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Friday
night at FedExForum.TORONTO -- His Nigerian first name is Chinedu,
which means "God guides us." His surname, Dike (pronounced DEE-kay),
translates into "strength."
But in North America he goes by his English middle name, Bright.
Toronto FC manager Ryan Nelsen expects Bright Dike to live up to his
last name, promising the newly acquired forward will cause havoc in
front of goal.
Its easy to see why. Listed at six foot one and 220 pounds, Dike is a
load.
Asked to describe his style of play, the 26-year-old Dike pointed to his
body.
"If you havent seen me play, you can look at me and just tell Im big,
strong, athletic, fast," he said matter-of-factly. "(An) aerial threat
as well. You can look for me to play a No. 9 role and help this team
out. Hopefully Im another weapon he (Nelsen) can use."
Dikes voice is as big as his body, with a booming sound that would do
well on CNN voiceovers.
Dike is ready to see action Wednesday against the visiting Chicago Fire
(10-11-5), although Nelsen says he will ease in the new forward given
his comeback from February knee surgery and lack of preparation time in
Toronto.
"Bright brings something that we just dont have, in terms of the pace
and the power," Nelsen said Tuesday after practice.
Toronto also got a first-round pick in 2015 and allocation money in
shipping Argentine striker Maximiliano Urruti and a 2013 international
roster spot to the Portland Timbers. Toronto will also get 20 per cent
of a future transfer fee if Portland sells Urruti.
"Its a really good deal for us," said Nelsen.
Nelsen is short on offensive weapons and it has shown in the standings.
Toronto FC (4-13-10) has scored 23 goals, which ranks 18th in the
19-team league.
The much-injured Danny Koevermans returned to training Tuesday but will
likely need more time before he is game-ready. That leaves Robert
Earnshaw, Andrew Wiedeman and Justin Braun up front.
While Dike trained Tuesday, he may take time to settle in given his
surgically repaired knee.
"We want to protect him," Nelsen said. "Hes here for the long-term."
In Portland, he was an unused substitute twice and played 80 minutes in a
reserve game prior to being traded.
With Toronto saying it is after two designated player strikers in the
January transfer window, Dike will probably play the role of an impact
substitute next season. Ricardo Allen Jersey.
Dike, born to Nigerian parents in Oklahoma City, has been restricted to
23 games (nine starts) in his three MLS seasons due to a ruptured
Achilles tendon in 2011 and his knee surgery this year. But healthy last
season, he scored five goals in 12 games.
His knee injury was a freak one, with two players falling on the same
leg from two different directions. Dike was durable during his college
days at Notre Dame, where he played 86 games.
With the MLS roster freeze looming Friday at 5 p.m. ET, Nelsen says he
has been entertaining a lot of calls.
"Weve been getting a lot of options for a lot of our players," he said.
The plan for two new DP strikers means the writing is on the wall for
Koevermans, whose contact expires at the end of the season. Toronto,
which also has midfielder Matias Laba as a designated player, is limited
to three DPs.
Koevermans, a 34-year-old Dutch forward who makes a team-leading US$1.66
million this season, has played just 78 minutes this year.
"When hes played for Toronto, hes been incredible," said Nelsen. "His
goals-to-games ratio has been really good. And if we had a fully fit
Danny Koevermans, we probably wouldnt be standing here, wed be in a
really nice position in the league.
"But unfortunately we just havent had it. Thats life. But again Dannys
got seven games and if he can do really well, theres always a door open
for Danny."
Koevermans has 17 goals in his 30 games (22 starts) for Toronto.
NOTES -- Dike has worn 19 most of his playing career but that belongs to
Reggie Lambe in Toronto. So Dike will wear seven. "No. 7s a good
number. I dont think anybody cares what number youre wearing as long as
youre scoring goals." ... Torontos four Canadian internationals were
back at training Tuesday, thanks to the Canadian Soccer Association
freeing them up from a second friendly in Spain against Mauritania ...
New Raptors GM Masai Ujiri, said to be looking for a practice facility
for his NBA team, dropped by TFCs training centre Tuesday to see what
his sister team has at its north Toronto HQ.
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