Cordell Cato has one word to describe signing a new, multi-year contract with the San Jose Earthquakes:
“Amazing,” the 23-year-old midfielder said.
The new deal caps an eventful and successful year for Cato in which he made a career-high 18 starts, scored three goals and provided two assists. He also represented Trinidad and Tobago in a 0-0 draw against the U.S., 10 minutes away from where he was raised, and welcomed a new baby boy into the world.
It also provides the versatile former Seattle Sounder with an opportunity to further establish himself as a fans favorite at Avaya Stadium.
“To know that I am somewhat secure and I am going to be moving forward with the Quakes for a couple more years is amazing,” Cato added. “This is my fifth season and it has been a journey.”
When announcing Cato’s new deal, San Jose general manager John Doyle pointed out that, despite appearing in 83 matches, time is on his side.
And the player agrees.
“Yes, I have experience but I am still pretty young,” he said. “There is definitely work there to be done.”
Cato was speaking from the Quakes preseason training camp in Tucson, Arizona. He will be part of a squad that takes on South Korean outfit Seongnam FC on Tuesday morning, before heading back to California on Wednesday. The final scores haven’t gone the Quakes way in their first two matches in the desert against the New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo, but the team is beginning to gel as the regular season approaches.
“The results haven’t been for us,” Cato said. “We have created a lot of chances – we just need to take them and then things will change."