Major League Soccer (MLS) club Columbus Crew have acquired the services of W Connection and Trinidad and Tobago international Andrei Pacheco until the end of the 2007 season.
Pacheco who had been on trials with Crew twice this year has finally secured a deal after his first attempt was cut short because of a groin injury.
W Connection Owner/President David John Williams who confirmed the deal on Thursday said that both his club and the MLS club Columbus Crew have agreed to a loan deal for Pacheco until the end of this season.
He also mentioned that in the agreement there is an option for a three year extension for Pacheco with the MLS club.
Williams told ‘ttproleague.com’, “It’s a good move for Andrei. It is also good for our club (W Connection), showing that our youth systems are producing international material.”
The 23 year old Pacheco had joined W Connection at the age of sixteen in 1999 and later teamed up with Brazilian utility player William Da Silva Oliviera in both the U-20 and senior squads. Oliviera is currently with MLS club Chicago Fire after joining the club earlier this season.
“When you add that we (W Connection) have William Da Silva Oliviera playing in the MLS this season with Chicago Fire, youngsters Matthew Bartholomew and Aaron Downing playing in Belgium, Silvio Spann expected to sign with English club Wrexham and Jan Michael Williams expected to also go abroad, it only says good things about our developmental system.”
Williams also believes that Pacheco’s move to the MLS club can also benefit the Trinidad and Tobago national team.
“Andrei would also gain a lot more experience playing at a much higher level and this can do a lot for the national team if he is given the opportunity.”
Pacheco last represented T&T at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June had been on his second trial at Columbus Crew for the past three weeks.
At Columbus he would team up with United States internationals Danny O'Rourke and Frankie Hejduk. Pacheco would also be privileged to play against his former W Connection teammate William Da Silva Oliviera in the League that has been popularized by the introduction of the world’s most iconic football star David Beckam who has joined LA Galaxy this season.
Crew are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind leaders New England Revolution and six points ahead of Chicago Fire, the club of Oliviera.