Bulls practiced on the high school artificial turf field because of a conflict with the Montclair State University artificial field. The Red Bulls' No. 1 practice field, which is adjacent to the team's clubhouse is not yet ready.
A full squad
Several minutes into practice on Tuesday, Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio came up to a writer and said, "You will witness the same thing I will witness."
He meant he had a full team at practice for the very first time this young season.
"A new beginning," Osorio said. "Everyone is here."
The writer asked Osorio if he was going to pinch himself and the coach playfully did.
http://bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redb...ticle_id=17922
Jesus!! this guy is saying Pacheco is from Honduras...
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Re: Pacheco In Talks With NY RedBulls
Vamos a ver a El Boxeador Chele Pacheco a repartir riata...
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