Despite the fact that he is just 23 years old, expansion side Orlando City believe they have found a team leader in Amobi Okugo.
Out of contract after the 2014 season, Okugo’s rights were acquired from the Philadelphia Union in a trade on Dec. 8. After an impressive 116 appearances for the Union from 2010-14, Okugo openly mulled the possibility of signing with a European club, but Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath and general manager Paul McDonough caused him to reconsider.
“Coach Heath and Paul McDonough had a great pitch,” Okugo said. “Heath has experience in Europe, and he knows that [playing in] Europe is a big goal of mine. If the opportunity comes around down the line, [Heath said he] would do everything in his power to make that happen.”
Time is something the youngster still has plenty of. But Orlando have more immediate plans for Okugo, emphasized by Heath’s response when asked who, other than Brazilian World Cup champion Kaká, might be expected to take on a leadership role for the Lions.
“I think Amobi Okugo,” the English coach stated bluntly. “You look at him: He’s only 23, but he’s physically very strong and mentally very strong. He’s played over 100 leagues games for Philly. He’s been through [expansion] as well.”
Okugo’s previous experience with an expansion club came when he was selected by the Union with the No. 6 pick in the 2010 SuperDraft, and he feels Orlando City already have a leg up on expansion clubs of years past.
“With Orlando being a USL PRO team, I feel like they already had a head start,” Okugo said. “The training facility is great. If you ask the guys that have been on other teams, like Tally Hall or Aurélien Collin, they’d tell you [Orlando’s] exceeded expectations. That’s the motto of our team: Defy expectations.”
Okugo's leadership role comes through a combination of his experience in Major League Soccer and Orlando’s young roster, which is expected to include at least nine players under the age of 21, if and when Colombians Cristian Higuita and Carlos Rivas finalize their signings. Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (37), Collin (28) and Brek Shea (24) are the only other MLS veterans expected to join Okugo in the starting lineup to start the season.
“I feel like a young veteran,” responded Okugo, when told of Heath’s comments. “Coming in, Coach Heath kind of counted on me for that. I want to lead by example and try to get everyone on board as quick as possible.”
