The Fine Colombians*

By: Laurie | February 19th, 2009

So I’ve been struggling in the preseason to find things to write about that don’t involve giving names to chickens. (Meaning I don’t want to write about trialists, because I don’t want my heart broken. Again.)

So let’s write about our newest signing, yet another Colombian, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado. Yes, “Jhon.” And “Kennedy.” (Kennedy being, I believe, a traditional Colombian name.)

Jhon is a central defender, coming to us from Deportivo Cali in Colombia, where he was once teammates with our other Colombian, Fredy Montero, who is my “how the hell did we get him?” signing of the year. (Seriously, he’s a Colombian international. Young. Talented. Not past his prime or broken down. The kind of kid who hardly ever comes to MLS, even on loan. And who may well eventually go elsewhere, where there’s more money. But at the moment, he’s here, with us. And I’m hoping we’ll make the most of it.)

I know next to nothing about Hurtado, except that the fact that we’ve signed both him and Tyrone Marshall out of nowhere in the last week means that Sigi was not comfortable with our central defense options.

From the Times:

“Jhon has good speed, he’s a good man-to-man marker, a good tackler and uses his speed to close people down,” Sounders FC technical director Chris Henderson said in a statement from the team. “We had a chance to see him play two or three times, plus some video. We’re excited to have him join our team.”

I have to say, coming from the perspective of a Galaxy fan who’s watched the club make some of the most bizarre signings…

Well, these seem so…rational. Which makes me wonder what I’m missing.

I’m hoping it’s just a matter of switching my brain over into “Seattle fan” mode.

*It’s an old song. And yes, kids, I’m pretty sure they were talking about soccer players. Just like us.

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Category: Seattle Team News

Tags: Colombia, Deportivo Cali, Fredy Montero, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Seattle Team News, Signings, Sounders FC

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Comments  

• NYLee |  February 19th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

  
  
  

  John Kennedy Hurtado was in trial with Milan not short ago, he even played a friendly (in Germany I think) with them. He was training for over a month and the word in Colombian media is that he could move there next summer. There was a funny interview that this guy gave to the biggest Colombian media from Senderos house.

  Montero is a huge prospect.

  Kennedy is not a common Colombian name. People gets names ideas from everywhere: there are thousand girls called Diana after Lady Di and there is even a guy called Usnavy after, well, the US Navy.

  Posted from United States

  

• Aaron |  February 19th, 2009 at 1:24 pm

  
  
  

  Wait i’m confused. Is it Jhon or John?

  Posted from United States

  

• Aaron |  February 19th, 2009 at 1:25 pm

  
  
  

  Oh and if so, how do you pronounce Jhon?

  Posted from United States

  

• Laurie |  February 19th, 2009 at 2:14 pm

  
  
  

  Aaron, definitely Jhon, and I’m monitoring the official Seattle blog for pronunciation and will let you know when I find something. Since Spanish doesn’t share our “j” sound, maybe “zh”?

  NYLee, re: the Kennedy thing? It’s very important that anybody reading this blog never take anything I say seriously. (unless it’s about how pissed off I am at Beckham, because that’s the whole truth) Keep that in mind and we’ll get along fine.

  Posted from United States

  

• NYLee |  February 20th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

  
  
  

  It’s Jhon. A small typo.

  Posted from United States

  

• jen |  February 21st, 2009 at 5:50 pm

  
  
  

  Yup Laurie, because Steely Dan was a HUGE soccer fan!

  Posted from United States

  

• Laurie |  February 23rd, 2009 at 1:49 pm

  
  
  

  Jen, you have no idea how much I was hoping someone would pick up on my sly reference.

  Posted from United States

  

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