Pinto finally gets onto the practice field for FC Edmonton By Steven Sandor Posted on February 22, 2012 Comments Off on Pinto finally gets onto the practice field for FC Edmonton 0 707 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Better late than never. Chilean forward Yashir Pinto finally made his debut on the FC Edmonton practice pitch Wednesday. With all medical tests now cleared, the former U20 Chilean international officially begins his one-year loan with the Eddies. For the second time in less than a month, Pinto arrived in Canada from Chile — but this time, he’s here to stay. Pinto got into Edmonton over the weekend, did some fitness work with teammates on Tuesday, and finally stepped onto the pitch at Victoria Soccer Centre on Wednesday. Yashir Pinto Pinto was with FCE on Feb. 1, but couldn’t get on the field yet because he had yet to clear what everyone thought was going to be a routine medical. But, when some strange test results came through, he went back to Chile to be checked out by doctors from Colo Colo. After more tests, Pinto is now cleared to play. The deal sees Pinto come to Edmonton from Colo-Colo for a one-year. If, down the road, Pinto can be sold to another club, FCE would get part of the proceeds. But, from speaking with FCE brass, it’s clear that the team believes that the Chilean can be an immediate impact player in both NASL and against MLS teams in the Amway Canadian Championship, a speedy sparkplug up front who can conjure up goals this season. So, finally, on Wednesday, three weeks after he was supposed to be on the field for his first FCE practice, Pinto finally crossed the sidelines and got onto the pitch. Also, the team confirmed that French defender Jonathan Joseph-Augustin, who has been on trial for the last couple of weeks, has earned an invite to training camp.
