SECAUCUS, N.J. - MetroStars midfielder/defender Pablo Brenes was called to the Costa Rican Olympic team in preparation for the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic games starting in early August. The 21-year-old will join his national squad on July 11 after this Saturday's game against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Brenes has appeared five times for the MetroStars, starting in one game. Working mostly as a left-sided midfielder and defender, the natural left-footed player adds strong passing and dribbling ability when he's on the field.
Acquired as a transitional international on June 4, Brenes previously played for Costa Rican club, Perez Zeledon. Brenes has also played in each Olympic qualifying match on his nation's U-23 squad - a run which included a 15-0 rout of Belize on September 15, 2003.
Costa Rica plays their first group game in the Olympic tournament on August 15 against Iraq. Their other Group D opponents are Morocco and Portugal. The top two teams in each of the four groups will advance to the tournament's quarterfinals.
