That new Portland Timbers Kiwi might just be a Scot and a Solomon Islander

By: Bob Kellett | April 2nd, 2008

We’ve heard mention of a possible player from New Zealand joining the Portland Timbers and now we might just have the name(s). The unrivaled The Don has searched the bowels of the interwebs and discovered that Kiwi fans are under the impression that Bryan Little is coming to Portland. Little is a 29-year-old Scotsman and he is listed as a midfielder. The buzz from Down Under is that he is a left winger who has recently had knee surgery. He’s scored 8 goals in 10 games for Auckland City FC this year. Their season ends this Sunday so we may be meeting Mr. Little in the very near future. The New Zealand Herald describes him as “U.S.-bound.”

The same Kiwi message boards also indicate that Benjamin Totori might be on his way to Portland as well. The 22-year-old is a striker for Waitakere United and has scored 10 goals in 17 games, putting him in the running for the league’s Golden Boot. He is listed as being 5′5″ so he and Tom Poltl will have a lot in common. He also happens to be from the Solomon Islands and plays for their 122-ranked national team (he played in their recent World Cup qualifiers), which would automatically make him my favorite Timbers player ever….even if he sucks. Waitakare United are in first place and if they make it to the league final they will be playing until April 20 (UPDATE: They made the final. The second leg is May 3).

What to make of all this? The names do match the buzz that Gavin Wilkinson laid out a few weeks ago. He mentioned signing a player from New Zealand and possibly adding a young forward too. Wilkinson was instrumental in bringing Aaran Lines to Portland and he also lined up Cameron Knowles. Lines was injured too often to make much of an impact. Knowles was a steady force last season. The league in New Zealand certainly isn’t the best in the world, but it is of the same general caliber of what we see in USL First Division. It makes sense that Wilkinson would use his contacts there. It would also make sense that he bring in some additional bodies at left wing and forward.