ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Former UCF men's soccer star Hadji Barry completed his first training session as a member of the Orlando City Soccer Club on Monday morning at Sylvan Lake Park.
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"This is something that I have dreamed about since I was a little kid," Barry said. "Being in the position now to live that dream is great. It took a couple of days for me to let everything sink in, but I feel good and am ready to work."
The Conakry, Guinea, native met the local media contingent following his first training session with the Lions. He was very thankful for all the support that UCF has provided him over the past two years.
"Everybody was so excited about me coming back home," Barry said. "They are looking forward to catching some games at the Citrus Bowl.
"Coach Cunningham has been very supportive of me throughout this whole process. He kept telling me to just be me and enjoy playing the game that I have been playing since I was a little kid."
Head coach Bryan Cunningham has now guided seven players to professional careers through the MLS. Barry was the second-straight Knight to be drafted, joining former teammate Romario Williams, who was selected third overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by the Montreal Impact.
"Romario and I talk every day. He has given me a lot of good advice," Barry said. "He is like a brother to me. He keeps telling me to come out to every practice and work hard, because you never know when you are going to be given a chance. Once you get it, you have to make the best of it. I am going to come out every day and work hard and wait for my opportunity."
Orlando City conducts preseason training through the entire month of February and opens up the season on Mar. 6 against Real Salt Lake at the Orlando Citrus Bowl at 2 p.m.