The Bouna's Back in Town

And he will start in goal for the crucial game against Chivas tomorrow. Bouna Coundoul, the Senegalese goalkeeper recently back from a traumatic time in his native country, will start for the Colorado Rapids between the posts for the first time since August 9. Fan favorite, Bouna, who had had to swallow the pain of his country crashing out of the World Cup and African Nations' Cup qualifying, not to mention the wrath of angry fans in Dakar last weekend, gains the chance to reclaim the number one spot from Preston Burpo. In front of him will be Mike Petke and Ugo Ihemelu with Jordan Harvey and Kosuke Kimura as full-backs. Head coach, Gary Smith, was planning on moving Cory Gibbs to left back and dropping Harvey but Gibbs pulled a groin muscle in training yesterday and will not travel. Upfront, Conor Casey will be back after his red card suspension and will play alongside Tom McManus who played very well last weekend. Omar Cummings, on duty with the Jamaican national team for two games in the past week, will very likely feature with his speed in the final 20 minutes or so. "I told Gary it will be just like last year," Cummings said, referring to his 89th minute winner from a Casey cross which gave Colorado an unlikely 2-1 win away at Chivas at a very similar stage of the season last year. "I'd be very happy with that," Cummings said.
The midfield is a little less obvious. At the request of Gary Smith, I cannot mention specifics, but there are likely to be some changes. What I can say is that the formation will revert to 4-4-2. Pablo Mastroeni is fit to play after withdrawing from the US national team this week following a knee injury picked up against LA Galaxy. Greg Dalby, who turned an ankle yesterday, and Christian Gomez are unfit and will not travel.

Differing World Cup Fortunes for Rapids Players

Some vital World Cup qualifying games in the past few days involving Colorado Rapids players. Back home in Kingston, Omar Cummings played in both Jamaica games on Saturday and yesterday with the Reggae Boyz winning against both Mexico and Honduras 1-0. Omar came on as supersub in both games for the last 20 minutes. The results mean that Jamaica is back in the hunt for qualifying for the next round but it will be an uphill struggle. They will have to hope Mexico beat Honduras away at the same time as themselves beating Canada at home next month. Things were less happy for Bouna Coundoul with Senegal. The West African team, quarter finalists in the 2002 World Cup, crashed out of qualifying after drawing with Gambia in Dakar last weekend. Senegal were up 1-0 with three minutes to go and would have qualified for the next round given Algeria's draw with Liberia but an equalizer from their West African neighbors saw the Senegalese down and out. Bouna did not get any game time. Maybe the disappointment of one of the better African teams not making it could give the opportunity for Bouna to lock down the number one spot in goal next time round?

Bouna Off to Claim What Is His

When you are enjoying your Starbuck's double tall non-fat this Saturday morning, spare a thought for Colorado Rapids' favorite, Bouna Coundoul. Bouna is currently in his native Senegal preparing for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Gambia which kicks off at 10am Mountain Time. Senegal have to win to have any chance of progressing to the next round of the marathon that is African World Cup qualifying. Why Africa with the same number of teams competing as Europe for a spot in South Africa 2010 should only have five teams that eventually make it while Europe has 13 still beggars belief but that is for another day.
As we all know, Bouna has been struggling in his professional life both for the Rapids and for the national team. He has not played for Colorado for several games now having lost his place in goal to Preston Burpo. He is also still firmly the number two with the national team and you would have to say, that with such a crucial game this weekend, he is unlikely to see any game time against Gambia. He told me last week at training that he would be going to Senegal to claim the starting position. There had been much criticism of the current goalkeeper, Tony Sylva, he said. Reading through the Senegal newspapers online, it is clear that there are defensive problems with the Senegal team. However, the interim head coach has said he is unlikely to change much for Saturday's clincher. Added to this that Bouna has not been playing much competitively recently and it looks as if his admirable optimism may be somewhat misplaced, for now at least. This is one talented goalkeeper who has found himself in a tough spot. I watched him play against Dallas Reserves and I've seen him in training and his form is excellent. He told me it had to do with fasting through Ramadan and, while his faith is all important to him, you know that it also has to do with a burning desire on Bouna's part to be the number one both at home and for his country. This weekend's game against Gambia and the few remaining games for the Rapids may not be quite the right time for him to get where he wants to be which makes it all the more likely that we may not see him at DSG Park come next Spring.

