TFC may loan Marco Velez to the Islanders

By: BoriQa | August 9th, 2009

Last week, just two days after the Puerto Rico Islanders knocked out the Toronto FC of the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League, local Spanish media published a rumor that the Islanders administration was negotiating with TFC to get defender Marco Vélez on loan as a reinforcement for the remainder of the USL season and for the Group Stage of the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL).

Marco Vélez was seen on the bench for both Islanders-TFC Champions League games. Although he did not play for the TFC, his participation with the Islanders in the group stage of the CCL is unlikely.

According to Concacaf Champions League rules:
#5.3 Once having been properly inscribed on a Roster List for one Team, in any Phase, a player may not be inscribed on the Roster List for any other Team in the CCL in the same season of competition, in any Phase.

Yesterday, the same newspaper published an article where the Islanders DT Colin ‘General’ Clarke confirmed the Puertorican team is seeking to get Vélez on loan from TFC to relieve the team’s regular central defenders John Krause and Nigel Henry for the remainder of the USL season.

[Translation from Spanish Text:] “We need depth in that position and we do not have it. The players have played a lot and there are many hits and injuries there, so we have to reinforce to enter the final phase of the (USL) season”, said Clarke.

Marco Vélez played for the Islanders between 2005 and 2007 before been transfered in 2008 to the Toronto FC. Vélez was captain of the Puerto Rico National team lead by Colin Clarke that saw action against the Dominican Republic and Honduras in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Vélez played in the 1-0 win over the Dominican Republic on March 26, 2008 and in the 4-0 loss in Honduras on June 4, 2008. Vélez was ejected (two yellow cards) from the match in Honduras and was unable to play in the 2-2 draw against Honduras in the return leg in Puerto Rico one week later.

So far in the 2009 MLS season, Marco Vélez has played as a defender in 15 games (8 as starter) for the TFC for a total of 780 minutes, has 3 shots (2 on goal), has commited 5 fouls and suffered 7 fouls. He has received one yellow card this season.

In 2008 Vélez started in 23 regular season games for the TFC for a total of 1,973 minutes, scored 2 goals out of 6 shots (4 on goal), commited 23 fouls and suffered 5 fouls. He was cautioned 3 times, and red-carded twice.

Marco Vélez scored (22′) his first MLS goal on May 1, 2008 at home in a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls. He recorded his second goal (72′) on the road on October 11, 2008 in a 2-2 draw against FC Dallas.

On May 27, 2008 Vélez scored (72′) on the road in the opening game of the 2008 Nutrilite Canadian Championship against the Montreal Impact in what proved to be the game winning goal in the 1-0 TFC victory.