Midfielder Bedoya to play against his roots

Colombia match pits BC product against parents' country

 

CHESTER, Pa. – The US national team has always been a melting pot, so it's hardly a surprise when a Nats player has a family connection to the opposing team's nation.

 

On Saturday against Poland, it was right back Eric Lichaj, whose parents are Polish. On Tuesday it will be the turn of winger Alejandro Bedoya, whose parents are from Colombia. Bedoya even rooted for the Colombian national team growing up.

 

During the 1994 World Cup, he followed Colombian greats Faustino Asprilla, Fredy Rincón and former MLS midfielder Leonel Álvarez, all while wearing the popular wig made famous by MLS legend Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama.

 

“I was a fan of Colombia, but I knew I would always play for the USA,” Bedoya said. “But I never thought I’d actually get to play against Colombia.”

 

After practice on Monday at PPL Park, he was surrounded by a throng of Colombian reporters, who grilled him about his roots. It turns out Bedoya’s grandfather was a goalkeeper for Deportivo Quindío and his dad played at forward on both the Quindío and Millonarios reserve sides.

 

Before joining his current Swedish club, Örebro, Bedoya also took regular summer trips to Colombia to train informally with Deportivo Quindío.

 

Despite missing out on the final cut for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the 23-year-old is now a regular call-up of US manager Bob Bradley, who will be exploiting Bedoya’s versatility even further.