Signs of Freedom
The Washington Freedom has signed its top two international draft picks: Japanese star midfielder Homare Sawa and French national team left back Sonia Bompastor.
Sawa, 30, is a two-time Asian player of the year who played for Atlanta in the WUSA. Bompastor, 28, is France's captain and has 100 caps.
The Freedom will open training camp March 2 at Maryland SoccerPlex in Montgomery County. The season opener is March 29 at Los Angeles.
A D.C. United contact tells the Insider that negotiations continue to stage two or three United-Freedom doubleheaders at RFK Stadium this year.
By
Steve Goff
|
February 20, 2009; 2:26 PM ET
Categories:
Women
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Posted by: joedoc1 | February 20, 2009 2:42 PM | Report abuse
No details on training.
I think there is an exhibition 3/14 at the Plex against Sky Blue (O'Reilly, Kai, Rampone) at which time the national players should be back. I believe Sky Blue will have above coming off US duty at Algarve and 2 or 3 more besides. Freedom will have none.
There's an interesting contrast in coaching/management theories about to unfold (well, OK, interesting to me). Freedom by-passed some pretty well-regarded players in order to draft and sign players familiar with their system of play. We'll see how it works out.
Mr. Goff, any word on Krieger?
Posted by: OWNTF | February 20, 2009 3:29 PM | Report abuse
PS -- speed cameras on the entry roads to the Plex now, be aware.
Posted by: OWNTF | February 20, 2009 3:37 PM | Report abuse
I played drop-in soccer at Soccerplex today, and when I came in about 12:30 it seemed that some Freedom players were just leaving after a workout.
Posted by: b18bolo | February 20, 2009 3:53 PM | Report abuse
Hey folks, any word on a live feed for the DCU/PR match tomorrow? Suppose this could go in the weekend tv listing thread but thought I might get more attention here.
Just curious as USL does pretty well with their live feeds...
Posted by: DadRyan | February 20, 2009 4:08 PM | Report abuse
I'm especially looking forward to the doubleheaders.
Posted by: sitruc | February 20, 2009 6:53 PM | Report abuse
30 days until United's first home match!
Posted by: Curious99 | February 20, 2009 8:20 PM | Report abuse
Curious99: Thanks for counting. Isn't it 36 days for the home game?
Posted by: DCUnitedFootball | February 20, 2009 9:00 PM | Report abuse
Thanks for the news, Mr. G. If Sawa at 30 is anything like Sawa at 24, that's a great addition.
Posted by: StevanF | February 20, 2009 11:30 PM | Report abuse
DCUnitedFootball:
My bad. Guess I'm just over anxious.
29 days till United's first match!
Posted by: Curious99 | February 21, 2009 9:50 AM | Report abuse
Speed cameras are both on the way in, and on the way the way out, of the Soccerplex on Schaeffer Road just before entering/after exiting the circle in front of the entrance road.
MR Caretaker
Posted by: postgolb | February 21, 2009 10:18 AM | Report abuse
I'm especially looking forward to the doubleheaders.
Posted by: sitruc | February 20, 2009 6:53 PM
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LOL at sitruc's tongue-in-cheek comment.
Posted by: WorldCup | February 21, 2009 1:05 PM | Report abuse
zzz
Posted by: mizage | February 21, 2009 6:35 PM | Report abuse
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Thinking of taking my daughter to one of the Freedom training camp sessions, assuming they're open.
OWNTF, any details on this?