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"The Word" is MLSsoccer.com's weekly long-form series. This week, Philadelphia Union beat writer Dave Zeitlin looks at rising star Amobi Okugo, who has found his footing after a position change in 2012 and become of the one of the most promising center backs in the league. Can he find his way to success with the US national team, and a shot in the 2018 World Cup?

Amobi Okugo strolls into a Philadelphia restaurant, orders a mango pomegranate lemonade and settles into a window table. The popular Philadelphia Union player is dressed casually in a black t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. A single bead of sweat, perhaps a remnant of the training session that just wrapped up, hangs precariously beneath a new faded haircut.

Outside on Chestnut Street, a group of schoolchildren holds hands and crosses the street in front of a horse-drawn carriage. These are common sights in the area of Philadelphia known as Old City. Just down the block is Independence Hall, the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Across the street from that is the Liberty Bell, one of Americas most iconic symbols. A few blocks away is Elfreths Alley, the countrys oldest residential street, where Okugo recently toured.

It took me a year to finally realize how historic this area is, says Okugo, whos lived in the heart of Old City since first arriving in Philadelphia a little more than three years ago.

But Okugo isnt here to talk about the past. Hes here to talk about the future. A future that looked gloomy just 10 months ago but has now never looked so bright. A future in which Okugo and the Union could return to the MLS playoffs after a disastrous 2012 campaign. A future in which Okugo might very well become the first Philadelphia player to ever earn a cap with the US senior national team while on the Union roster.

And it all started with a roll of the dice by the coach that knows him best.

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OKUGO KNOWS THE QUESTIONis coming and smiles when he hears it.

Its funny but Im used to it, he says. Im sure you guys are getting tired of asking it more than Im getting tired of answering it.

The question that reporters have been asking him for the past 10 months: Which position does he prefer between center back and defensive midfield?

Read more here:
Is the Philadelphia Union's Amobi Okugo the future of the US national team defense? | The Word