Jorge Luis Pinto announced his first list of call-ups as the new manager of Honduras on Saturday night, and he included three MLSers in the squad.
Houston Dynamo midfielders Boniek Garcia and Luis Garrido, as well as their compatriot at Sporting Kansas City, Jorge Claros, were named to the 23-man roster ahead of Wednesday night's friendly against Venezuela at the Estadio Olimpico in San Pedro Sula, while Claros will also be in the squad for the return match seven days later in Venezuela. Garcia and Garrido will return to the Dynamo for preseason camp after Wednesday's friendly. Players were expected to convene for camp on Sunday.
The three MLS players are among only four foreign-based members of the squad. Clubs are not required to release players since the match does not fall on an official FIFA match date.
Two other names on the team that MLS fans will be familiar with: Jhonny Leveron (ex-Vancouver Whitecaps) and Mario Martinez (ex-Seattle Sounders):
HONDURAS ROSTER VS. VENEZUELA
Goalkeepers (2): Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia)
Defenders (8): Arnold Peralta (Olimpia), Wilmer Crisanto (Motagua), José David Velásquez (Nacional de Uruguay), Jhonny Leverón (Marathón), Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua), Henry Figueroa (Motagua), Carlos Palacios (Marathón), Carlos Sánchez (Real España)
Midfielders (8): Luis Garrido (Houston Dynamo), Jorge Claros (Sporting Kansas), Edder Delgado (Real España), Byron Méndez (Olimpia), Bryan Acosta (Real España), Mario Martínez (Real España), Jorge Cardona (Honduras Progreso), Carlos Discua (Motagua)
Forwards (5): Romell Quioto (Olimpia), Boniek García (Houston Dynamo), Anthony Lozano (Olimpia), Rubilio Castillo (Motagua), Angel Tejeda (Honduras Progreso)
