Preseason Camp Notes – Day 3: March 11, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers concluded Day 3 of preseason Wednesday with their third straight day of two-a-day training sessions at PGE Park. As the team prepares for its first preseason game Saturday, the focus continues to be on ball work and fitness.
The coaching staff has conducted two training sessions per day since the start of preseason training camp on Monday. One session is geared toward technical exercises while the other concentrates more on fitness.
Wednesday’s training sessions at PGE Park featured a series of ball work exercises and spirited small-sided games in the morning and another round of running in the afternoon.
New faces in camp:
Since preseason camp officially opened on Monday, the Timbers have added another trialist to the group, defender
Takura Nishimura
. From Japan, Nishimura has played the past several seasons in the J-League for Omiya Ardija.
The Timbers announced Tuesday that the club has acquired midfielder
Alex Nimo
on loan for the 2009 USL First Division season from Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake. Nimo has already joined the Timbers for preseason trainings at PGE Park.
With Nishimura and Nimo, the Timbers have 22 total players in camp – 13 signed roster players and nine trialists.
Closing out Week 1:
Players will participate in another set of two-a-day trainings on Thursday at PGE Park. The coaches will conduct just one training session on Friday as the team prepares for its first preseason match Saturday against MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes in Santa Clara, Calif.
