The Dynamo have offered a senior contract to free agent forward Joseph Ngwenya, a member of Houston's 2007 MLS Cup championship team, Chief Operating Officer Chris Canetti confirmed today. The offer came after Ngwenya spent four days training on trial with the Dynamo, and Canetti said he expects an answer from Ngwenya by the end of the day.
5:40 p.m. UPDATE - Canetti confirmed that Ngwenya has agreed in principle on contract terms and will re-join the Dynamo, pending an entry physical and completion of official paperwork. Per team and league policy, terms of the contract were not released.
Ngwenya, who scored nine goals in 33 games in all competitions for the Dynamo in 2007 and tied for the team lead with seven goals in 25 regular-season games that year, showed enough to head coach Dominic Kinnear and his staff to earn the offer, Canetti said.
"Dom has indicated that Joe has looked good in training over last four days," Canetti said. "He's been a player we've sought after because the coaching staff believes Joe’s style of play fits in very well with what we're trying to do, and he's obviously familiar with our players and style. We’ve made an offer to try to re-sign him immediately and are waiting to hear."
Capped five times for Zimbabwe during qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Ngwenya is available on a free transfer. His international transfer certificate is still held by Turkish club Antalyaspor, which could delay his eligibility if a deal is reached.
The Dynamo are especially thin at forward at the moment due to injuries to Brian Ching and Cam Weaver and a one-game suspension to Luis Angel LandÃn. Midfielders Brian Mullan and Danny Cruz both saw time at forward in Saturday's loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Houston has up to three roster spots open due to new league rules regarding the roster status of home-grown players, which make goalkeeper Tyler Deric and midfielder Francisco Navas Cobo exempt from the 24-man roster and salary cap.
