PORTLAND, Ore. – Timbers defender Steve Purdy is closer than ever to playing for the the Salvadoran national team, but it won’t be this month.
Purdy will play for Portland on Saturday at Toronto and has no plans to be part of El Salvador’s game against Jamaica on Sunday. However, the 6-foot-4 defender has been called to join los Cuscatlecos before and is eager to explore his opportunities there.
“I’ve been contacted quite a few times by the [El Salvador] federation,” Purdy said. “My mind set for playing with the team is that whenever the opportunity’s there, I’m going to take it and make the best of it. But right now, I’m focused with the Timbers.”
Purdy’s mother was born in El Salvador and left that country when she was a child.
“It is a big part of who I am and my culture,” said Purdy, who has visited the country. “I do still have family there.”
Purdy has also been part of US national teams growing up in California.
Meanwhile, another Timbers defender, Mamadou “Futty” Danso, has been recalled by the Gambian national team for their friendly against Equatorial Guinea on March 29, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Danso, who did not play in the Timbers’ opener, will miss the match against Toronto FC on Saturday as well as Portland’s US Open Cup play-in game against Chivas USA. He is scheduled to return to Portland on March 30.
It is Danso’s third call up with the Scorpions, although he has not earned a cap yet. In 2010, he participated in two camps with the team for the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Namibia and Burkina Faso.
