Like expert chefs, the Brooklyn Knights are cooking-up their strategy for the imminent 2008 USL Premiere Development League (PDL) soccer season, and have spiced that up with two pre-season engagements that will ensure the club adds the perfect ingredients to their high performance pot.
The Knights, who pride themselves as a fan-friendly franchise that represents an equally diverse boro, were simmering out their tryouts and training for players as they hosted two of
New York ’s senior college teams.
The first outing was a full-length game against
Adelphi
University on Saturday, April 5th at Long Island’s
Tully
Park – the home pitch of the Knights’ in-state rivals, Long Island Rough Riders. Smarting from their hectic collegiate season, the primed and adept Adelphi team played their hearts out for a 1-1 tie against the Knights who were led by former MLS standout Giovanni Savarese.
The following weekend at the Aviator Sports Complex, the Knights hosted
St. Francis College to a mid-afternoon scrimmage that opened up greater promise for the club, which its management kept ‘hush hush’. The engagements were seen as “preparation of the players to flavor the Knights steaming ‘melting pot’ as the team’s zeal swells to a crescendo”.
However, after the Adelphi match-up, Knights head coach Joe Balsamo called the showing “satisfactory”, being the first pre-season action for his regrouping squad. “We had a lot of chances in that game, but it was good. Most times, it is not going to be easy, because when you play for the first time, there are many things that you’re trying to see to fix.”
During the games, Balsamo tried deep new talent alongside a few ‘old hands’, and said their performances have given rise to the Knights earmarking a few new signing prospects. “We need time to get better and better, so we’ll see what happens as we continue preparing for the season.” He, also, indicated that he spoke with the opponents’ coaches about absorbing a few of their talented players. “We’ll try them out and see what they’ll offer the team.” Brooklyn Knights were the 2007 champions of the PDL’s Eastern Conference, and narrowly missed getting into the national final. This year, the club intends topping the podium of the nationwide, 67-team league.
The club begins its 16-game regular season with a home fixture at the Aviator facility against Westchester Flames on Friday, May 9th (8:00 pm EST/EDT). According to Balsamo, the coaching staff “will get another major opportunity to try some tactical systems” and serve-up a three-course feast when the Knights host a mini soccer extravaganza also involving teams from Brooklyn’s Select Teams from the Caribbean and Hispanic communities on Friday, May 2nd (6:00 pm EST/EDT).
