Stoking the Fire

• by Ridge Mahoney  @ridgemax, Aug 21, 2007

Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio has brought a new player who should shore up one of the team's weak spots. Colombian international defender Wilman Conde, 24, comes to MLS from Colombia's Millonarios, which Osorio coached for 18 months prior to joining the Fire in late June. Conde takes a senior international slot on the team's roster and in exchange, a youth international slot has opened up with the release of Brazilian Willian Oliveira.

Conde, 24, has represented Colombia at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels and played for three Colombian teams prior to his stint with Millonarios.

Osorio chose to acquire Conde rather than negotiate with former U.S. international Tony Sanneh, whose rights were eventually traded to Colorado in exchange for a 2009 fourth-round draft pick.