Well this is one of the most out of left field things I’ve ever posted.

Per USSoccer.com Riverhounds own Alfonso Motagalvan has been called up to the U.S. Beach Soccer Nation Team for the “Beach Soccer Challenge” against Brazil on August 14th in Fort Lauderdale. The team will also convene for a three-day training camp from Aug. 12-15.

A) I didn’t know there was a U.S. Beach Soccer team, and B) I had no idea Alfonso was involved with it. It’s pretty cool for a Riverhound to be representing our country. He must be pumped about it. Alfonso will be one of the few professional players on the squad, and playing against Brazilians in any kind of soccer is quite the challenge.

The event will mark the first nationally-televised beach soccer event to be held in the United States. The match will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network on Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 7-8 p.m. ET. Following the initial telecast, there will be a rebroadcast of the match on NBC Sports Network on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 2-3 p.m. ET

The bad part, from a Hounds perspective, is presumably Alfonso won’t be available this weekend. While he hasn’t had much play time recently, it still limits Niko’s options on defense to fill the hole left by Marshall’s injury. At any rate we do wish Alfonso the best in this competition and look forward to seeing him on national TV next month.

Thanks to Matt Whiteside for the tip on this.

#UNLEASH