Umony’s American dream

Brian Umony is expected to be unveiled this week following the Uganda Cranes striker’s move to Major League Soccer outfit Portland Timbers.

The former KCC, SuperSport and Pretoria Tuks forward secured a season-long loan deal at the MLS club over a week ago after an impressive trial display especially in Timbers’ one-all draw with LA Galaxy, in which he scored, on February 8.

The 24-year-old has so far played three games for the Timbers, coming on as substitute in all with the last pre-season friendly a nil-all draw with Sporting Kansas City in Arizona on Saturday.
“I guess the signing and the unveiling will be done in Portland probably on Monday (today) or Tuesday,” Umony told Daily Monitor on Saturday.

“Paperwork and work permit application have slowed down the process but everything will be ok”.
Umony was a second half substitute against Sporting Kansas City and in their 1-0 win over Montreal Impact (Wednesday), all MLS sides, but didn’t this time see the back of the net.

Coach impressed
“I played the last 30 minutes and the coach (John Spencer) was happy with my contribution,” said Umony. In an interesting revelation, Umony, who has asked for his favourite shirt number 27, told a US online publication Oregonlive.com he had never heard of his new coach, Spencer until he arrived at the Portland training ground early this month.

Scotsman Spencer played for English Premier League teams Chelsea and Everton, Scottish giant Rangers and MLS’ Colorado Rapids. “I didn’t know who he was,” admitted Umony, who has a chance to make the first team roster when Timbers begin their first-ever MLS season at Colorado March 19.

“I just think that the kid has a tremendous appetite for the game,” Spencer said. “We brought him in and he’s impressed (us),” said Spencer, who revealed Cranes coach Bobby Williamson, his former teammate at Rangers, gave Umony great recommendation.