Bouna to Follow Herc Out The Rapids' Door?

There's a nice write-up about Bouna Coundoul in the Denver Post (link below) and how he is caught between a rock and a hard place both at home and with the Senegal national team. He's saying all the right things about being happy as a deputy to Preston Burpo but it is clear how frustrated he is at being on the bench both for the Colorado Rapids and Senegal. According to the article, Burpo looks set to continue in goal for the game on Sunday against Chicago. Burpo is a highly competent goalkeeper and arguably deserves a run in the team but I can't help but feel that this is a similar situation to the one with Herculez Gomez. Granted that both sides in the Gomez case wanted out in the end but there is a strong argument that it should never have got to that position. Gomez was left for far too long on the sidelines. He got frustrated and it became a fait accompli in the end that he would go elsewhere. The same will happen with Bouna if we are not careful. It's no secret that his ambitions are elsewhere, probably in Europe. He wants to become the number one choice in goal for Senegal and he is not going to do that in the Rapids' Reserves. When I discussed about how we could not afford to ignore Bouna in a previous post, that is no reflection on Burpo. It is simply the case that we cannot afford to underuse and eventually lose highly talented players. It's happened before with Herculez, I hope it does not happen with Bouna.
http://www.denverpost.com/rapids/ci_10441200

I may be dogged but I could not get up to training today given the awful weather conditions. I write just as the sun is coming out. From Bryan Forbes' article, it looks a pretty much unchanged team from the one that beat Dallas other than that Conor Casey is out injured. Christian Gomez looks likely to remain on the bench. Talking of underusing talented players?

If It's Thursday, It Must Be Dallas

Crikey! Didn't we just play a game? The Colorado Rapids have a very quick turnaround this week and will be off tomorrow for the game on Thursday night against Dallas. Unfortunately, that gives me no time to get up to training due to work commitments to suss out camp mood and get an idea of the line-up. Most of you are pretty depressed about the latest defeat away at Real Salt Lake. The Reserves fared no better the following day when they were thumped 4-0, all the goals in the first half. Clearly, things aren't working too well. Unfortunately, the Rapids are hamstrung, literally, by some major injuries. Terry Cooke and Pablo Mastroeni are still recovering from their hamstring problems and will not make the trip, at least according to the Rapids website. It wouldn't surprise me, however, if Pablo did at least get on the bench. That may be a bit ambitious but he appears a lot further along with the healing process than does Cooke. Mehdi Ballouchy and Ugo Ihemelu are still listed as out with concussions but I am trying to find out how updated that injury list is. Ugo, at least, was on the verge of making the trip to Salt Lake last week. In terms of international call-ups, Bouna Coundoul is in Senegal right now before the national team flies off for its World Cup qualifying game against Algeria on Friday. Omar Cummings does not appear to have made it into the Jamaican team for its games against Mexico and Honduras. The Reggae Boyz have had to switch their weekend game against Mexico to Mexico City after Hurricane Gustav damaged the national stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
So, what does that leave? You can't really make radical changes when so many people are out injured or are unavailable. But changes need to be made. Desperate times call for drastic measures. Surely, Christian Gomez must start and Kosuke Kimura deserves his chance. Tom McManus should maybe start upfront with Conor Casey. Thoughts?
INJURY UPDATE: According to the Rapids' press office, Pablo and Terry Cooke are listed as probable so they may play a small part in the game. Ihemelu, Greg Dalby and Ballouchy are all described as questionable.

