The Fire, in keeping with the general policies of Major League Soccer, gave little in the way of details when it comes to players contracts. Theres no missing the significance of Thursdays re-signing of forward Patrick Nyarko, however.
Nyarko, 26, has become a Fire mainstay and the club was determined to keep him. Nyarko said the new contract covered two seasons with an option for a third.
"Hopefully itll be for a lot more than that, said Nyarko. "Its a good deal, and I like the organization. There wasnt any doubt that we would come to an agreement. It was a question of when."
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"Keeping Patrick with the Fire was a big goal of ours over the last year," said head coach Frank Klopas. "With his speed and ability to change pace, hes show to be one of the most threatening attackers in MLS over the last few years and is key to our attack."
Nyarko hasnt been much of a goal-scorer in his four-plus seasons in MLS. He had four of his seven in the 2009 season, but was a much more productive player in the two seasons after that. In 2010 and 2011 he combined for a team-leading 19 assists.
Hell play in his 100th MLS match in the Fires next game, April 15 vs. Houston at Toyota Park. Over the last four seasons hes played in 90 matches, more than any other Fire player.
"I just want to help this team get back to its winning tradition," said Nyarko. "The last couple years we got away from that a little bit. Now my immediate goal is to help us get into the playoffs."
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Drafted as a forward, Nyarko was a first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft after getting 31 goals and 24 assists in 57 college games for Virginia Tech. In his early years with the Fire, though, he spent most of his playing time as a winger on both sides of the field.
That changed midway through last season when Klopas paired him with striker Dominic Oduro. Both players are from Ghana, and they had instant chemistry. Their productivity spurred the Fire to a 7-2-1 finish in the last 10 games of last season, which in turn created high expectations for this campaign.
"I had talked to him only four times before he came here," said Nyarko. "I had heard of him, but we really starting talking once I came into the league. As hard-working as he is, that helped us."
Nyarkos performance down the stretch with the Fire led to his getting his first callup to Ghanas national team, and he played 45 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Chile in a Feb. 29 friendly in Chester, Pa. He hopes thats not the end to his time with his national team.
"That call was a little unexpected, but it worked out," he said. "It was a good experience, and Im hoping for more callups but that team is getting a new coach. The old one was fired, and well have to wait until a new coach settles in."
Be sure to check out highlights of Patrick Nyarko over at the official website of the Fire.