MLS Signs a Trio of College Standouts

NEW YORK (Monday, January 28, 2002) - Major League Soccer’s Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Todd Durbin announced today that the League has signed college standouts Luchi Gonzalez, John Barry Nusum and Mohamed Fahim.

Gonzalez, the 2001 Hermann Trophy Winner and Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Player of the Year honoree, leads the talented trio of seniors, who finished their college careers with a combined 164 goals, 91 assists and 419 points.

These players have a great future in the professional game,” said MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis. “That all three of these outstanding offensive talents have made a commitment to continue their careers with MLS is exceptional.”

“For me, MLS really is the best place to get my feet on the ground as a professional,” said Gonzalez, who was also considering an offer from Las Palmas of Spain’s Primera Liga. “The level of play in MLS has improved so much since the League was formed, and right now I really feel that my calling is to play in the United States.”

The signing of Gonzalez and Nusum, coupled with former Virginia standout Kyle Martino’s decision to join Nike Project-40 earlier in January, insures that all three finalists for the 2001 Hermann Trophy will be available in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft on Sunday, February 10 in Orlando, Florida.

Gonzalez recently capped an outstanding senior season with top-ranked Southern Methodist (21-1), as he claimed the Hermann Trophy and the MAC Player of the Year Award, both given to the nation’s outstanding player. Gonzalez became the first Mustang ever to win either award, while also becoming only the eighth individual to capture both honors in the same season. By taking both awards in the same season he joins an elite group that includes Tony Meola, Alexi Lalas and Claudio Reyna. Following a campaign that saw him net a team-high 21 goals in 21 games, Gonzalez was also named the NSCAA/adidas Division I Player of the Year.

Nusum (pronounced: New-some) will make the jump to the professional ranks as only the 22nd player in NCAA history to earn three first team All-America citations. The 6-1, 205-pound striker finished his Furman career as the school’s all-time leader in both points (161) and goals (61). During Nusum’s four seasons, the Paladins posted a 71-14-4 record while earning bids to each of the last three NCAA Tournaments. In addition to finishing among the finalists for the 2001 Hermann Trophy, Nusum was also in the running for the 2001 MAC Award. Nusum, a dual citizen of both the U.S. and Bermuda, competed as a member of Bermuda’s National Team during both Olympic and World Cup Qualifying in 2000.

Fahim leaves Southern Methodist with 130 points and 55 goals, which both rank as the second-best career totals in SMU history. A native of Cairo, Egypt, Fahim was also a Hermann and MAC candidate during his junior and senior seasons. Following an explosive junior year that saw him net 57 points on 25 goals and seven assists, Fahim became a household name in college soccer. The 21-year-old striker, has been a part of the Egyptian National Team program at the under-20 and under-23 levels and will compete in MLS as a Transitional International.

Bios for the three players follow (listed alphabetically) :

Mohamed Fahim

Pos: Forward Hometown: Cairo, Egypt Ht: 5-11 Wt: 175 Born: June 11, 1979 College: Southern Methodist

Egyptian National Team: Was a member of the Egyptian U-20 national and U-23 Olympic teams...Participated in Under-20 World Cup Qualifying in 1998 … College: 2001 … A candidate for both the Hermann Trophy and Missouri Athletic Club’s Player of the Year Award … Netted eight goals and added three assists with two game-winning goals for the No. 1 ranked Mustangs (21-1) ... Helped SMU to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the College Cup Quarterfinals … An NSCAA All-Midwest Region first team selection and second team All-Missouri Valley Conference pick … Closed out his collegiate career with 130 points (second on SMU's all-time career list), and 55 goals (second on SMU's all-time career list)... One of four SMU players invited to the 2002 Umbro Select All-Star Classic … Missed the first six games of the 2001 season with a sprained ankle … 2000 …A third team All-American and first team NSCAA All-Midwest region selection … Finished fifth in the nation in points per game with 2.28 and third in the country in goals per game (1.00) ... Started in all 25 games for SMU, which advanced to the NCAA College Cup in Charlotte before losing in the semifinals ... Led the team in scoring with 25 goals and seven assists ... Collected three hat-tricks during the course of the season … 1999 … Named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year … A first team All-American … Led SMU in points (40, goals (18) and shots (67) ... Scored at least one goal in 12 consecutive games ... Added a team-high five game-winning goals … 1998 … Started 17 games and came off the bench in two others during his freshman season ... Second on the team and 15th in the WAC with 14 points … Personal: A computer science major at SMU … Native language is Arabic ... His father, Faten, is a professor of mechanical engineering at Zagazig University... A member of the El-Shams soccer club in Cairo … Full name is Mohamed Fahim ... Nickname is "Mishu" ... Was born on June 11, 1979 in Cairo, Egypt.

