A year ago, Sacha Kljestan was one of Chivas USA's most important players.
The second-year man out of Seton Hall scored four goals and had 13 assists during a year which he represented the United States at Copa America.
Now, the United States under-23 national squad stands to gain from Kljestan's rapid development. Kljestan will try and help the United States qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Kljestan was selected for the Under-23 team's final roster and will depart Chivas USA camp at the end of the week to join the United States as the team attempts to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since 2000.
While the allure of representing his country in China is strong, Kljestan said the team must successfully handle the first and most important part of the process.
"We have to qualify first and that's a big step for our team because I think we have a really good team. I'm actually very excited about the possibilities for our team to do well in China," Kljestan said. "These upcoming weeks are pretty big for us."
The United States will play Cuba on March 9, Panama on March 11 and Honduras on March 13. If the U.S. finished in the top two of Group A, the squad will qualify for the semifinals. A win in that round would send the team to the Summer Olympics in China.
The lone Chivas USA representative on the Under-23 team, Kljestan will likely carry a larger bulk of the responsibilities than he does with the Red-and-White. At the club level, Kljestan is a member of one of the deepest midfields in the league. Alongside Jesse Marsch -- who took Kljestan under his wing in early 2006 -- Paulo Nagamura, Francisco Mendoza and World Cup veteran Raphael Wicky, Kljestan helps form a formidable midfield line.
His teammates with the under-23 squad are talented but Kljestan's experience ranks among the highest on the squad.
"I've been the captain for the team in a couple of camps and I hope I continue to be a leader for that team and have a big tournament," Kljestan said.
In 2005, Kljestan played for the U.S. under-20 team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. He played two games in Copa America 2007 and was a finalist in the 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year award following a solid collegiate career.
Kljestan forms part of deep and experienced midfield with the under-23 team. Alongside Kljestan, U.S. coach Peter Nowak has at his disposal Toronto FC's Maurice Edu, Columbus midfielder Eddie Gaven, FC Dallas' Arturo Alvarez as well as English side Derby County's Benny Feilhaber.
Because of his experience -- most notably playing in Copa America -- Kljestan said he would rise to his role as leader on the squad.
"If the game gets tough the guys can look to me to be a leader on the field," Kljestan said.
Kljestan started for the U.S. against Colombia last summer in Venezuela. Although the team went 0-3 in the South American championship, the 23-year-old learned valuable lessons he expects will help this time around.
"I've been in a couple of tough games at Copa America. We lost both of those games but I think I took from that the experience you see from other guys in South America that had in a game like that when the game is 1-0 to just kill off the game, and do professional things like that," he said.
Four years ago, the United States failed to qualify for the Summer Olympics. That squad was talented as well and featured Galaxy star Landon Donovan, former MLS standouts Eddie Johnson and DaMarcus Beasley as well as current Chivas USA teammate Alecko Eskandarian.
The U.S. won its group easily four years ago but Mexico finished in second place in theirs and set up a winner-take-all semifinal clash between the two regional powers. Mexico ousted the U.S. in a 4-0 rout. The setback was the USA's first failed attempt to qualify for the Summer Olympics since 1976.
History, though, does not necessarily motivate this squad.
"We don't really look back on 2004 because it's a completely different team than our team," Kljestan said. "We just think that we go into Florida knowing that we need to take first or second place to qualify for the Olympics. We obviously have big goals for the Olympics but we have to qualify first. We don't feel any pressure. We just know that we've got a good team and if we play good soccer I think we'll win the tournament."
The first match will be of interest among at least one of Kljestan's Chivas USA teammates -- Cuban striker Maykel Galindo.
"He says 3-1 Cuba. I told him if Cuba scores on us, that's a win for him," Kljestan said. "He's always talking in my ear. We've got a little banter going on. He's all about Cuba right now."
If Kljestan scores against the Cubans, Kljestan said he might send a message via television to Galindo.
"Maybe I'll do his little dance that he does, his little samba/salsa dance for him. Then I'll point at the camera and say 'This one's for Galindo,'" Kljestan said. "We'll see. You guys have got to watch for that one."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
