CHICAGO - The Chicago Fire today selected five players in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft, which was held via conference call earlier this afternoon. All players who were eligible and not selected in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft - which was held on Friday, Jan. 20 - and additional players nominated by teams were eligible for selection in today's MLS Supplemental Draft.
With its lone first round selection, the Fire chose UNC-Charlotte midfielder Floyd Franks with the 10th overall selection. Chicago followed by acquiring depth for its backline by choosing Dayton defender Dasan Robinson (2nd Round, 22nd overall), Syracuse defender Ezra Prendergast (3rd Round, 34th overall) and Howard defender Idris Ughiovhe (4th Round, 42nd overall) with its next three selections. The Fire ended its draft by taking Western Kentucky forward Richard Mupfudze.
"We had identified several players heading into today's draft that we were hoping to choose, and we got five of the guys that were very high on our list," said Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan. "We feel there are still a lot of quality players in these rounds of the draft, so we did our homework. Overall, I think the Supplemental Draft, along with the SuperDraft last week, have yielded some very good prospects for our club."
The five newest members of the "Men in Red" are expected to join the rest of the Fire roster by Saturday, Feb. 4, when the squad kicks off its 2006 preseason with a two-week training camp at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. All players who were eligible and not selected in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft - which was held on Friday, Jan. 20 - and additional players nominated by teams were eligible for selection in today's MLS Supplemental Draft.
Floyd Franks - First Round, 10th Overall
Position: Midfielder
Born: April 5, 1984 in Hattiesburg, MS
Height: 5-10 Weight: 165
College: UNC-Charlotte
Hometown: Vestavia, AL
Citizenship: USA
COLLEGE: Was a four-year starter at UNC-Charlotte, scoring 18 goals and 15 assists for the 49ers in 71 games (63 starts)... First-Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference (2005)... First-Team All-Conference USA (2004)... Third-Team NSCAA All-South Region (2004)... Second-Team All-Conference USA (2003)... Conference USA All-Freshmen Team (2002)... HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Vestivia High School in Vestivia, AL... First-Team All-State member as a senior (2001)... Led Vestivia in scoring in senior season with 36 goals and 38 assists... Two-time All-Metro selection (2000-01)... CLUB: Two years Region III ODP Pool Player... Selected six times to the state ODP teams in Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama... MISC: Part of the Alabama state championship 4x100 relay team... Father Floyd Franks Sr., was an All-SEC wide receiver at Ole Miss and was drafted by the Denver Broncos.
Dasan Robinson - Second Round, 22nd Overall
Position: Defender
Born: June 6, 1984
Height: 5-11 Weight: 160
College: Dayton
Hometown: Elmyria, OH
Citizenship: USA
COLLEGE: Started all four seasons at the University of Dayton, scoring six goals and adding 13 assists in 68 career contests (66 starts)... Played both forward and defense for the Flyers prior to settling in as a wing midfielder in 2005... Tied for team lead and third-place in Atlantic 10 with seven assists his senior season (2005)... Pre-season Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team Selection (2002)... HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Elyria High School in Elyria, OH... Scored 21 goals and notched 10 assists in 10 contests during senior season (2001)... Scored 31 goals and 10 assists in just 16 games as a junior (2000)... Named to First-Team All-Erie League, First-Team All-Lorain County, First-Team All-Greater Cleveland and Second Team-All-Ohio squads (2000-01)... CLUB: Member of the DeKalb, IL state Olympic Development Program Team... Helped ODP squad to Region II Championship in 2001... MISC: Was a college teammate of current Fire forward Chris Rolfe at Dayton.
Ezra Prendergast - Third Round, 34th Overall
Position: Defender
Born: January 5, 1982
Height: 6-0 Weight: 178
College: Syracuse
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
Citizenship: Jamaica
COLLEGE: Played two seasons at Syracuse, scoring two goals and one assist in 34 games (29 starts)... Second-Team All-BIG EAST (2005)... Second-Team NSCAA All-New York Region (2005)... NSCAA All-New York Region Third Team (2004)... Played at Globe Institute of Technolgy (NY) during freshman and sophomore seasons... Scored 25 goals and added 18 assists in two years at Globe Institute... NCSAA First-Team All-American (2003)... NJCAA Second-Team All-American (2003)... NATIONAL TEAM: Played for the Jamaican Under-17 and Under-20 National Teams... Was part of the Jamaican U-17 squad that qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championships in New Zealand... MISC: Majored in Information Management and Technology at Syracuse.
Idris Ughiovhe - Fourth Round, 42nd Overall
Position: Defender
Born: January 27, 1983 in Washington, D.C.
Height: 6-2 Weight: 155
College: Howard
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Citizenship: USA
COLLEGE: Played four seasons at Howard University... Named to D.C. Cup All-Tournament Team (2004)... HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Woodrow Wilson Senior H.S. in Washington, D.C. ... Was an All-Met Team selection after his senior season (2001)... CLUB: Played club soccer for Washington Rangers and Bethesda (MD) United... MISC: Name is pronounced EE-dress OO-guh-vay.
Richard Mupfudze - 46th Overall (Fourth Round)
Position: Midfielder
Born: January 21, 1983
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190
College: Western Kentucky
Citizenship: Zimbabwe
COLLEGE: Four-year letterwinner for the Hilltoppers, finishing with 25 goals and 63 points... First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference (2005)... Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference (2003, 2004)... Third-Team All-Midwest Region (2003)... Honorable Mention All-Missouri Valley Conference (2002)... Redshirted in 2001... Third native of Zimbabwe to play soccer at Western, joining Alois Bunjira (1994) and Tawanda Chitapa (1998-2001)... MISC: Son of Obert and Catherine Mupfudze... Married to the former Trisha Nailor, a former Lady Topper diver... General studies major at Western Kentucky... Represented Zimbabwe in both basketball and rugby.
