Opportunity knocks for former UConn star Forko
By ARTHUR SHERMAN
Norwich Bulletin
The World Cup is a quadrennial opportunity for the greatest soccer
players to demonstrate their skills on the ultimate stage.
Willis Forko may not be participating in the event, but the
tournament's month-long run beginning Friday will also play a large
role in his soccer future. While the world's best are off in
Germany, Forko -- a former player at UConn -- will continue his
Major League Soccer rookie season with Real Salt Lake, hoping to
maintain his newfound job as a starting defender.
"I just felt that if I didn't get a chance," Forko said in a recent
phone interview, "then this would be time for me to prove myself."
His opportunity came a week earlier than expected when an injury
pushed Forko into the starting lineup, despite having no appearances
through Salt Lake's first five matches this season. He's started
every match since that May 6 debut at home against the Columbus Crew
and helped Salt Lake take a four-match unbeaten run into Friday's
visit to the Colorado Rapids.
With starting defender Eddie Pope off to represent the U.S. in
Germany and midfielder Douglas Sequeira playing for Costa Rica --
the pair spent the better part of last month at national team
training -- the Salt Lake lineup will have a few vacancies over the
coming weeks. Although the loaning out of national team players
wasn't the reason for Forko's immediate impact, his role during the
season's second half will be based on these subsequent performances.
"It's a good feeling to know that while I'll be starting, I'm not a
let-down," he said.
Forko's journey to gain this opportunity came after earning third
team Big East honors as a junior and senior. He did hit a snag by
not being selected in the SuperDraft, only to be taken 14th overall
in the supplemental draft.
Forko's ability to play on the left side has helped plug holes at
Salt Lake and gives him value, considering the position is normally
difficult to fill successfully.
"He's a good player and I think a lot of teams missed the boat on
him," said UConn coach Ray Reid, who has produced 14 MLS drafted
players in his eight years in Storrs. "He's very athletic. He's
quite skillful. He can attack; he can defend. He's good in the
1-on-1 defensively.
"He's got a lot of good qualities."
Although this World Cup provides a unique career opportunity for
Forko, the fan in him will be sure to keep up with the action. When
the World Cup was in Japan and South Korea in 2002, Forko stayed up
through the night with his brother, Sam -- a former UConn player who
was a member of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars at the time -- to
watch as many matches as possible.
"I'm a big soccer junkie," Willis said. "Anyone that knows me knows
I love to watch soccer and I watch soccer 24-7. I'll probably be
recording all the games."
Reach Arthur Sherman at 425-4250 or asherman @norwichbulletin.com
|
|
