Major League Soccer’s opening weekend is fast approaching, not that Matt Besler needs any reminder.
“1,085 hours until kickoff” the Sporting Kansas City captain tweeted Wednesday, alluding to his club’s 2015 curtain-raiser against the New York Red Bulls on March 8 at Sporting Park.
Between now and then, Sporting KC will spend those hours laying the groundwork for a successful return to the Western Conference. The team will depart Sunday for the first of two preseason training camps (Jan. 25 – Feb. 10 and Feb. 15 – March 1) at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.
With nine players officially signed and added to the roster since December, Sporting KC’s preparation for its 20th MLS season is multifaceted. Getting “Sporting fit” and honing individual skills remain chief priorities. In addition, Manager Peter Vermes said long days of training in Tucson will help a transformed squad develop an identity and set the tone for a winning campaign in 2015.
“I’d like to think that with quite a few additions to the team, some deletions and the same nucleus, we’re going to see a different group,” Vermes said on Friday. “That’s exciting. I’m looking forward to getting on the field with a lot of these guys because we have brought in players who we think fit into the way that we play.”
While the new faces will be eager to showcase their compatibility in Sporting KC’s high-pressure 4-3-3 system, Vermes believes their arrival will also give the club more tactical flexibility.
“What I like about this current group that we’re bringing together is we’re getting the opportunity to maybe play another formation that I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time, and I just don’t think we’ve had the personnel to be able to do that before,” Vermes said. “I’m not going to tell you what that is, but (preseason) will give us some looks about what we might be able to do here in the future.”
Among the new arrivals are Chilean goalkeeper Luis Marin and Hungarian forward Krisztian Nemeth from abroad, midfielder Bernardo Anor and defender Jalil Anibaba from MLS and five college seniors who were selected in last week’s MLS SuperDraft.
Sporting KC also welcomes back Honduran international midfielder Roger Espinoza. The 28-year-old spent five seasons in Kansas City (2008-2012) before joining Wigan Athletic FC in England. He now returns as the only MLS player to have competed at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
“Obviously I got drafted by Kansas City, and I know what it is like to be in a preseason with Peter [Vermes]” Espinoza said when he rejoined the club earlier this month. “I know how important it is to have a preseason. When I showed up in England the first time I did not have a preseason there and it became really tough for me.”
Also back in the fray are two defenders who played integral roles in Sporting KC’s run to the 2013 MLS Cup title. Chance Myers and Ike Opara missed most of 2014 due to injury—Myers tearing his Achilles and Opara suffering a chondral defect in his ankle.
Both players are close to full strength, Vermes said, but neither will be rushed into full action.
“I’ve had to be really patient and resilient with my rehab, but I’m feeling better every day,” Myers said. “Last year was basically a scratch for me so I can’t wait to get going again this season. I’m easing back into it and hope to be ready to go March 8.”
Those who are fully fit, however, will hit the ground running with several two-a-days over the next few weeks, training at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If the group takes the field just once, the day will often include strength training workouts or regeneration sessions in the gym.
Someone relishing the grind in Tucson is sixth-year MLS veteran Seth Sinovic. Sporting KC’s 2014 Defender of the Year said he has felt “stir crazy” waiting for the preseason to begin.
“We feel like we have something to prove, that 2013 wasn’t a fluke,” Sinovic said. “It’s on us to help the new guys catch on quickly and understand the style we like to play and how we do things as a team.”
Having played extensively with Myers and Opara in the past, Sinovic believes the healthier backline is poised for a strong campaign.
“They know how we like to play as a team and how we like to defend as a team,” Sinovic said. “Having that chemistry with a group of guys who have played so many games and minutes together is always big.”
At least four of Sporting KC’s six preseason matches will come against Western Conference opponents. The opening two come during the first phase of training camp as part of the 2015 Desert Friendlies slate. Sporting KC will face the Portland Timbers next Saturday, Jan. 31 before meeting hosts FC Tucson on Feb. 9.
A brief return to Kansas City on Feb. 10 will see the club link up with Besler and homegrown goalkeeper Jon Kempin, who are currently competing at the United States Men’s National Team January Camp. Five days later, the squad heads back to Tucson for the 2015 Desert Diamond Cup. Matches against the Colorado Rapids (Feb. 18), Seattle Sounders FC (Feb. 21) and Real Salt Lake (Feb. 25) will set the stage for the tournament’s final match day on Feb. 28.
“It’s important that we’re up and running sooner rather than later,” Vermes said. “Our objective in preseason is to try to get the newer guys acclimated as soon as possible.”
