American Football star Chad Ochocinco has joined Major League Soccer outfit Sporting Kansas City on a four-day trial.
With the NFL currently in the midst of a lockout, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver has decided to follow his “dream” by trying out for the Kansas City club.
And coach Peter Vermes was happy to give the 33-year-old a chance following a recent telephone conversation.
Vermes told Extra Time Radio: “He’s more for a forward, which doesn’t surprise me – trying to get behind defences.
“But the big thing will be that once he gets behind the defence, can he actually finish the ball off and make the final pass. That’s going to be the big thing.
“He assured me that he wasn’t after this just for a media sake. He said soccer has been his number one sport and his passion, and if he could do it all over again, he said that he would love to play soccer.
“He just was talked into going into football by his grandparents, who raised him.”
And Vermes added: “I’ve had many players come in here on trial and a 99% of them had lesser physical tools than he does.
“For that reason – and that reason only – it’s going to be a very curious way to look at a player.”