Preseason Camp Notes – Day 15: March 15, 2010
PORTLAND, Ore. –
On Monday, the Portland Timbers began Week 3 of preseason training camp as the club continues its preparation for the USSF Division 2 Pro League season. With the start of the third week of camp, the Timbers are nearing the midway point of preseason.
The schedule for Week 3 includes a pair of two-a-day training sessions Monday and Tuesday. Head coach
Gavin Wilkinson
will then hold a single session each day through the rest of the week as the team preps for a preseason match against Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday in Santa Clara, Calif.
“To start the week, we want to get in two solid days of work, focusing on work rate and keeping the effort and energy high” said Wilkinson. “By Wednesday, we’ll start to focus on our formation and the responsibilities of individuals. The game against San Jose this weekend will be another test for the players.”
Back to the routine:
Arriving late last week, midfielder
Johan Claesson
returned to Portland and has joined the club in preseason camp. After an offseason back home in Sweden, Claesson returns for a second season with the Timbers and is anxious to get thing started.
“It was nice to be home for the offseason,” said Claesson. “Although we had the coldest winter in Sweden in like 60 years, it was good to be back around family and friends. During the offseason, I had the chance to go to Havana, Cuba. My girlfriend’s mom lives there, so it was a vacation/family trip; I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“It feels good to be back in Portland. Looking at the field, we have so many returning players and the new players will be a tremendous addition to the team. I’m looking forward to this year.”
Goalkeeper
Adin Brown
also arrived in town late last week, and joined the Timbers in time to make the trip up to Seattle, Wash., for the preseason game against Sounders FC.
Last but not least:
With the arrival of Claesson and Brown, the Timbers have 21 of their 23 signed players in town. Players still to join the team are forwards
Takayuki Suzuki
and
Mandjou Keita
.
Off the boards:
Over the weekend, midfielder
Brian Farber
concluded the 2009-10 professional indoor season with the California Cougars in the PASL North American Championships in San Diego, Calif. After an 8-7 overtime-victory in the quarterfinal against Calgary United, the Cougars’ season came to an end with a 7-5 loss to La Raza de Guadalajara in the semifinals. Farber, who was named to the PASL-Pro All-League second team, scored a goal in the tournament.
