Charleston Battery News Release - www.charlestonbattery.com

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

CHARLESTON, SC -- The Charleston Battery has transferred midfielder Osvaldo Alsonso to Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC. Alonso enjoyed a stellar campaign with the Battery in 2008 and was an instrumental figure in Charleston’s run to the US Open Cup final. Following the season he was named USL First Division Rookie of the Year.

Charleston Battery head coach Mike Anhaeuser,

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Osvaldo to expand his career at the next level. We would have loved to keep him but understand the economics for both parties. We wish him all the best and are hopeful that he will bring success to Seattle Sounders F.C.”

Alonso was a key-figure in the Battery’s historic run to the US Open Cup Final and played the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 loss to DC United at RFK Stadium. Following the Cup final Alonso missed several games through injury but returned for the USL-1 playoffs and scored Charleston’s lone goal in the 2-1 first round aggregate score loss to the Rochester Rhinos.

Alonso defected from the Cuban national team in July 2007 during the Gold Cup; a native of San Cristóbal, Cuba, Alonso is the former captain of the Cuban Olympic team. He has been capped 17 times for the full Cuban national team and scored 2 goals.

Alonso captured several Charleston Battery awards at the end of the regular season; he was named Charleston Battery MVP & Newcomer of the year (as voted by the Charleston Battery fans), he was also named Charleston Battery Players’ Player of the Year (as voted by the Charleston Battery players).