Luchi Gonzalez

Pos: Forward Hometown: Miami, Florida Ht: 5-8 Wt: 156 Born: July 14, 1980 College: Southern Methodist

U.S. National Team: Has represented the U.S. at the under-20 and under-17 levels … Was a member of the 22-man roster just prior to the 1999 FIFA Under-20 World Youth Championship in Nigeria … Teamed with current MLS players Nick Rimando, Danny Califf, Nick Garcia and Tim Howard but was not selected to the final 18-man tournament roster … Played in two matches, including one start, for the U.S. Under-17 National Team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Egypt … Was selected to the team despite not being called in for the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament … College: 2001 …Claimed every major award available during his senior season at Southern Methodist, including the Hermann Trophy, Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Player of the Year Award and NSCAA/adidas Division I Player of the Year honors … Is only the eighth player ever to capture the Hermann and MAC awards in the same season … Was also named Soccer America’s Player of the Year … Led the top-ranked Mustangs to a 21-1 record and a berth in the NCAA Quarterfinals … Was SMU’s top scorer with 21 goals (seven game-winners) and 12 assists … Registered seven multiple goals games … Finished among the nation’s top five scorers … Finished his career third on SMU’s career points list (128), second in career assists (32) and fourth in goals (48) … One of four SMU players invited to the 2002 Umbro Select All-Star Classic … 2000 … A NSCAA Third Team All-Midwest region selection and second team All-MVC selection ... Started in all 25 games for SMU, helping the team to the College Cup Semifinals ... Was second on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 15 assists (39 points) ... Finished the season tied for eighth nationally in assists per game (0.60) ... 1999 … Played in only five games before suffering season ending injury against Eastern Illinois ... At the time of the injury he was leading the team and the WAC with 12 points ... Scored a hat trick and added two assists in Sept. 12 against Detroit ... 1998 … Earned first-team All-WAC and WAC Freshman of the Year honors, starting all 21 matches for the Mustangs … Was named to the Soccer America All-Freshmen Team and the WAC All-Tournament Team ... Led SMU in both points (23) and goals (10) as a freshman … Finished tied as the conference’s leading scorer … Scored a team-high four game-winning goals, including two in his first two collegiate matches … Prep: Four-year letterwinner at Gulliver Preparatory School ... Served as team captain junior and senior years ... Earned three district championships and compiled an 88-11-3 record during his career ... Two-time All-Dade and All-State team selection ... As a senior was named MVP, Dade Player of the Year, South Florida Player of the Year and Gatorade Player of the Year ... Named to both the NSCAA and Parade All-America squads ... Played with the Strike Force club team since 1991, winning four state championships … Was also a member of National Honor Society and Gulliver’s honor roll … Personal: Full name is Luis Aquilino Gonzalez … Born July 14, 1980 in Hialeah, Florida … Parents are Lucho and Michellle Gonzalez … Father Lucho is a native of Peru, where he played collegiately … A marketing major at SMU ... Nickname is "Luchi" (loo-chee) ... Favorite movie is "Braveheart" … Fluent in Spanish … Younger brother Christian, a goalkeeper, was under consideration for selection to the current U.S. Under-17 National Team’s residential camp before a knee injury forced him to withdraw.

John Barry Nusum

Pos: Forward Hometown: Devonshire, Bermuda Ht: 6-1 Wt: 204 Born: March 18, 1981 College: Furman

Bermuda National Team: Competed with Bermuda in Olympic and World Cup qualifying in 2000, scoring two goals vs. the British Virgin Islands … Has been a member of the National Team program for five years and served as captain for the under-16 and under-17 squads … College: 2001 … One of the top three vote-getters for the prestigious Hermann Trophy and a finalist for the Missouri Athletic Club’s Player of the Year Award … Named first team All-American by the NSCAA for the third straight season, becoming only the 22nd player in NCAA history to accomplish that feat (including his father John Nusum, a star at Philadelphia Textile in the mid 1970s) ... Started 84 of his 86 college appearances and finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in points (161) and goals 61) … Furman was 71-14-4 during his four year career … Is also second in career assists with 39 … Led the 17th ranked Palladins in scoring with 39 points on 16 goals and seven assists … Helped the team to its third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where Furman (17-5) lost to UAB in the first round … Named the All-Southern Conference Player of the Year in addition to taking a spot on the first team All-Southern Conference squad … Selected to play in the 2002 Umbro Select All-Star Classic in Ft. Lauderdale, FL … 2000 … Set Furman’s single-season record by netting 48 points (18g, 12a) … A first team All-American for the second year in a row... Named to both NSCAA and College Soccer Online's first team All America squads ... Placed in the top 20 in every NCAA offensive statistical category … Claimed Southern Conference Tournament MVP honors after scoring four goals in the tournament ... Led the team to SoCon regular season and tournament championships and a final national ranking of 12th by Soccer America … 1999 … Selected to the NSCAA first team All America squad after scoring 43 points on 17 goals and nine assists … Scored a goal in each of Furman’s three NCAA Tournament games to become the school’s all-time leading playoff scorer (3g, 1a) … Helped Furman to a final national ranking of third by Soccer America and a quarterfinal finish in the NCAA Tournament … 1998 … As a freshman, led Furman in scoring with 10 goals and 11 assists for 31 points ... Netted four goals and registered one assist in a 6-0 win over Appalachian State, tying the school’s single-game record for goals and points … A second team All-Southern Conference selection Prep: Led Berkeley Institute in goals during each of his four seasons … Helped the school to three first-place league finishes and a third-place finish ... Was also a member of Wolves Sports Club … Personal: Full name is John Barry Nusum ... Is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Bermuda … Born March 18, 1981 in Mineola, New York ... The son of Ellvera Robinson and John Nusum ... Father, John Nusum, played professional soccer for five years in the MISL and NASL ... Was a health and exercise science major at Furman.

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