Jordy Delem: “It’s not done for me because I still have one game. Have to enjoy tonight and after tomorrow try to come down and be ready for the next game.” (Photo courtesy of MLS)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

SEATTLE — After taking a deserved victory lap around CenturyLink Field for winning the MLS Cup final Sunday, Seattle Sounders FC will get a deserved victory parade around this city Tuesday.

Several team members won’t be able to make it due to international commitments. That includes defender Jordy Delem, who still has some soccer to play this year. On Sunday night, he was scheduled to fly down to his native Martinique to prepare for a vital Concacaf Nations League match against Honduras. The flight was scheduled to leave at 8:30 p.m. PT.

If Martinique wins Thursday’s game, the Caribbean side will clinch a spot in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Delem, who wore a Sounders FC championship shirt in a delirious and champagne-soaked Seattle locker room after a 3-1 victory over Toronto FC, realized he will have to get back down to earth for the international match. But then again, it’s not every day you win an MLS Cup.

This was the 26-year-old defender’s first championship after being a member of a Seattle team that lost at Toronto FC in the 2017 final.

“We have to enjoy it because it was a great season,” he said. “It’s not done for me because I still have one game. Have to enjoy tonight and after tomorrow try to come down and be ready for the next game.”

Delem was on the field for the final six minutes and stoppage time after coming on for Jordan Morris in the 85th minute.

“Right now we’re still happy,” he said. “Still can’t believe just what happened. But we worked hard throughout the year and I think we can enjoy this moment because it’s a great moment especially we won at home in front of our fans. So, something great.”,

Honduras (2-0-0, 6 points), which is in first place in League A, Group C, will be a challenge for Martinique (0-1-2, 2).

“I’m very happy right now,” Delem said with a smile. “I just have to enjoy this moment because it is something crazy. But tomorrow I will have to focus and come down to focus this important [game] for the country. I want to get the win and my record will be perfect.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.