Youth program pays dividends

By Jose Alfredo Flores, USA TODAY

What could pro experience mean to the U.S. men's Olympic soccer team in

Project-40 graduates

Ben Olsen, D.C. United midfielder. Arguably the brightest star to emerge from Project-40. He's the 1998 MLS Rookie of the Year, 1999 MLS Cup MVP, a three-time All-Star and a regular on the senior national team. Has ability to take on defenders one-on-one and pass them using his quick first step. Josh Wolff, Chicago Fire forward. One of the reasons Chicago is second in the league in goals with 52. Has 13 points (five goals, three assists) this year. Scored 22 points in 1999 (10 goals, two assists) and 19 in 1998 (eight goals, three assists). Good goal-scoring instincts. Tim Howard, New York/New Jersey MetroStars goalkeeper. Having a career year with the MetroStars, with a 1.05 goals against average in six games. Is MetroStars' No. 1 goalkeeper after starter and All-Star Mike Ammann suffered a season-ending injury. Chris Albright, D.C. United forward. Scored three goals for United this season, after registering one assist in his rookie year in 1999. One of the top scorers on the U-23 team, with four goals and four assists in 12 matches in 2000. Chad McCarty, Tampa Bay Mutiny defender. A strong defender and ironman, one of only two Mutiny players to start 30 games in 1999. Has one goal, one assist for U-23 team in 11 appearances.

Sydney? It could mean the difference between a fast exit and advancing to the medal round, according to Major League Soccer players and U.S. Soccer officials.

"Putting amateur players into a pro environment makes all the difference in the world," says U.S. Olympic coach Clive Charles. In Atlanta in 1996, a team made of mostly college players took on international teams with young pros and didn't advance past the first round.

In 2000, with the exception of collegian Casey Connor, each player will have pro experience. "Four years ago, it was a completely different situation," says U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena, who coached the 1996 Olympic team. "Now we have MLS and the byproduct of that is the U-23 team."

A major reason for the influx of MLS players on the Olympic squad is the league's Project-40 program, which fast-tracks young, talented players and allows them to play for MLS teams. Nine players from the program will be represented in Sydney.

The program, which started in 1997, signs players ranging from the mid-teens to early 20s to professional guaranteed contracts. The Pro-40 players receive the league minimum ($24,900) and also get a five-year stipend to continue their education when they choose.

"The Olympics will show how players with pro experience will benefit," says MLS vice president of player personnel Todd Durbin, who negotiates contracts for Pro-40 players.

MLS commissioner Don Garber agrees. "We have shown that we are very competitive in the world and we're hoping we can capitalize on this with success in the Olympics," he says.

The U.S. under-23 men's national team has had success the past couple of years, most recently at the Olympic qualifying tournament for the Caribbean, North and Central America region (CONCACAF) in Hershey, Pa., in April.

"When a team like Mexico doesn't qualify for the Olympics, it shows the progress we are making in CONCACAF," says New England Revolution and U.S. Olympic defender Brian Dunseth, a Pro-40 graduate.

The USA and Honduras are the only teams representing the CONCACAF region in Sydney. Another promising sign of improvement came when the U.S. U-23 team was third in the 1999 Pan American games in Winnipeg, Canada.

Joining Pro-40 made sense to Ben Olsen, D.C. United's first signee from the program. "It was a pretty easy decision," he says. "It was school for pro soccer, but what made it easier (decision) was the educational package. If your leg falls off and you don't have enough money, I can always fall back on the scholarship."

Each player is assigned to an MLS club and trains with the team during the week. If players don't get sufficient playing time , they join a Pro-40 select team that plays in the second-division A-League.

Sunil Gulati was one of the original architects of Pro-40 when he served as MLS' deputy commissioner. "Some players need more time (to develop)," says Gulati, who is now the Managing Director for Kraft Soccer — which operates the Revolution and San Jose Earthquakes.

The chance to play against highly regarded international players — like Luis Hernandez, Lothar Matthaeus and Hristo Stoitchkov — is why some Pro-40 players signed with MLS.

"For a young defender going against extraordinary talent (from) the top levels around the world is amazing," says Tampa Bay Mutiny and Olympic defender Chad McCarty, a Pro-40 graduate. "I wanted to walk the pitch with full confidence and now as a 22-year-old, I can."

The Olympics should provide a great opportunity to showcase the progress the USA has made in its youth soccer development. "Whatever success we get in Australia (the credit) will go to the league," says Charles, whose team will begin the Olympics against the Czech Republic Sept. 13 in Canberra.

"We want to make a statement to the world and make this league more visible and competitive to the world," Dunseth says. "And we're doing that."