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On a day of soccer that saw Torsten Frings retire from football, new football shirts revealed, a documentary series on Toronto FC hitting the air waves on TSN, and new hints at potential signings, the Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact have each made signings as they look to first kick this weekend.
At the kit unveiling party held by Toronto FC, club president Kevin Payne introduced three new player signings in Hogan Ephraim, Taylor Morgan and TFC Academy product Jonathan Osorio. The two Englishmen give Toronto FC much-needed depth up front, at last! Ephraim has a lot of England U-20 level experience, and last played with Bristol City on loan from Queens Park Rangers. He joins Toronto FC on a loan deal in what must have been a move tailored by his fellow teammate, Ryan Nelsen, now Toronto FC’s head coach.
Ephraim, 24, is a winger and forward who can play on the left-hand side, an area that Toronto FC has no one to fill. He can also be used as a striker, if needed. Morgan, on the other hand, is a natural target man, was drafted 58th overall by Toronto FC in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. He also scored a goal in preseason against Orlando City FC.
Speaking of goalscorers, TFC Academy midfielder Jonathan Osorio was the subject of much praise during preseason camp, and it looks like he’s earned a contract, too. He’s the eighth Toronto FC Academy graduate and plays in an attacking midfield role.
Meanwhile, the Impact has also made a few signings of its own. Montreal’s draft pick, Blake Smith, signed a contract with the club, giving the Impact a fresh injection of youth. Smith was drafted eighth overall by Montreal.
The Impact also added a pair of academy graduates to its ranks in midfielder Wandrille Lefevre and defender Maxim Tissot. The two signed professional contracts and join the senior outfit for the 2013 season.
Vancouver, not one to be left behind, also made a splash on the signings front, though the club made headlines for a slightly different contract offer. Gershon Koffie, a fan-favourite midfielder, has signed a contract extension and also picks up domestic status to boot! He is, however, ineligible to play for Team Canada, based on FIFA’s statutes that state a player cannot play for a national team if they already have a youth international appearance while ineligible to play for the other national outfit’s youth side.
Since Koffie has played for Ghana at the U-20 level while ineligible for Canada’s U-20 level, he cannot make the jump to Canada’s senior outfit.
Still, Vancouver retains a player of known quality, and Whitecaps’ fans will certainly be pleased to have him return to action in 2013.
It has been a busy day for these three Canadian clubs. The following days promise to be even busier for Toronto FC, especially – Ashton Bennett and Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault also appeared at the TFC kit launch, but the two have yet to sign with the club. Bennett looks an athlete, while Beaulieu-Bourgault is a Canadian international. The Impact are looking for reinforcements, too. The Whitecaps just added Nigel Reo-Coker and Johnny Leveron to their ranks as well.
Busy days, indeed!
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