This time last year, Osaze De Rosario’s future seemed unclear. The forward had just finished a season with the Tacoma Defiance in which he scored six goals in about 1,300 minutes, but also started just once during the final two months of the season. The Defiance were his fifth organization in five years and it seemed like his career was at a bit of a crossroads.
Fast forward to today and it seems like he chose the right path.
Heading into the Seattle Sounders’ final match of the regular season, De Rosario’s future now looks very bright. After a blazing hot start with the Defiance in MLS Next Pro, De Rosario earned a first-team contract in May. With the Sounders, he scored five goals — including a team-leading four in Leagues Cup — before returning to Defiance to score two goals in their season finale to finish with a total of 17 for both teams across all competitions.
On Thursday, he was honored as the first-ever MLS Next Pro Pathway Player of the Year, beating out New York City FC II’s Seymour Reid (14 goals) and Vancouver Whitecaps 2’s Rayan Elloumi (13 goals, eight assists). The award is meant to honor the player who most excelled across at least two of MLS Next, MLSNP and MLS.
“I feel like the team helped me on both sides, I couldn’t do this by myself,” De Rosario said following Thursday’s training session. “I’m happy to have great teammates who trust to get me the ball around the goal. I also have to give respect to the club for making the transition very smooth from the second team to the first team.
“This is a big club and they take every detail seriously, and it really shows. It helps players like me who get their opportunity and are able to shine.”
Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer has repeatedly sung De Rosario’s praises this year and sees a bright future ahead, even comparing him to former MLS Golden Boot winner Brian Ching.
“He’s a talent,” Schmetzer said. “He’s got the size, strength and mindset of a goal-scoring forward.”
Internationals return
By Thursday afternoon, all the Sounders’ internationals had returned to training, except for Georgi Minoungou. The Burkina Faso winger was due to arrive in Seattle shortly after training and it was not yet clear if he’d join his teammates on their trip to New York City for Saturday’s match.
“He’s got some personal issues that he’s dealing with, but we’re working on that,” Schmetzer said.
Brief health scare
Toward the end of training, Jordan Morris pulled himself out after appearing to experience some discomfort. Just a couple minutes later, Jackson Ragen came off after what appeared to be a blow to the head. But after conferring with his medical staff and the players, Schmetzer said both were “totally fine.”
