More info about the Sounders-African Lyon FC interaction

Another article from the Dark Continent

over 1 year ago iced 15 comments 0 recs |

Comments

Interesting that the local investor is saying that Sounders are going to buy

She said officials of the potential shareholders —Seattle Sounders from USA, are expected in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, for talks with the team’s leadership on a possible take-over deal.

The 110 M TSh ammount is about 75k USD. Whether that is full ownership or not, if ONE player worth anything comes of it, it is a GREAT move. And at that small of dollars, maybe a Technical employee can make the call.

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by Dave Clark on Aug 20, 2010 7:35 PM PDT reply actions

For sure

It will be intersting to see how this plays out, I hope we will hear more from the Sounders camp on this.
I am also wondering whether our reserves will get playing time over there.

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by iced on Aug 21, 2010 3:45 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I doubt that it will be for the Reserves

Which Reserve would you want 12,000 miles away rather than in the 18 these days?

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
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by Dave Clark on Aug 21, 2010 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Might be the other way, though,

especially if the reserve league gets going. I’m sure, like was mentioned in the article, many of these players would like to get a look with a US team.

by Nevtelen on Aug 21, 2010 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Noonan

by Nick S on Aug 21, 2010 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 8 recs

I lol'ed at this

by chrisperry1983 on Aug 21, 2010 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd hope that the Sounders would also get access to

African scouting via the club. There are obviously a lot of good players in Africa in our price range and a club that plays in a top flight league over there would have a good chance to interact with and see some of them in action.

by Nevtelen on Aug 21, 2010 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Tanzania is not a top flight league

2010 they had one team qualify for CAF CL – it went out in the Prelims
2009 they had one team qualify for CAF CL – it went out in First Round
2008 they had one team qualify for CAF CL – it went out in First Round

For 2011 they will again have one team in the CAF CL. They have yet to earn a ranking point. They need 5 points or more to make it into the team teams qualify area. There are 21 national leagues ranked better in Africa.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Aug 21, 2010 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Fair enough, but

I’d imagine they still have opportunities to look at players from all over Africa to fill out their roster. Even some players who might be out of their price range/might not be excited to play in Tanzania, might be of interest to the Sounders.

by Nevtelen on Aug 21, 2010 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions

I agree that having a scout with better access to Africa is important

But the keys are North Africa and Central Africa. That’s where the better teams and players are.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
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by Dave Clark on Aug 21, 2010 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Also more expensive

Since those are the better legues there are probably more scouting competition and the costs for purchasing a club are higher. Getting a foothold in Tanzania might be a more untapped opportunity.

by Dizzo on Aug 21, 2010 2:22 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Except due to primarily political concerns Northern Africa isn't getting attention in Europe

that would be typical of the skill level involved.

Except Algerians in France

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Aug 21, 2010 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions

West Africa, you mean

Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal — these are all in West Africa, not Central Africa. That’s where the football strength is. Tanzania is historically terrible — and a long, long ways from Ghana (and isolated from the west by the basket case of DR Congo).

Still, it’s a huge country, and there must be SOMEBODY in East Africa who can play. I would love to see an African talent pipeline pointing to us rather than the more usual France.

by Fnarf on Aug 24, 2010 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I was actually looking for less scouted countries

Where talent is coming

Algeria, Morroco, Tunisia, Egypt, Congo come to mind

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Aug 24, 2010 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Did you happen to see this in the online PI?

http://blog.seattlepi.com/sounders/archives/218830.asp

“A report from a publication in Tanzania claims Sounders FC, and particularly Paul Allen, have purchased African Lyon, a club in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, playing in the top level Tanzanian Premier League.

A well-placed source indicated to Seattlepi.com this is highly unlikely."

and

“The Sounders issued an exceptionally vague denial:

“Sounders FC has not purchased Lyon, however a member of the technical staff is traveling to Dar es Salaam this week to gather information.”

When asked for further information, like who the member of the technical staff was or what information they were in pursuit of, the Sounders remained mum.

Update: The Sounders have said scout and assistant coach Kurt Schmid will be traveling."

by Coug1990 on Aug 21, 2010 2:15 PM PDT reply actions