Monday, July 28, 2008

FC Dallas acquires former SMU midfielder Bruno Guarda

By Pegasus News wire

FC Dallas today acquired former SMU midfielder Bruno Guarda from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for the team’s natural 2nd and 3rd Round selections in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and a partial allocation.

smu.edu

Bruno Guarda

“We’re very excited to have Bruno Guarda at FC Dallas,” said FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman. “What he’ll bring to the team is that he has a great work ethic. Attacking he was one of the better players in the country at the collegiate level, and he really surprises you because he works so hard defensively to gain the ball back. Tactically he’s very sound; technically he’s very sound. He’s capable of penetrating with a dribble or the pass, and I look for nothing but good things from Bruno as he comes into the professional ranks with FC Dallas.”

The Rapids won a special lottery to obtain the rights to Guarda on July 22. Special lotteries are conducted by the league among interested teams for players who are not eligible to be discovered and who were not drafted. Twelve of the 14 teams participated in last week’s lottery for Guarda’s rights.

“I’m very excited to stay in Dallas,” said Guarda. “My first priority is FC Dallas, and my second priority is to finish my degree here at SMU, which I have two semesters left. But becoming a professional was something that I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little kid, and hopefully one day I can make everyone proud at FC Dallas.”

The Brazilian-born Guarda scored 15 goals and added 18 assists playing in his three years at SMU for Hyndman. He was a Herman Trophy semifinalist following both his sophomore and junior years (2006 and 2007). Hyndman left SMU in June to become FC Dallas’s head coach.

“Schellas Hyndman was a very good coach for me at SMU,” added Guarda. “He’s helped me go through many obstacles. I’ve lived here by myself these years, with my family back in Brazil. He’s always been a coach and a father for me, and I’m very happy and excited to play for him. I know what he can do, and he knows what I can do, so I’m excited for this opportunity.”

The 22-year old moved from his native Brazil to the DFW area in 2002 to play for the Dallas Texans in the Dallas Cup. Upon receipt of his student visa, he attended Oakridge High School in Arlington for his junior and senior years. He was a member of the Texans team that won the 2003 Dallas Cup championship. In 2005, he was a guest player for the IMG Academy, teaming up with current FC Dallas midfielder Eric Avila to win the 2005 Dallas Cup U-19 division.

Guarda will occupy a spot on the team’s Developmental Roster.

Source: FC Dallas Communications

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