Silverbacks Enter Saturday's Friendly with Confidence

March 14, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA - Two full weeks into preseason training, the Silverbacks have settled into a rhythm with Saturday's professional friendly against the Charlotte Independence nearing.

When Silverbacks first-year head coach Gary Smith and his reconstructed team welcome the USL expansion team to Silverbacks Park for an afternoon friendly, it will offer an elevated test after what Smith deemed two successful weeks of getting acquainted within the new environment.

"The players have been terrific and I've not been disappointed," Smith said. "Their attitude, their application, their professionalism and their willingness to take on new ideas have been absolutely wonderful and it's been a pleasure to work with them to this point."

Reaching daily patterns hasn't made practices and gym sessions any less physically difficult, but Atlanta's players realize the preseason's importance toward creating the new culture.

"I know guys are definitely tired, but we're buying into the program," midfielder Jon Okafor said.

"Legs are going to be heavy with the amount of work we're doing," full back Kyle Miller said. "But it's part of the game. We'll get to full fitness after some games under our belt."

Internationals players Ceus, Porter react to Gold Cup draw

CONCACAF's release of the 2015 Gold Cup groups and schedules could affect the two Silverbacks with prior senior international experience.

Haitian goalkeeper Steward Ceus and Canadian winger Kyle Porter's respective national teams both qualified for the 12-team continental tournament, which begins July 7 and features an Atlanta semifinal stop on the way to the July 26 final in Philadelphia.

Haiti was placed into Group A, alongside the hosting United States, Panama and the winner of the Honduras-French Guiana playoff. Les Grenadiers meet the U.S. team July 10 in Foxborough, Mass.

"Haiti's been placed in a group with a lot of talent," Ceus said. "It will be a challenge but I think it has a lot of possibilities. I know it will be really exciting for everybody."

Porter participated in the 2013 edition of the tournament with Canada, joining Gold Cup action twice as a substitute.

After the Canadian team opens Group B play against El Salvador, they'll play the second game against Jamaica, a country the 25-year-old is quite familiar with.

"It's weird because I have Jamaican blood in me (through my mother)," Porter said. "But at the same time I represent the country I was born in, and the jersey I'm wearing is what I'm fighting and competing for."

In their final group stage game, Canada will take on Costa Rica, a quarterfinalist at the 2014 World Cup, in one of the tournament's two games hosted in Toronto.

"That would be amazing," Porter said. "The home support is always great for us, in Toronto especially. It will give us the momentum needed to push on in the tournament."

Starting to finish

This week's practices offered players a multitude of opportunities to show their creativity and attacking skill in some of the most forward-thinking sessions thus far. Early training session brought extensive defensive and structural work, but one-on-one drills and finishing exercises let players

"We have some extremely exciting players," Smith said. "Those guys are now starting to see the benefits of good structure and organization around them. That offers the platform to go and be creative and do the things they're very bright and special at."

Matt Horth scored Atlanta's lone goal in the Georgia State friendly and is among the attackers receiving more chances to impress in training.

"We're just now kind of flipping the coin and looking at attacking, so it's a work in progress," Horth said. So far I'm really pleased with everyone and how sharp they are for it being our first or second day really honing in on our skills."

Jaime Chavez, Atlanta's leading scorer in 2014 with 9 goals, said the team benefitted from the early defensive work, but he's happy the shifted balance has given him more chances in front of goal.

"It's always great in training as a forward to be hitting balls at the net," Chavez said. "So you get a feel on what's coming up for the season."

What to watch for:

Atlanta vs. Charlotte

Competition level

An expansion club in USL, the Independence took over where the Charlotte Eagles left off. Along with their connection to the Colorado Rapids, the Independence have multiple former NASL players on the roster, including brothers and former Carolina Railhawks Alex and Enzo Martinez. Goalkeeper Diego Restrepo most recently played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Charlotte signed Colorado's third-round MLS draft pick, Brandon Fricke, to a contract earlier this year. A loan system will also bring Colorado talent to the Queen City, starting with goalkeeper John Berner.

Although Charlotte hasn't played an official game in USL, Silverbacks Jon Okafor and Kyle Miller both played in the league last season and complimented the playing level Atlanta players and fans will see on display Saturday.

"Charlotte Independence is a new organization," Okafor said, "but I was in the USL last year and thought a lot of teams were strong in the league. The league almost doubled in size so it will be interesting to see the level of player that's on the field."

"It's a very high level," Miller said. "It will be a really good test for us - both mentally and physically."

Rotation

Without two exhibitions to distribute minutes between contracted players and trialists, playing time against Charlotte will be at a higher premium than last weekend. Smith split his lineup against Georgia State and Georgia Southern between the games, but it may be different without a full trialist game. Smith's lineup decisions won't immediately move into a regular season philosophy. His selections and substitutes will, however, give a much clearer picture of the state of the squad than last week's collegiate double-header.

Silverbacks-Independence connections

Atlanta's organization shares a few connections with the budding USL team. Head coach Gary Smith led the Rapids, Charlotte's current MLS affiliation, to an MLS Cup in 2010 and he knows the expansion team's technical director, Brian Crookham, from his time in Colorado.

On loan from Colorado, Ceus spent extensive time at the Independence's predecessor, the Charlotte Eagles, where current Independence attacker Jorge Herrera played prior to the Independence's creation.

Jon Okafor also calls Independence midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo one of his close friends after the pair played together for Arizona United last season.

"I know he's a good player," Okafor said. "So I'm sure him and the guys in Charlotte will try and come here and have a good showing.



North American Soccer League Stories from March 14, 2015


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