Sounders FC report that six of its players have been requested to be in action during the international break as countries vie for a place in Russia at the 2018 World Cup.

Also, Nicolas Lodeiro would be in action for Uruguay as he was named in the squad for his country for the qualifiers against Argentina and Paraguay. The last two are forwards Oalex Anderson, and Myron Samuel who were invited to feature for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The United States are almost sure of a spot in Russia, but the coach has insisted that he would not take anything lightly. “We’re not through yet, and this is what you clearly tell the players so that even for one second, we [don’t] kind of underestimate the situation,” he said. Trinidad and Tobago lead the United States by a point ahead of the final show down in the CONCACAF semi finals. The US is set to make the final six-team hexagonal round, except if they lose on Tuesday to Trinidad and Tobago, and Guatemala defeat St. Vincent. The Grenadines would still need to beat a 12-score deficit.

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Around one month ago it was announced that the MLS side Seattle Sounders had signed the Nigerian defender Onyekachi Apam but it wasn’t until recently which has been unveiled that Obafemi Martins had a big influence in this transfer as he suggested his countryman on making a move to the Seattle Sounders.

“Obafemi Martin said: ‘’You have to come because this is a good team. If you are going to come to MLS, this is one of the best teams. We have good players as well, so it’s going to make it easier for you to play.”

After having only passed a few days of having completed a number of training sessions with his new club, Apam has already received positive feedback from the coach, Sigi Schmid as the German born tactician said: “There were good things at the beginning of practice with goals in tight. He’s got good defensive tendencies, which is one of the things we wanted. He’s got good quickness, which is another thing we were looking for.”

The defensive structure of the Seattle Sounders was one of the main concerns of the American team after having to cope with a recent injury of Zach Scott while another injury forced Djimi Traore to be out of action for a few months.

There has been nothing but positive feedback arriving from the staff members of Seattle Sounders with the sporting director Chris Henderson also taking a moment to talk about and praise what Onyekachi can bring to the American team.

“Onyekachi brings vast experience from French Ligue 1 and the Nigerian National Team,” said Sounders FC Sporting Director Chris Henderson. “He is a versatile defender who can play central or wide and has the ability to start our attack from the back as well.”

But even with all of these positive comments which have been arriving in relation to the Nigerian defender, this signing is a risky one as the player in the past has struggled trying to maintain himself fit and missed over 1 year of action due to injury after having signed with the French side Rennes in 2010 but managed to make his first appearances with Rennes in January f 2012.