Trial with Houston
Marc Weber
Things are looking up for Srdjan Djekanovic.
The former Vancouver Whitecaps goalie -- released on Aug. 13 after a period of frustration over playing time -- was in Houston last week on a four-day trial with the back-to-back MLS Cup champion Dynamo.
Djekanovic is currently attending UBC and competing for the Thunderbirds, whom he helped to CIS titles in 2005 and '07.
"It was just one of those things," he said of the trial. "It was basically available and it came about through talking to people about looking to the future, setting things up for next year.
"They are the best team in North America. It was a great environment, great to be a part of that."
The Serbian-born goalie, who started eight times for MLS side Toronto FC in 2007, hopes to keep up contact with the Dynamo and perhaps arrange for a tryout in the new year.
Houston has some interesting connections to Vancouver between the posts.
No. 1 man Pat Onstad is a Vancouver native who won three CIS titles at UBC and played for the 86ers in 1987. Backup Tony Caig backstopped the Whitecaps to the 2006 USL-1 title but suddenly left the team for his native England in June 2007 for personal reasons.
The trial opportunity came about with Onstad off with Canada's national team for World Cup qualifying.
Djekanovic recorded four shutouts in seven games with the Whitecaps this season, going 3-2-2 with seven goals against. © The Vancouver Province 2008
