Written by Will Ogburn
Sanford – “Where were you there, Kevin?” “That’s the only chance you’ve got, Adama, you’ve got to take it!” Across the fields of the Seminole Soccer Complex, a gruff voice with a British tinge to it can be heard bellowing. Whistle in hand, Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath is trying to right the ship following last Saturday’s 2-3 loss at Harrisburg City. This practice is one of the few that Coach Heath will get with his team before a rematch with the Islanders this Saturday. After a stellar start to the season, the Lions have dropped two of their last three matches. With the Richmond Kickers nipping at their heels, Orlando City’s lead in the USL PRO has dwindled to one point. These standings can be a bit misleading however, as Orlando has played two fewer games than Richmond.
This week’s matchup with Harrisburg will be different for several reasons according to Heath, the most obvious being home field and injury. “If you look from a few weeks back, we’ve got four or five of our big pieces missing. This week Rob (Valentino) will be back, Darwin (Ceren) will be back.” Among those looking to work their way into the lineup are two additions from the prestigious Portuguese soccer club Benfica. Both of the signees, defender Rafael Ramos and midfielder Estrela, are on track to play as soon as this Saturday. With so many changes coming in preparation for Orlando’s first MLS season, Coach Heath says he’s not surprised by this minor lull in productivity. “Mentally, with people coming in and MLS right around the corner and people wondering if they’re going to be involved or not I’m amazed we’ve gone so long before this has started to rear its ugly head.”
Discussions of the future seem to be an ongoing theme around Orlando city camp. With so much young talent – Tommy Redding (17), Tyler Turner (18), Harrison Heath (18), Estrela (18), and Rafael Ramos (19), Orlando City is gearing up to be great in the future. Sitting at first place in the USL with seven games to go, however, their current goal is clearly to be great in the present. Two games to circle on the Orlando City schedule are August 23rd and September 6th, where the Lions will take on the Kickers for the first and last time this season. The second of those games promises to be an emotional one, as it will not only be the regular season finale, but also more than likely have major playoff implications.