Earlier this January, Michael Salazar was anxiously sitting in the audience for the 2016MLS Superdraft at the Baltimore Convention Centre, waiting for his name to be called.
Seats were emptying as one whole round passed and 23 players had their names called by Major League Soccer teams. The Montreal Impact was now on the clock with the 24th pick, looking to make their next selection.
The 23-year-old wasn’t the only nervous member of the Salazar family that day. His mother, who had flown in from his native Belize, also had a hard time staying seated.
“She was waiting and waiting, for a second she thought I wasn’t going to get called at all,” Salazar said.
MLS vice president Todd J. Durbin then walked up to the podium.
“With the fourth pick of the second round of the MLS Superdraft, the Montreal Impact select, from the University of California Riverside, forward Michael Salazar.”
Salazar jolted from his seat and gave a big hug to his mom, and then his college coach Tim Cupello, who was wearing a blue and yellow UC Riverside Highlanders scarf over his suit.
“Have fun, enjoy the moment, but then get back to work because now is when the challenge really occurs,” Cupello told the new draftee.
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