Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com
KANSAS CITY, USA: US Major League Soccer (MLS) team Kansas City Wizards announced on Wednesday that Jamaican international Khari Stephenson was the man making room for Finnish national forward Antti Sumiala on the team's roster.
The club's General Manager Curt Johnson stated that the team signed Sumiala to a multi-year contract, which meant that Stephenson was placed on waivers.
The Finnish striker, Sumiala, is expected to bring experience and depth to the Wizards active rooster and the managing staff welcomes his assistance.
Sumiala, 31, is second player signed by Wizards this week, following the arrival of Jamaican international midfielder Jermaine Hue from his local base club Habour View.
Stephenson lacks consistency
Stephenson, a former Williams College midfielder, has been struggling for consistency this season and according to the Wizards head coach Bob Gansler, Stephenson's lack of consistency was his downfall.
"I think he is an immensely blessed player," Gansler said. "But his lack of consistency both in terms of on the practice field and in games is what he has to address."
"He's talented, but he has to find a place where he can bring all of that potential to fruition. He hasn't done it here, not because he hasn't worked, and it's not because he hasn't wanted to," Gansler told the MLS.
The coach added that the Jamaican was outstanding last season, "but there have been many long stretches in between where we were just waiting and hoping and it hasn't quite happened."
Stephenson joined the Wizards in April of 2004 in a trade with the Chicago Fire, scoring one goal in his nine regular season appearances, which also included one start.
He was a part of the Wizards developmental roster last season, in which he played four pre-season matches before being added to the senior roster prior to the 2005 season.
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