KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After a five-day tryout, NFL star Chad Ochocinco has been awarded a spot on the reserve team for Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer.
A spokesman for Sporting KC said the six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals was very happy when given the news on Tuesday by coach Peter Vermes.
As a member of the reserve team, Ochocinco will not be given a contract or any monetary compensation. He will join the team when it works out a couple of times a week.
After a practice game Monday against a local amateur club, Ochocinco admitted his skills were probably not up to winning a spot on the MLS team. He said he would be happy to be with the reserve team, which would help him stay in shape until owners and players resolve the lockout.