MIAMI, Fla. (January 29, 2013) ̶ Former Barclays Premier League defender and French international Pascal Chimbonda will join the group of more than 60 players aiming to impress coaches at the NASL Combine in Florida next month.
Recognized as a pathway to playing professional soccer in the United States, the third annual NASL Combine is attracting players from around the world and will be held from February 1-3 at Lockhart Stadium, home of the NASL’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
Last season, nine players realized their dreams, as they were signed by NASL teams, including Fort Lauderdale’s Mark Anderson, who finished third in goals scored (11) and was the league-leader in shots attempted during the 2012 season. Anderson went from the NASL Combine to the Strikers to being named to the NASL Best XI team at the end of the 2012 season.
A total of 68 players from Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Egypt, England, France, New Zealand, Panama, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela and the United States will be put through their paces under the watchful eyes of NASL coaches.
Among the players attending the Combine are midfielder Laurent Merlin, formerly of Chivas USA in MLS, who has been capped by France at youth level; forward David Santamaria, who played two years in the NASL with Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta; and midfielder Yoximar Granado another former member of the Strikers from Colombia.
Chimbonda, 33, has enjoyed a stellar career that includes more than 150 appearances in the top flight of English football with Wigan Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, and Blackburn Rovers. He was named to the PFA Barclays Premier League Best XI after the 2005-06 season.
This will be the third consecutive year the NASL has held a February combine, which will be attended by coaches from every NASL team as they look to add to their playing squad ahead of the 2013 Spring Season Opening Kick on April 6.
Full Player List Below:
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| Standings | |||||||
| TEAM | GP | W | T | L | GD | PTS | |
| Atlanta Silverbacks | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 17 | |
| Carolina RailHawks | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 16 | |
| Minnesota United FC | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 14 | |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 12 | |
| FC Edmonton | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 11 | |
| San Antonio Scorpions | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 11 | |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -7 | 8 | |
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