Ogunbiyi awaits 2009 SuperDraft decision today
By Matthew Cucuzza
For Santa Clara men's soccer standout Jide Ogunbiyi, the wait is finally over.
The senior will find out today if he will play Major League Soccer.
Ogunbiyi spent this past weekend in Fort Lauderdale Fla., where he competed with 72 other top college players at the 2009 MLS Player Combine. The combine is the final review for the MLS coaches and executives of college players before today's MLS SuperDraft in St. Louis.
Santa Clara head coach Cameron Rast, who was one of four coaches at the combine, said Ogunbiyi performed well at Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium.
'»¿"His first day was very good," Rast said. "A lot of coaches are looking at defenders. They're looking for defenders that have better size and athleticism. Those are two strengths for Jide."
Ogunbiyi spent four seasons at Santa Clara, amassing 11 goals and eight assists. In his senior season, Ogunbiyi moved to center back after playing most of his college career as a forward in order to plug a Santa Clara defense Rast described as "leaky.'»¿"
Ogunbiyi has played on the big stage before. He and his brother Tunde were two of the last players cut from Nigeria's team for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
According to Rast, Jide's only potential drawback is his lack of experience on the back line.
'»¿"Physically, he is very ready," Rast said. "Experience-wise, the coaches are going to have to trust that he will learn and get better."
Rast, a former U.S. Olympian and current member of U.S. Soccer's Executive Board of Supervisors, likes Ogunbiyi's chances in today's draft. Eight of Rast's players have been drafted in the last five MLS SuperDrafts.
'»¿"Jide has shown that he is deserving of being at the combine and will be competitive when it comes to making an MLS roster," Rast said.
Players at the MLS Combine are split into four teams, each coached by NCAA head coaches.
Rast was invited to coach Team adidas Tiro, the squad Ogunbiyi played with over the weekend.
Rast joined Chaka Daley of Providence, Bobby Clark of Notre Dame and Caleb Porter of Akron as head coaches of the teams at the MLS Combine.
Each coach had a player from his home team at the combine, and those players played on the teams' of their respective college coaches.
Rast said the opportunity to coach at the combine has allowed him to see former teammates and coaches who were also there.
"I've seen a lot of my mentors here, and that's been just as enjoyable as coaching the quality of player we have at the combine," Rast said.
This is Rast's second time as a combine coach. He was invited to the 2004 combine in Carson, Calif.
The top pick in this year's draft belongs to the expansion Seattle Sounders FC.
The San Jose Earthquakes, who will play at Buck Shaw Stadium for at least the next two years, originally held the second overall pick in the draft.
They traded the pick to Toronto FC in February 2008 for midfielder Ronnie O'Brien.
Two Santa Clara players, Peter Lowry and Matt Hatzke, attended the 2008 MLS Player Combine. Both were selected in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, along with Santa Clara teammates Jamil Roberts and Matt Marquess.
Hatzke and Roberts are now playing with the Earthquakes. Lowry remains with the Chicago Fire and Marquess currently plays for the Kansas City Wizards.
Ogunbiyi will soon find out if he will join his former teammates in the ranks of the MLS.
Contact Matthew Cucuzza at (408) 551-1918 or mcucuzza@scu.edu.