Preseason Camp Notes – Day 24: March 24, 2010
PORTLAND, Ore. –
Exactly three weeks from Saturday, the Portland Timbers open the 2010 season at PGE Park as the Rochester Rhinos come to town. On the cusp of the upcoming campaign, the Timbers continued Week 4 of preseason training camp Wednesday.
Week 4 is shaping up to be a competitive week of training. Highlighting the week is a two-day trip to Washington, where the Timbers will play the Vancouver Whitecaps in a training game Friday at 10:30 a.m. The Northwest rivals have met in preseason exhibitions in each of the last two seasons. It will be the third straight week the Timbers have traveled for a preseason match. In-game updates will be available via the Timbers' Twitter at www.twitter.com/TimbersFC.
With 22 players in training camp, the Timbers have a preseason record of 2-0-1, including a 1-0-1 mark against Major League Soccer clubs. Portland defeated Oregon State University in its first game of preseason.
Let’s play two:
After four days of training sessions, the Timbers round out the week with a pair of training games. Following the match against Vancouver on Friday, the Timbers will then play the University of Portland Saturday in a closed-door game.
Ready for action:
Over the weekend, midfielder
Tony McManus
made his 2010 preseason debut, coming on as a sub in the second half of the Timbers' 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes. After months of offseason rehab on an injured shoulder, McManus was officially cleared by the Timbers medical staff to participate in full-contact activities and games. Prior to last weekend, he had participated in training sessions in a limited capacity.
“He comes from Japan …”
Quoting the Timbers Army chant, forward
Takayuki Suzuki
is in fact coming from Japan and is scheduled to join his teammates in preseason training camp on April 1. Suzuki returns for a third season with the club and has been a reliable option for head coach
Gavin Wilkinson
since 2008.
Forward
Mandjou Keita
will be the last signed player to arrive in training camp, and is also expected back in early April. He has been in India since November on loan to top-flight club Salgaocar Sports Club. Keita has scored five goals during his loan stint in the I-League.
Timbers U-23s seek talent:
The Timbers U-23s, the Timbers development team, will hold an open tryout this weekend as they seek talent for the upcoming Premier Development League season. Players ages 17 and up are welcome to participate in the tryout, which will take place at Gresham High School; it will be an all-day event. Additional details are available, including registration information, at
www.portlandtimbers.com/team/tryout
.
