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Hernandez backs L.A. MLS coaches rate top 20 draft prospects
Updated: Wednesday January 31, 2001 3:07 PM
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- Los Angeles Galaxy forward Luis Hernandez reaffirmed his loyalty to the Galaxy on Tuesday. The Mexican national team forward said that he was unable to attend the recent CONCACAF Champions Cup won by the Galaxy due to a ribcage injury and the decision by Club America head coach Alfio Basile to withhold him from the tournament to prevent further damage to the injury. "I feel very happy about the Galaxy winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup," stated Hernandez. "I was eager to join my team and help them in this very important tournament, but unluckily it was not possible." Hernandez, who is in Los Angeles with the Mexican national team for an international friendly versus Colombia on Wednesday, is currently on loan from MLS to club America of the Mexican first division until the end of the Torneo de Verano (summer tournament) of 2001, which will end in May. "I am looking forward to meeting with my coach, Sigi Schmid, and discussing the details of my return to the team as soon as I finish my duties with club America at the conclusion of the current season," said Hernandez. "I expect to be fully integrated with the team just like I did last year during the 2000 MLS season." As champions of the cup, the Galaxy is guaranteed a berth at the FIFA Club World Championship in Spain from July 29 through August 12, where it will go head to head with some of the top clubs in the world. The Los Angeles Galaxy is currently on a short break before returning for spring training on February 6, at a site to be determined. MLS draft approachesFollowing are the results of an MLS survey of the league's coaches regarding the draft set for Monday, Feb. 5. Eight of the top 20 players are recent P-40 signings, who do not count against a team's roster and salary budget. Also of note is the Bolivian youth international Joselito Vaca, who is dubbed by many to be the heir to Marco Etcheverry on the national team. In the recent South American under-20 championships, he was voted man of the match against Argentina, and his performances with his first division club team Oriente Petrolero helped earn a Copa Libertadores berth. Former Dallas Burn coach said the relatively quiet MLS offseason is replaced by aggressive deal-making as draft day approaches. "On Draft day there is always maneuvering that has been set up for weeks as nervous last-minute strategies fill the room," Dir said. "One coach waits for one thing to happen and that can start the domino effect to three or four more moves. "Add the fact that Dallas, Tampa Bay, and San Jose control more than half the picks in the first round and with less than a week left to the draft, there are still questions about who will be doing the drafting for the San Jose Earthquakes." MLS announced on Wednesday that Duke's Ali Curtis and Creighton's Brian Mullan were amongst a group of collegiate standouts who have signed with MLS. Joining Curtis and Mullan were Bradley's Bryan Namoff, Richmond's Craig Ziadie and UAB's David Clemente. All five players will be available for selection in the draft Coaches' Survey (Alphabetical Order)
Devin Barclay , F (P-40) - Current member of the U.S. U-20s, trained briefly with Liverpool of the English Premier League Walsh hired as Manhattan College coachNEW YORK -- Billy Walsh, a midfielder for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer, was hired Wednesday as Manhattan College's soccer coach. Walsh, 25, was the 16th overall pick by the MetroStars in the 1998 draft and was the team's 1999 Most Valuable Player. While playing for the MetroStars, Walsh coached Chatham High School to a 42-6 record in the past two years, leading the New Jersey team to the 1998 Group Two New York/New Jersey state championship. Walsh played for the University of Virginia team that won the 1994 National Collegiate Athletic Association championship, then transferred to Rutgers University and was the only college player on the 1996 U.S. Olympic team. "I am committed to doing my best to bring plenty of success to the Jaspers while also retaining my same commitment as a player to the MetroStars," Walsh said in a statement. MetroStars goalkeeper Mike Ammann and former MetroStars coach Brian O'Donnell intend to work with Walsh.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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