Major League Soccer’s inaugural Caribbean Combine has yielded its first-ever pro prospect.
Stefano Rijssel was selected by the Seattle Sounders. The 21-year-old Surinamese striker was invited to the recent MLS Player Combine after a strong showing in the Caribbean Combine a week earlier.
Rijssel joined Trinidad and Tobago club W Connection in July 2012 and played in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage with the club, including an appearance against the Houston Dynamo. He was one of 23 Caribbean players invited to the league’s first ever Caribbean Combine in Antigua in the first weekend of January and one of only two players invited to MLS Combine Florida after his performance.
Stockily-built Rijssel is a versatile player. As a tricky winger, he tends to stay wide and stretch the field all the way out to the touchline. When in a striker’s role, he is principally used as a target man and does well to hold the ball up with his back to goal.
Cayman’s only player selected for the Caribbean Combine was goalkeeper Ramon Sealy, who was not surprised when he was not picked for the next round because he was told that they had already chosen their keepers and were just giving him some experience.
Nevertheless, 22-year-old Sealy enjoyed it and the new drills he learned will serve him well for Bodden Town and the Cayman national team. He is still focused on turning pro and is looking for other opportunities for tryouts.
“I’m not surprised Rijssel was picked because he is very quick and knows where the net is,” Sealy said. “If anyone was going to get through out of all of us it was going to be him.”
Sealy is also an excellent cricketer and will be going with the national team to Malaysia for a big tournament next month.
He next plays for Bodden Town against Academy at the TE McField Annex on Wednesday night, kickoff 7.30 p.m. Elite face North Side at the same time at West Bay’s Ed Bush stadium.
On Thursday, Premier League leaders George Town tackle Cayman Athletic at the TE McField Annex at 7.30 p.m. and Scholars International play Sunset at Ed Bush.
Cayman’s only player selected for the Caribbean Combine was goalkeeper Ramon Sealy who was not surprised when he was not picked for the next round because he was told that they had already chosen their keepers and were just giving him some experience.
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