The Stars are hosting a combine for all the local lads who want a shot at making the team. It is my understanding that it will be this Friday from 8-11am and then for a few hours in the afternoon.

Is anyone planning on checking it out? I think I will be there for a little bit in the AM as I have to be over that way for work.

Will have the local combine line-up report before the combine takes place.

That little old jersey collector

Me

It's heeeeeeere...

This is the latest list for the local combine. Sorry about the gaps, but local low-level guys can be difficult to get info on. The rec-leagues generally don't keep track of stats, stat keeping in the NPSL is spotty, to say the least, and if you can find anymore than a roster list on about half of the NJCAA teams, you consider yourself lucky. To my way of thinking, any college that doesn't provide a page for each player in the program is doing a disservice to their student-athletes. Well, enough of my whinging...

2012 Local Combine - 2nd list

Abdifatah Ahmed - F

Bit of onfo about his latest club:
http://www.midnimofc.com/index.html

Kwaku Amoah - D

Outstanding HS gridiron player (scroll 9/10ths to bottom):
http://www.stcloudstate.edu/athletics/sports/football/story.asp?storyID=30982

(scroll to bottom)
http://www.shamasportsheadliners.com/Archives/November%2014,%202008.htm

David Cameron - M

?

*Ryan Cammarota - M

College pic and bio:
http://apps.carleton.edu/athletics/varsity_sports/mens_soccer/team_roster/?player_id=424578

College honors:
http://apps.carleton.edu/athletics/varsity_sports/mens_soccer/?story_id=800601

Video hi-lites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arMYeJc9JRY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDwz-VxKe1c

Drew Carlson - GK

?

*Mohammed El Hilali - M

College roster:
http://century.athletics.project.mnscu.edu/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={C213D6A1-199A-498C-8896-4C5BF40B2F70}

Pic and latest stats:
http://www.njcaa.org/colleges_college_pl...thleteid=278810

Ole Froystad - M

MN Thunder Acad. Coach:
http://www.mnthunderacademy.org/Academies/East/447505.html#Ole_Froystad

Roster listing for SK Herd:
http://www.kxweb.no/portal/public/showContentCategory.do?id=7959

More on SK Herd:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SK_Herd

Julio Gonzalez - F

?

Steven Grand - D

Coaching youth:
http://www.soccertournament.com/sicTeam.aspx?sinc=Y&id=MNF95069

Played for St. Mary’s U.
http://www.carleton.edu/departments/publ/sportsinfo/msoccer/2005/car-smu1.htm

Senior stats:
http://www.nwcraiders.com/content/msoccer/MSoccer08.HTM#TEAM.IND

Twitter page:
https://twitter.com/#!/stevenisgrand

Coaches HS soccer:
http://north.isd622.org/boyssoccer.aspx

Current employment:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/steven-grand/41/5a0/789

*Emwinromwanekhoe Iyengumwena - D

College roster (click on name for pic):
http://www.riverland.edu/soccer/roster.cfm

BeRecruited profile:
http://profiles.berecruited.com/athletes/1161580

HS listing:
http://htosports.com/teams/default.asp?u...;playerID=84667

*Hendrik Hohlfeld - M

USSDA listing:
http://academy.demosphere.com/teams/27484436/27506876-27484529/34200383.html

Not impressed with American soccer:
http://www.facebook.com/events/57174963744/

*Sebastian Kramer - M

College stats:
http://www.njcaa.org/colleges_college_st...;collegeid=1721

Pic (page 5):
http://www.goblueknights.com/assets/pdf/media-guides/soccer_07-08.pdf

Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sebastian-Kramer/100000378859013

Seddar Jafer - GK

?

Mehmed Jasenac - F

Still in HS:
http://profiles.berecruited.com/athletes/1026127

Myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/529462800

Small pic:
http://www.captainu.com/Soccer/2014/MehmedJasenac

Jonathan Linke - F

?

Toni Lozancic - D

Pic (scroll 2/3rds down, click name):
http://www.goblueknights.com/soccer-mens/all-time-roster.cfm

College Stats:
http://www.goblueknights.com/assets/pdf/statistics/soccer_mens_09-10.pdf

Played NPSL last year:
http://mnkings.com/MNKINGSRoster2011.html

Facebook page with pic:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Toni-Lozancic/1280370153

Graham Lynch - D

College pic and bio:
http://www.eiupanthers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2401

EIU Career stats:
http://www.eiupanthers.com/custompages/msoc/Archives/MSOC_STATS/Career/Lynch_Graham.pdf

NIACC career highlights:
http://globegazette.com/sports/local_sports/article_046a6e2a-3ede-11df-ba9c-001cc4c03286.html

Video hi-lites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYUh_o-ojc8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1QiwwF-PqY&feature=related

Extra senior info:
http://www.dennews.com/sports/soccer/pan...19bb30f31a.html

Twitter page:
https://twitter.com/#!/glynchy6

Michael Mbu - M

?

Ben Metcalfe - GK

Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ben-Metcalfe/612132668

Was a 2002 NJCAA Div. 1 All-American Honorable Mention.

Amilcar Mijares - GK

2001 AMC Academic All-Conference Honorable Mention. Venezuelan.

Current employment:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/amilcar-mijares-mba/7/276/a40

Erick Munoz - F

?

