RSL duo close to being released

Dipsy Selolwane and Leighton O'Brien are just two work visas away from being classified as former Real Salt Lake players.

It's been long speculated that the duo would be released on Monday, the date FIFA's second international transfer window opened up, the same date RSL eagerly signed Guatemalan defender Gustavo Cabrera and Jamaican defender Robert Scarlett.

The two international players are still awaiting their work visas from the U.S. government, which a team source said should arrive any day. When that day comes, Real Salt Lake will officially release senior roster players Selolwane and O'Brien to clear roster space for its two new senior roster players.

If the government approves the visas in time, Cabrera and Scarlett would be available for Real Salt Lake when it hosts the San Jose Earthquakes this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The duo have been training with the team for the past two weeks.

Midfielder Adolfo Gregorio is also eligible to play this weekend.

The 22-year-old Californian has been training with RSL for nearly a month after it acquired him in a trade with the Colorado Rapids. Even though he spent all of last season with Darlington FC of the English Second Division, his rights still belonged to Colorado, which selected him in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.

Because he was moving from England to the United States, he also needed to wait until the FIFA international transfer window before he could suit up for RSL. The club didn't need to release anyone to sign Gregorio, who merely replaced the roster spot of third-string goalie Noah Palmer when he had season-ending shoulder surgery earlier this summer.

Selolwane played in eight games for Salt Lake this year, including four starts. Despite his tremendous athleticism and creativity, he failed to record either a goal or assist in his 410 minutes on the field.

His last appearance with the team was as a substitute in the team's 5-1 loss at Chivas USA on July 9.

O'Brien, who has been on loan with the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division for the past three weeks, played in six games for Salt Lake, including one start. That lone start occurred in a 3-0 loss at San Jose on June 18, which also happened to be his last appearance with the team.

Earlier this year, RSL released midfielder Evan Whitfield and defender Marlon Rojas to create roster space for forward Dante Washington and defender Paul Broome.

---

E-mail: jedward@desnews.com