Pablo Wins, Omar Comes In Late, Bouna Benched

Mixed fortunes for the Colorado Rapids players representing their national teams yesterday in various parts of the world. Pablo Mastroeni played 78 minutes for the US team as they defeated Guatemala 1-0 in Guatemala City in their first World Cup qualifying game of this next stage. Pablo picked up his requisite yellow card and both teams had a player sent off. You may think it is easy to beat a team like Guatemala but it ain't exactly the red carpet the locals put down for the visiting US team. It sure semed like one hostile environment to play in and that is a very strong victory for the US.
Elsewhere, there was very little playing time for Omar Cummings and Bouna Coundoul. Omar came on as an 87th minute substitute as Jamaica drew creditably with Canada 1-1 in Toronto in their World Cup qualifying game. Bouna was the only player left on the bench for the entirety of the Senegal friendly against Libya which ended 0-0. Seems like Bouna may have to get used to this position both at home in Colorado and when on duty with the national team. Tony Sylva is the evident number one for the Senegal team and there is definite tension between the new players and the established stars of the Lions of Teranga. If you can read French, you can find details of such tensions in Senegal's online newspaper, sudonline (see link below to last night's game). In Colorado, Preston Burpo performed very creditably in last week's game against Kansas and it is hard to envisage him not starting this weekend against DC United, not least because Bouna has to make it all the way back from Tripoli and has clearly not practiced with the team this week.
Here are some links to reports on the Jamaica and Senegal games.
http://www.coloradorapids.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?NID=WGw+tDJiJqg=
http://www.sudonline.sn/spip.php?article13309

It's Not Really Bouna Time Right Now

Senegal scratched to a disappointing 0-0 draw with Gambia at the weekend in their latest World Cup qualifying game and the Rapids' Bouna Coundoul was nowhere to be seen. Nobody could have expected Bouna to walk into the national team this time around but what has made it worse is that veteran goalkeeper, Tony Sylva, has now been chosen to captain the side. This does not bode well for Bouna to get any playing time for Senegal in the next two games home and away against Liberia over the next two weeks. Coupled with Rapids' coach Fernando Clavijo's frustration at not being able to contact Bouna and wanting him to be back in Colorado, things may not be all that rosy in the Coundoul garden. He's definitely caught betwen a rock and a hard place.

Rapids Fly Off Into Galaxy; Where is Bouna?

It was another perfect morning at Dick's Sporting Goods Park as the Rapids boys went through their paces ahead of this weekend's match before flying off to LA this afternoon. The plane will be without Pablo Mastroeni whose recent strong play has rightly earned him a call-up to the national team. Coach Clavijo said that he fully expects Mastroeni to start against Argentina on Sunday based on conversations with national team coach, Bob Bradley, and that he was not at all surprised he got such short playing time against Spain. The same satisfaction cannot be said for Senegal and Bouna's situation with the team. Clavijo revealed his frustration at not being able to contact the goalkeeper, especially as Bouna did not play in the opening World Cup qualifier against Algeria. "If he is not playing, I want him here," he said. Bouna is set to miss the next few weeks as he is with his national team until at least June 21. Senegal are away to Gambia on Sunday.
Frustrations aside, the projected line-up for tomorrow's game has a familiar look to it. Rafael Gomes looks to be coming in for Mastroeni just in front of the back three as Kosuke Kimura is set to return at right back. The midfield four remain constant and Clavijo's preferred duo of McManus and Casey will surely start.
I don't think there will be a place on the bench for either Jose Burciaga or Herculez Gomez. Both looked to be nursing injuries and worked separately to the rest of the squad with fitness coaches before putting large amounts of ice on their legs. The better news is that Mike Petke was back training with the squad as was Justin Hughes whose recent hernia surgery in Germany looks to have worked well. Justin could be back within the next two weeks and expressed relief that he can finally see an end to all his injury troubles. With Bouna back in town at the end of June, a fit Hughes, the newly acquired Preston Burpo and the two league goalkeepers in Chris Sharpe and Mike Graczyk, who knows how that will all shake out?
Here is the projected line-up for tomorrow's game as it appears on the Rapids' website.
http://www.coloradorapids.com/TheMatch/Matchup.aspx

Bouna To Miss Rapids Games?

