Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Wizards Fantasy Draft Rounds 5 and 6

We're back with rounds 5 and 6 of the fantasy draft. Rounds 1 and 2 are here. Rounds 3 and 4 are here.

5(1). Team Shook - Diego Gutierrez - With the first pick of the 5th round, Team Shook selects Midfielder Diego Gutierrez

Gutierrez was an original member of the Wizards in '96 starting 24 games and all 5 playoff games then, after a injury and a stint in Chicago, Diego returned to the Wizards in 2002. Over the next four seasons, Diego established himself as a key cog for the Wizards and a fan favorite. Diego and Kerry Zavagnin formed a formidable pair in the defensive midfield, the pinnacle of success being the 2004 run to the US Open Cup championship and the 2004 MLS Cup final and gave up the fewest goals in the league. Diego also chipped in on offense that season with 3 game-winning goals and 4 assists.

5(2). Team DTB - Mark Chung - With the second pic of the fifth round, Team DTB select midfielder Mark Chung

Under appreciated during his time with KC, Chung was a mainstay in the early Wizards lineup, scoring 21 goals in the three seasons with the team mainly playing out of the left midfield spot. The highest point of his KC career was a Best XI appearance for his play in the 97 season.

5(3). Bravado FC - Richard Gough - With the final pick of the fifth round, Bravado FC harkens back to the 1997 season (and it took our management that long to make this pick) with the selection of Richard Gough. Although Gough - an allocation signed from Glasgow Rangers - spent just one year in the rainbow shirt, he was a solid defensive influence that helped the Wizards compile a 21-11 overall record on the campaign and a first-place finish in the Western Conference. He was named to the MLS Best XI squad as well.

6(1). Bravado FC - Igor Simutenkov - With the first pick of the sixth round, Bravado FC selects Igor Simutenkov. Acquired during the 2002 season, Simutenkov provides another solid punch to the attack for Bravado. He scored a free-kick goal in extra time to give Kansas City the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and has tallied 12 goals and eight assists in his 49 regular season appearances for the Wizards.

6(2). Team DTB - Uche Okafor - With the second pick of the sixth round, Team TBA select Uche Okafor. The Nigerian international was a staple in the back for the Wizards from 96-99, helping to anchor the backline. He even appeared at World Cup 98 for the Nigerian national team. He was penciled in to be the starter on the back line of the 2000 MLS Cup winning side, but due to being ill to start the season lost his starting spot.

6(3). Team Shook - Sean Bowers - With the third pick of the sixth round, Team Shook selects Defender Sean Bowers. Bowers started over a hundred games on the Wizards backline from the inaugural season of 1996 through 1999, and paired with Uche Okafor to form the backbone of early Wizards defenses.
Bowers was the Wizards team captain for the 1999 season and was twice named team defender of the year.

After leaving the Wizards following the 1999 campaign Bowers went on to play in Major League Indoor Soccer and National Professional Soccer League and captained the US Futsal team to the second round of the 2004 Futsal World Championship.

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