Defender Ubusuku Abukusumo, who was released by the Columbus Crew in 1999, has landed in Raleigh after a trade between the Express and the Minnesota Thunder.

SOCCER AMERICA: What was your reaction to getting traded?

UBUSUKU ABUKUSUMO: I was fairly surprised. I thought I played well with Minnesota. … They told me it was a business decision, rather than a playing decision.

SA: You logged a lot of time with Project-40 while you were with the Columbus Crew. What kind of memories do you have from that time?

UA: I have good memories, and also some not bad memories but things that I think needed to be ironed out, and I believe they have been.

The first year was hard because we didn’t have that many players, so we had to bring in a lot of players from other teams, older players. Most of the players in MLS looked at it as a demotion, rather than a chance to get 90 minutes. The second year it was much better. We had a good core group of players and we did well. It felt like it was unlucky for us to lose to Minnesota in the playoffs.

SA: How about with the Crew? You played more than two seasons in Columbus but only saw time in 11 games …

UA: It was a tough situation. I had a real bad spell of injuries when I first came in. I had a hamstring or a quad injury, and then I went through a couple more of those pulls. So it was hard to come in and prove myself when I was on the injury table a lot.

When I did get healthy I felt like I made a good run at it. … It all comes down to [the coach’s] opinion.

SA: Here you are in Raleigh. Have you unpacked your suitcase? You’ve bounced around a bit lately, and that’s got to be tough.

UA: I’ll be honest with you, it’s not fun. I talk to some of my friends from high school, college, what not, [and] they think playing professional soccer is so glamorous. In reality, it’s really not. You’re bumping around, moving around, and you never really know where you’re going to be next.

It’s been hard. I’ve moved four times just this past year … but it’s the price you pay.


by Soccer America associate editor Poul Swain