Nimo's soccer skills pave way

PREP FOCUS: Ex-Benson player thrives in Florida as part of U.S. under-17 national team

By steve brandon

The Portland Tribune, Apr 3, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Formerly a Techman, forward Alex Nimo heads to Jamaica this month to play qualifying matches that could send his U.S. under-17 team to South Korea this fall for the World Cup.

JIM CLARK / P0RTLAND TRIBUNE

Alex Nimo, meet Landon Donovan.

It happened last week, when the United States’ biggest soccer star visited with Nimo and the rest of the U.S. under-17 national team.

Donovan and the national team watched as Nimo and the under-17 squad beat Ecuador 2-1 on a Sunday morning in Tampa, Fla. Nimo, from Benson High, had an assist.

A little later that day, Donovan scored three goals in a 3-1 U.S. win over Ecuador on the same field.

The events of the day gave Nimo, a two-time all-state forward, even more to dream about.

“I love Landon. He’s the man. I would love to be on the field with him,” Nimo says.

One step at a time. Nimo has moved to Bradenton, Fla., where he attends school in the afternoon, after training in the morning at the prestigious IMG Academy with other elite young American soccer players.

Nine members of the U.S. national team, including Donovan, came out of the same program.

The under-17 team plays World Cup qualifying matches April 28 through May 6 in Kingston, Jamaica, against the host country, Canada, Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago. The U.S. has a good chance of being among the three teams that make it to the World Cup, Aug. 18 through Sept. 9 in South Korea.

“I might have a starting position,” Nimo says. “I’m doing pretty good. Been playing a lot of minutes.”

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