Brotherly Game Archive
Amobi Okugo And Zach Pfeffer Are In Germany Training With Bundesliga Clubs
Philadelphia Union midfielders Amobi Okugo and Zach Pfeffer are currently training with Bundesliga clubs, according to multiple reports.
Okugo, a first round SuperDraft pick by the Union in 2010, was today revealed to have flown to Germany today to train with Bundesliga relegation zone side SC Freiburg. The 20-year-old joins fellow Generation Adidas midfielder/defender Perry Kitchen at the southwest German team's facilities. There is currently no known end date on Okugo's training period with Freiburg, but most MLS players this offseason have been given a month with top teams throughout Europe.
The Union's first ever home grown player is also in Germany, as Pfeffer has made his second trip to Hoffenheim to train with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Last year the 16-year-old – then only 15-years-old – spent two weeks with the club, impressing the coaching staff there enough that there were rumors of transfer interest in the Union academy product. Hoffenheim already has a strong tie to American and its national team, with internationals such as Daniel Williams and Fabian Johnson playing for its first team.
MLS Americans have sought trials in Europe because of a call by national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann to extend their playing and training time throughout the year.