Ejiro Newton-Danila - M

Leadership experience:
http://www.universitychronicle.net/index.php/2011/10/09/sga-protest/

*Kingsley Nkimbeng - D

HS senior stats:
http://www.maxpreps.com/athletes/xE4K1YRgvEihVvcrVhMTOQ/soccer-fall-07/stats-kingsley-nkimbeng.htm

HS honor (scroll to bottom):
http://www.mshssca.org/aa_boys_allstate2009.html

http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=68407997

Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kingsley-Nkimbeng/1535655172

*Caleb Norman - GK

College pic and bio:
http://www.ncurams.com/athlete/796

Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/caleb.norman

Twitter page:
https://twitter.com/#!/calebcrabnorman

Senior stats:
http://www.ncurams.com/content/2010-mens-soccer#TEAM.IND

Alberto Nova - D

?

Bruno Novaes - M

HS Senior stats:
http://www.maxpreps.com/athletes/YhVLwaWwXk6XaVmnnRg-SQ/soccer-fall-06/stats-bruno-novaes.htm

Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bruno-Novaes/799030455

*Angel Riera - M

College pic and bio:
http://www.tommiesports.com/ms/roster/RieraAngel.html

Senior Stats:
http://www.tommiesports.com/ms/stats/TEAMCUME.HTM#TEAM.IND

College honors:
http://www.tommiesports.com/ms/news/All-MIAC-11.html

http://www.stthomas.edu/cathstudies/leadership/latino/meetthelatinoleaders.html

NPSL Honor:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=118400171555535&id=185741624784

Jake Schiltz - F

Twitter page with pic:
https://twitter.com/#!/jaschiltz21

Played HS soccer in Blaine.

MRSL ad:
I am a 20 year old college student and I play soccer at the University of Northern Iowa and I'm looking for a way to stay in shape this summer and continue my playing career. I am a fast player and I like to use my speed to beat players. I also have a good strike and I do also play goalie and in college I have a record of 3-0-1 when I have started in goal. I love playing and I will play anywhere on the field that you need me. Thank you

Anderson Siqueira - D

College roster (click on name for pic):
http://www.riverland.edu/soccer/roster.cfm

Michael Werdien - D

College pic and brief bio:
http://www.goswords.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3098&path=

College stats ‘10:
http://thepacwest.com/sports/msoc/2010/stats/CUH-MS.HTM#team.ind

HS bio (scroll halfway down):
http://www.goswords.com/news/2009/7/30/MSOC_0730092605.aspx?path=msoc

Kafati Zelaya - F

?

And there it is. If you have any extra info on any of these guys, please feel free to post it.

Oh, and no combine contest for the local combine. However, there still is a Dorados de Sinaloa jersey unclaimed from last years combine (no signings, no winners) that will be up for grabs for this year's Invitee Combine in February. Look for it.

Installing a hemi on each of the search engines I'll use this year, I remain

That little old jersey collector

Me

Something tells me they're going to have a hard time agreeing on a contract to draw Mr. Mijares away from his gig at Target corporate.

You'd think so, but...

In 2007, the Minnesota Thunder resigned a midfielder named Jeremiah Bass who had played for them from 2001 to 2003. Funny thing was, he wasn't making a living playing soccer when they resigned him. But, hey, let's let David La Vaque, writing for the StarTribune in a May 31st, 2008 article, tell the story...

"When it comes to his professional soccer career, however, Bass -- the league's reigning player of the week and the Thunder captain -- has not always been in the right place at the right time.

From 2001-03 he trained with the Thunder, but only played in exhibition games. In 2004, he traded soccer for a job with Ameriprise Financial. Love for the game kept him playing in local men's leagues, where he was reunited with Thunder coach Amos Magee and offered a second chance to play professional soccer.

Bass, 30, not only is captain this season, but he is also the team's oldest player -- and the only one working a fulltime job during the season.

He arrives at his downtown Minneapolis office by 6:30 a.m., drives up to the National Sports Center in Blaine for training sessions beginning at 9 a.m., and then goes back to work. Bass uses his vacation hours when the team goes on the road.

"It gets hard some days but I feel pretty comfortable with everything right now," he said.

"Something tells me that if he is good enough, Target can probably be worked around" conjectures

That little old jersey collector

Me

Emwinromwanekhoe Iyengumwena!

I can think of quite a few songs for Emwinromwanekhoe.

All to the tune of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", I'm guessing.

That little old jersey collector

Me

Metcalf was a starting goalkeeper in the first Stars Fantasy Camp, and played the full 90 (OK 80) minutes. Very important career note. Uhclem, you're slacking.

I attended the combine this morning. It was great to see Coach Manny, Craig and Kevin. (Kevin looked tired, but was sporting a nice sun tan.) There were 34 players who attended. One player at the combine was from Norway and had the first name of Ole, so he automatically received 20 bonus points (10 for being from Norway, and another 10 because his first name was Ole). I tried to play through my right quad strain, but my agent did not let me go out on the pitch. Rumor has it Liverpool might be call with Suarez serving his 8 match suspension. I want to be in top shape when I get my call-up.

Rumor has it that IMS will have a great article about the combine up on the WWW site soon.

Did any players standout? or possibly have the talent to play at that level?