Kansas City Wizards coach Curt Onalfo has said repeatedly that the organization is "always looking to enhance" their roster. It could be happening again soon.
Some six weeks after signing Argentinean playmaker Carlos Marinelli, only the second of an allowed four senior international players, the Wizards are looking at July 1 as a possible time to make some moves for now or the future. Sunday is the day in which all player contracts are guaranteed, thus if money is needed to acquire a player, cap space can be cleared by placing a player on waivers before that day.
In addition, the Wizards have two players who have season ending injuries in Ryan McMahen (torn ACL) and Matt Groenwald (blood clots). These players can be replaced on the 18-man senior roster, but their salaries must fit under the salary cap.
Currently in camp is 24-year-old Argentinean Eloy Colombano. The pacy attacker currently plays for Defensa y Justicia of Argentina's Primera Division and played with Estudiantes from 2001-2006. On Monday, he played with the Wizards reserves, scoring a goal in his 60 minutes of time. If acquired, Colombano would be classified as a youth international for the rest of the year.
When asked about the trial, Onalfo was complimentary.
"It's going very well. He's a good player," he said.
Even though the Kansas City Wizards started the season off red-hot, going 6-2-1 in their first nine matches, they have only won twice in their last seven games. The last three games, played without high-powered forward Eddie Johnson, who is with the U.S. national team in Venezuela for Copa America, have ended in two losses and a draw.
Onalfo is interested in keeping "everybody on their toes" and he and technical director Peter Vermes will surely do what they can when they can to put the best team on the field.
"We're still assessing the situation, and we'll look at it all the way through July 1st to figure out what we're doing," said Onalfo.
Rosters can still be altered in myriad ways until Sept. 15, so the Wizards have plenty of time to fine tune their roster, including the possible use or dealing of their designated player spot.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
