REAL SALT LAKE
DEFENDER JAMISON OLAVE RECEIVES UNITED STATES GREEN CARD
Colombia Native Will No Longer
Occupy International Roster Spot on Defending MLS Cup Champ’s
Roster
SANDY, UTAH
(Thursday, July 22,
2010) – Real Salt Lake announced today that DF Jamison Olave has
received his U.S. Green Card, granting him permanent resident status in the
United States effective immediately.
With Olave’s new
status as a United States resident, the third-year member of Real Salt Lake will
no longer occupy an International Player slot on the defending MLS Cup
champion’s roster. With Olave’s departure from that list, Real Salt Lake now has
one of its five International Player roster spots available, with Argentines
Fabian Espíndola, Nelson González, and Javier Morales and
Costa Rica native Álvaro Saborío currently holding the other four
positions.
“We want to
congratulate Jamison on this important step towards making Utah his long-term
home,” said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey. “From a club standpoint,
this allows us more flexibility to acquire a player we feel fits into our roster
as we push for a second straight MLS Cup and begin play in the upcoming CONCACAF
Champions League. We would like to extend a special thanks to Donald Mooers of
Mooers Immigration, who has been an immense help working on behalf of Jamison
and Real Salt Lake during this process.”
In his three seasons
with Real Salt Lake, the 29-year-old Olave has established himself as one of
Major League Soccer’s most dominant central defenders, as evidenced by his
choice as a “First XI” member of the 2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Team just last
week. Olave’s first All-Star nod will be one to remember, as he’ll get the
chance to join his MLS teammates – including RSL’s Javier Morales and Nick
Rimando – in taking on legendary English Premiership side Manchester United at
Reliant Stadium in Houston next Wednesday, July 28 (6:30 p.m. MT; live on ESPN2
and TeleFutura).
Olave has started all
16 games for RSL this season and has played all but 13 minutes on the campaign,
his intimidating presence and gifted physical skills contributing to a defensive
effort that resulted in a recently-concluded 566-minute shutout streak for the
Claret-and-Cobalt, the third longest such run in MLS history. Olave has also
proven to be a handful on the offensive end, his presence in the area on set
pieces resulting in three goals this season, all scored in front of his adoring
fans at Rio Tinto Stadium. Olave has started 63 of his 64 League appearances
since joining RSL prior to the 2008 season, hitting the back of the net on eight
occasions while thwarting countless dozens of scoring opportunities for the
opposition during his stint on the Wasatch Front.
Prior to the MLS
portion of his career, Olave played in his native Colombia, spending time with
four clubs in the South American country’s First and Second Divisions, most
notably with powerhouse Deportivo Cali, for whom he began his career in 2001 and
also flourished with from 2005-07. In addition, Olave logged time for First
Division sides Atletico Huela (2002) and Chicó FC (2004) and Second Division
squad CD Patriotas FC (2003).
TRANSACTION: REAL
SALT LAKE AND MLS ALL-STAR DEFENDER JAMISON OLAVE RECEIVES UNITED STATES GREEN
CARD, REMOVING HIM FROM RSL’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER
ROSTER
www.RealSaltLake.com / www.RioTintoStadium.com / www.RSLtotheCore.com
