[ PROFESSIONAL SOCCER ]
Ching ready to continue
career with EarthquakesThe Kamehameha alumnus
has been out of action since last
August due to an injury
Brian Ching's professional soccer career with the San Jose Earthquakes was put on hold last August when he suffered a season-ending ruptured right Achilles' tendon.
The striker's rehab is on schedule and Ching's goal is to be ready for the season opener April 3 at D.C. United.
"The rehab is coming along really well. It's been over four months now and I'm actually on the field kicking the ball around with guys here," Ching said from his California residence. "I'm about 80 percent. I still need to get 20 percent better in my right calf muscle and Achilles' tendon."
The muscles in his right leg atrophied from inactivity following the injury and part of his rehab is to rebuild those muscles.
Ching has signed for the upcoming Major League Soccer season but says he probably won't be ready to play matches until next month. The Earthquakes began their preseason camp and have their first exhibition match Feb. 25.
"My coach (Dominic Kinnear) sat me down and basically told me not to rush anything because he knew what I was capable of from last year," said Ching, a Kamehameha and Gonzaga graduate.
Kinnear was an assistant last year and took over the head duties when Frank Yallop resigned to coach the Canadian national junior team.
"I'm not sure when I'll be 100 percent, but when I'm healthy and strong, I'll be able to crack the starting lineup again. Right now, I'm hesitant to try to explode off my right leg. But it feels like it is getting stronger and stronger."
When Ching was injured, he was third on the team with 14 points on six goals and two assists. He earned his first national cap with the U.S. men's team in an international friendly against Wales last May.
The Earthquakes opened camp with seven strikers on the roster.
Ching played for the Los Angeles Galaxy for one season after being selected in the 2001 MLS Super Draft. In 2002, he played for the Seattle Sounders in the A-League, then was picked by San Jose in last year's supplemental draft.