Fan favorite, goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, looks set to miss a big chunk of Colorado Rapids games in May and June because of Senegal national team duties. Senegal are due to play a series of World Cup qualifiers both at home and in other parts of West Africa in June. The team is scheduled to play four games against Algeria, Gambia and Liberia (twice). This could mean Bouna missing Rapids games against Chivas (May 24), Dallas (June 1), LA (June 7), Toronto (June 14) and Houston (June 21). He would also miss the game against Dallas in September and again against LA in October because of the two remaining Senegal games. Here is the BBC link to the details of the Senegal fixtures. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7301308.stm
This will be a big wrench to the team. Bouna told me at training today that he had spoken with the Senegal coach this very morning and it now looks certain he will go. After all, he did finish the recent Africa Cup of Nations tournament as the number one choice for Senegal and he played a blinder against South Africa. So, how to fill the void he will leave? This makes it even more important for Justin Hughes to get himself fit again. He needs to get some game time under his belt because that will be a challenging stretch of games for him in June. Also, he can't be guaranteed to walk straight into the team, especially given the surprises that have come with the starting line-up so far this season. The Rapids also have two league goalkeepers on the books in Chris Sharpe and Mike Gracyk. These guys are good, as they say in the golf commercials. More competition in the squad but this should be welcomed. We wish Justin a speedy return to fitness because he is looking at a bigger run in the team than many may have expected.

Bouna Makes Competitive Debut for Senegal

Bouna Coundoul, the favorite son of the Colorado Rapids, is currently warming up in deepest Ghana and about to play for Senegal in his first ever competitive match for his national team. Just as I have discussed in recent posts, the chances were there that he may get a go. Veteran goalkeeper, Tony Sylva, made mistakes in the previous game against Angola and the coach quit this week, leaving the possibility open that Coundoul would get a game. At least we know now where he is on the pecking order as it was never really clear to outsiders whether he was the back-up to Sylva or the back-up to the back-up. Go Bouna! Do your best, mate, and you could be the number one going forward. Senegal play South Africa today with actually little hope of both sides qualifying for the next stages in the Africa Cup of Nations.

UPDATE: Bouna did let in one goal but apparently had no marking to help him in the defense. He also, according to the BBC, pulled off a "remarkable save" later in the game. Interestingly, former number one choice, Sylva, was found in a Ghana nightclub yesterday. When will they ever learn? Senegal drew with South Africa 1-1, meaning both teams fail to progress to the next round.

Senegal Draw Opener - Bouna Doesn't Play!

Senegal managed a 2-2 draw with Tunisia in their opening game in the Africa Cup of Nations today. As expected, Colorado Rapids' favorite son Bouna Coundoul did not get a game. He was on the bench but so were all the other squad members who didn't make the starting XI. Should we read anything into the fact that his rival for the no.2 goalkeeping spot was listed ahead of him on the bench? Who knows? The fact is that Bouna is unlikely to get much playing time given the veteran Tony Sylva is still the first choice. However, the experience will be a fantastic one for him. The only problem is that, if he does get some playing time and any European scouts can be bothered to watch him, he may not be at DSG Park next season. For the record, the Teranga Lions apparently dominated the game but failed to capitalize on such dominance and allowed the Tunisians back into the game with an 83rd minute equalizer. South Africa salvaged a 1-1 draw with Angola in today's other game.

Bouna Named to Senegal Squad

He did it. Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul has been named in the final 23-man squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. This news more than makes up for the fact there are no current Rapids players in the recently announced US national squad. And, unlike EPL teams, Bouna will go with the full support of the Rapids given that the tournament is not happening in the middle of the MLS season. They may start to worry, though, if the Senegal keeper puts in some good performances and gets noticed by European clubs willing to spend a bit of cash. To be honest, the Rapids star is not likely to get much playing time given that veteran Tony Sylva will continue to be the number one. But who knows with injuries or loss of form? Congratulations to the fan favorite. I look forward to expansive coverage of this momentous event on the local news tonight. Here's a link to the BBC story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7177855.stm