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D.C. United's Andy Najar hoping to build on last season
The Honduran told Goal.com that he has been working hard in the offseason and expects to have another strong year.
Feb 19, 2012 11:00:00 PM
By Mark Vincent Lincir
Getty
When D.C. United’s right-sided phenom Andy Najar is on the soccer pitch, he will make you pay attention. In fact, he'll force you to take notice
Unfortunately, there just aren’t enough players with that level of quality in their game around Major League Soccer or around the world for that matter. Despite being only 18, the Honduras native does have it all; the tight touch, the unstoppable lateral movement and the explosion that quickly makes him only a phone call away.
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So what does one do when that much talent is cooped-up into one player’s body? The graduate of D.C. United’s Youth Academy is taking it very seriously and working every day to maximize it for what is sure to be a long and prolific professional footballing career.
At only 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, Najar knows that bulking up will be the key to his longevity in what is fast becoming known as one of the most physical leagues in the world in MLS.
“The main focus in the offseason has been the physical aspect of the game,” says the soft-spoken Najar in an exclusive interview for goal.com. “I have been working hard on that here in preseason too and I hope it pays off when the season starts.”
After scoring seven goals and adding two assists last year for D.C. United, Najar isn’t going to let the pressure get to him, even though he certainly knows there will be plenty of expectations put on him this season.
“I’m going to keep doing what I did last year this year,” he says through an interpreter. “I know there will be a lot of pressure on me to get assists and to score and I’m going to use all my experience from last year to help the team in any way I can.”
MARK VINCENT LINCIR is the author of A SOCCER LIFE IN SHORTS. He blogs daily here.
Unfortunately, there just aren’t enough players with that level of quality in their game around Major League Soccer or around the world for that matter. Despite being only 18, the Honduras native does have it all; the tight touch, the unstoppable lateral movement and the explosion that quickly makes him only a phone call away.
Follow MARK VINCENT LINCIR on
So what does one do when that much talent is cooped-up into one player’s body? The graduate of D.C. United’s Youth Academy is taking it very seriously and working every day to maximize it for what is sure to be a long and prolific professional footballing career.
At only 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, Najar knows that bulking up will be the key to his longevity in what is fast becoming known as one of the most physical leagues in the world in MLS.
“The main focus in the offseason has been the physical aspect of the game,” says the soft-spoken Najar in an exclusive interview for goal.com. “I have been working hard on that here in preseason too and I hope it pays off when the season starts.”
After scoring seven goals and adding two assists last year for D.C. United, Najar isn’t going to let the pressure get to him, even though he certainly knows there will be plenty of expectations put on him this season.
“I’m going to keep doing what I did last year this year,” he says through an interpreter. “I know there will be a lot of pressure on me to get assists and to score and I’m going to use all my experience from last year to help the team in any way I can.”
MARK VINCENT LINCIR is the author of A SOCCER LIFE IN SHORTS. He blogs daily here.
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