The LA Galaxy announced today that the club has selected midfielder Andrew Green of Valencia, Calif. and defender Abdul Razzaq Juma of Anaheim, Calif. from over 200 participants in the 2010 Galaxy Open Tryouts at The Home Depot Center. Over two days, the Open Tryout participants were evaluated in a series of 7v7 games in Round 1 before concluding with an 11 v 11 game against the Galaxy U-18's in Round 2.
By being selected, Green and Juma have been invited for a trial in May with the Galaxy's U-20 team, which competes in USL Super-20 League.
After several days of evaluation and deliberation, the Galaxy Open Tryouts Assessors selected Green and Juma as the two top players from the Open Tryouts based on their technical, tactical and athletic abilities.
[inline_node:2596]The Galaxy Open Tryouts Assessors were lead by a distinguished group of coaches and former players including Ralph Perez (Former Assistant Coach - U.S. National Team and LA Galaxy, Current Head Coach - University of Redlands), Rolando Uribe (Head Coach - California Institute of Technology, Head Coach U-14 U.S. National Team), Bill Swartz (Head Coach - Pomona-Pitzer College) and Paul Broome (Former Defender - LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas).
"On day one, we looked for players that caught our eye, in particular those demonstrating elite physical condition with the speed, power and agility to compete for a roster spot, and at the players' tactical skill, positioning and touch on the ball," said Perez, an assistant coach with the 1990 U.S World Cup team. "We felt both Andrew and Abdul should have another chance to try and compete for a spot."
Currently, Green is training with the Hollywood United Hitmen of the Premier Development League (PDL), while Juma recently played at Cypress Community College.
Here are a few facts about this year's Open Tryouts...
• More than 200 players participated including wait listed players
• 9 players from outside of the United States participated
• Two Players from United Kingdom, France and Mexico and United Kingdom
as well as Brazil, Japan and Taiwan
• Furthest distance traveled to attend - 5,680 miles (Japan)
• Players from out of California - 23
• State with the most players from outside of California - Nevada (four)
• Furthest distance traveled within U.S.A. - 2,285 miles (Key West,
Florida)
