Seattle Sounders new signing, Onyekachi Apam, practiced with the club for the first time.
“We’ll probably establish a fitness regimen with him,” Coach Sigi Schmid said.
“There were some good things: At the beginning of practice, close in tight, you could see he’s got some good defensive tendencies, which is a good thing. He’s got good quickness, which is another thing we were looking for. It’s just a matter of making sure that we get him fit, get him up to speed, give him an opportunity where he can do well, and not put him into a situation too early.”
Schmid wouldn’t commit to a timetable.
However, he said Apam would need at least two or three weeks in a regular season with only four weeks remaining.
Apam himself believes he could be ready sooner.
“If I’m OK, why not?” he said. “I’m here to play. … I feel good. I was a little bit tired because of the travel and time difference, but in time I will be OK, adjust. … I have been training on my own.”
Apam hasn’t played competitively since May, and didn’t expect to have a new team this soon.
However, the Sounders announced the signing September 19, with 10 days passing before all of his international transfer papers were received.
Apam, 27, made 128 appearances in the French first division with Stade Rennes and OGC Nice.
He also has 14 caps with the Nigerian national team, where he was a teammate of Sounders goal leader, Obafemi Martins, who advised the team about Apam.
“He’s a good player,” Martins said. “When he’s fit, I think then we’ll see more of him.”
That can’t come too soon as the Los Angeles Galaxy has pulled even with the Sounders in the race for Supporters Shield and top playoff seed in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, Seattle has allowed nine goals over its past three games – including two in the first 20 minutes of Saturday’s 4-2 win over Chivas USA.
Through 30 games, the Sounders have allowed 46 goals, already topping the previous high of 42 from last season.