Preseason Camp Notes – Day 2: March 2, 2010
PORTLAND, Ore.
– After officially opening preseason Monday, the Portland Timbers moved to the training pitch Tuesday for Day 2 of training camp. A group of 17 players took part in the fitness-focused training session at the Nike campus in Beaverton.
Entering his fourth season at the helm, Timbers head coach
Gavin Wilkinson
led players through a round of technical work and possession exercises, which consumed a majority of the session, before wrapping up the day with small-sided games to goal.
The team will hold training sessions each day through the rest of the week and will conclude Week 1 of the six-week preseason camp with a closed-door training game against Oregon State University on Saturday.
Spinning into Day 1:
Preseason officially began Monday as players arrived at PGE Park for multiple meetings with coaches and medical staff. But the day wasn’t just for formalities. A fitness test then welcomed all 17 players to the start of the 2010 campaign as the team participated in a workout at L.A. Fitness, which included an intense spinning class.
Reporting for duty:
Arriving for the start of preseason were 16 signed players and one trialist. The list of signed players includes goalkeepers
Steve Cronin
and
Matt Pyzdrowski
, defenders
Ian Joy
,
Quavas Kirk
,
Mamadou Danso
,
Ross Smith
and
Scot Thompson
, midfielders
Josh Cameron
,
Derek Gaudet
,
Rodrigo Lopez
,
Tony McManus
,
James Marcelin
,
Ryan Pore
and
Keith Savage
, and forwards
Doug DeMartin
and
George Josten
.
Coming soon …
Defender
Stephen Keel
is scheduled to arrive in camp later this week in advance of the training game against OSU.
On the air:
For those who can’t make it to the Timbers preseason match in Seattle, Wash., against Major League Soccer’s Sounders FC, the game will be broadcast live on Freedom 970 AM – sister station to 95.5 The Game. Kickoff against Sounders FC is set for 6 p.m.
Update from India:
Striker
Mandjou Keita
remains on loan with Salgaocar Sports Club of India’s top flight, called the I-League. Keita has scored twice in the last four games for the club, which plays its next match Wednesday against Viva Kerala. He is scheduled to return to Portland in April to rejoin the Timbers in advance of the 2010 season opener on April 17.
