Sounders FC hits field for first practice

RENTON — It was cold. Foggy. And very new, as new as the warm-up outfits the players wore. It was finally time for Seattle Sounders FC to suit up and start practicing as a team.

Players and coaches gathered Wednesday morning at Seahawks headquarters for the first practice of training camp in preparation for Sounders FC's inaugural season.

Thirty-two players — almost outnumbered by media and others watching — spent about 90 minutes getting a feel for one another's skills and individual styles while coach Sigi Schmid and his staff began the process of evaluating the roster.

"Already there were a couple things I put down on paper, like this guy will play here, this guy will play here," Schmid said after practice. "And then on the field, you already saw them shift. So you see who is comfortable where. And even though you think you might be comfortable there, it shows right away by his play that he's more comfortable someplace else."

All in all, though, it was a methodical, uneventful start to training. Which was good news — no one got hurt.

So Sounders FC hopes it goes as it seeks to find the best 20 senior players and four developmental players to make up the final roster. There are a few guaranteed spots — considering their hefty contracts, goalkeeper Kasey Keller, forward Nate Jaqua, forward Sebastien Le Toux, midfielder Freddy Ljungberg (who is not with the team yet after having surgery) and rookie forward Steve Zakuani are among the more solid locks. But most players will be in competition for a place on the team.

One is defender-midfielder Nik Besagno, who spent time with the United Soccer Leagues' Sounders last season while on loan from Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake. Besagno, who lives in West Seattle and is a Maple Valley native, wants to show he belongs in MLS after a disappointing four seasons with Real Salt Lake, which left him unprotected in the expansion draft and released him.

"I came in young and had a hard time breaking into the lineup and getting minutes," the 20-year-old Besagno said. "It was unfortunate, but that's the way it happens. Hopefully it will work out this time, and I'll be able to be a part of this team and be part of what makes this team successful this year."

Besagno figured it was time for a change and was offered an invitation to Sounders FC's camp. He's happy to be home and knows many of his teammates, those with whom he played in USL and former Real Salt Lake teammate Nathan Sturgis, chosen by Seattle in the expansion draft last November.

Wednesday was also the first chance to see Zakuani, the first pick of the MLS SuperDraft last week.

"It was fun being out there with a soccer ball," said Zakuani, who spoke French to introduce himself to teammates Le Toux and Youssouf Kante.

"It's like a brand new project."

Sounders FC opens its inaugural season March 19 at Qwest Field against the New York Red Bulls.

There's a local flavor to the Seattle roster. Nineteen players either played for the USL Sounders or, in the case of Keller, are from the area.

One of the former USL Sounders, defender Taylor Graham, signed with the MLS team following practice, giving Seattle 16 players under contract.

"I think it's important in a camp to make decisions as soon as possible, because I think that's better for everybody," Schmid said.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com