Uruguayan Canadian defender Andrés Fresenga, who had a cup of coffee (trialist blend) with the Whitecaps in 2013, has become the eighth Ottawa Fury FC player signed for the 214 North American Soccer League season.
A member of the Canadian U23s, the 21-year old Fresenga was recently called up for the senior squad’s January training camp.
“I can’t wait for the season to start, and take on this journey with my new family,” said Fresenga on the one-year contract, which is still pending his international transfer from Racing Club de Montevideo.
He went on to say, “I would like to thank Fury FC for this opportunity to represent not only the organisation, but the wonderful people of Ottawa. To the fans, I promise that I will leave everything on the field for this team, and I have a strong feeling this team will do big things.”
Andrés Fresenga at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex during his trial with Vancouver Whitecaps FC on 9 February 2013.
Marc Dos Santos, manager of the Fury, said “Andrés grew up playing soccer in Uruguay, and his passion for the game is second to none. He is very aggressive, strong, and committed in his play, and this is why he has been recently called up to the National Team. We know what we look for in players, and Andrés has the exact profile of an Ottawa Fury FC player.”
Although he was born in Toronto, his family moved to Uruguay when he was 13-years old.
Born in Toronto, Fresenga spent his formative football years in Montevideo, having trained with Club Nacional de Futbol in 2007, Danubio FC in 2008, and with Racing CM since 2009. During his time in Uruguay, he won the domestic U16 and U17 championships, featured in Racing CM’s U23 side, and played in the Primera División for the past four seasons.
Fresenga joins Brazilian forward Oliver Minatel, Irish midfielder Richie Ryan, Palestinian defender Omar Jarun, Scottish midfielder Nicki Paterson, Spanish defender Ramón Soria, and a pair of Canadians in forward Carl Haworth and midfielder Mauro Eustaquio.
The Fury are set to play FC Edmonton at least three times in 2014. On April 23rd, they play host to the Rabbits in the first leg of the CSA Cup qualifying round, returning for the second leg at Clarke Stadium on April 30th, and then hosting Edmonton in NASL action on May 31st. A fourth match is expected to be included when the second half of the NASL season is announced.