Monday, December 17
CHARLESTON, SC – Temperatures crept out of the low thirties nearing the 8:30 AM kickoff time of the first, live-action matches in the 2007 USL Men’s Player Showcase here today in a wintry Charleston, South Carolina. But the chilliness did not suppress the large contingent of scouts, coaches and general managers who were hoping to catch a glimpse of the precise piece that may finalize their squad for the 2008 season.
One General Manager in particular, the Pittsburgh Riverhound’s Gene Klein, was looking to reignite his club’s former ferocity.
“I am looking to get a good feel for the entire pool of players here at this event,” said Klein, who is heading up the revival of the former A-League and, more recently, USL-2 franchise. “Things are wide-open for us coming in here and there are a lot of guys at this event who can play, but it has to be the right fit for them and us. We are searching for a kid who can make a difference and is exciting to watch.”
The Riverhounds last played during the 2006 USL-2 season, falling 2-1 to the Charlotte Eagles in the USL-2 Semifinal on August 19.
“We have been in the league before, so we are not going into this blind,” said Klein. “We know what it takes to win at the USL-2 level, but the league is strong from top to bottom. There are no shortcuts. Hopefully we are going at things right.”
Having not yet signed any players to contract, Pittsburgh has a great chance of being the destination of several top players from the 2007 Men’s Player Showcase.
“This is a very useful event for us in USL-2,” said Klein. “I believe the USL Showcase will continue to grow in coming years. Having it here in Charleston is also great. The facilities are some of the best in the country and it has to be a big thrill for these players to be playing in such a professional atmosphere.”
Following their morning sessions, players were treated to their second meal of the event at the Three Lions Club in Charleston’s Blackbaud Stadium. The afternoon session, consisting of three full 90-minute matches, began at 2:30 PM in Blackbaud. The final three 70-minute matches of the showcase will also be played on the Battery’s home turf tomorrow morning.
As for the Riverhounds, they will return professional soccer to Pittsburgh this spring, almost certainly equipped with several players from the 2007 Men’s Player Showcase.
“We wanted to take a year off and build the infrastructure of our club,” added Klein. “The Riverhounds hope to seamlessly reestablish the great relationship we had with our fans and, by moving closer to the city, bring added excitement to our club all season long. It will make Pittsburgh a fun place to play for a lot of these players here at this showcase.”
