Fifty-seven days from the season opener, things are starting to take shape for Orlando City.
The Club recently unveiled the rainbow seats in Section 12 of the new stadium and the roster inches closer to completion with each passing day. Add to that a few announced preseason friendlies and the excitement of the new stadium and you can almost feel the electricity in the air.
“We are really excited,” head coach Jason Kreis said in a recent interview with the Orlando Soccer Journal. “[The stadium] is going to be something entirely different. This is going to be a real soccer atmosphere.”
The Lions will play an intrasquad scrimmage at the beginning of February and follow that up with a friendly against Jacksonville University. A few more dates are in the works and Kreis said “three or four” matches have yet to be scheduled, most likely against MLS opponents.
The recent additions of versatile left backs Donny Toia and Victor “PC” Giro and defensive midfielder Will Johnson give these Lions a formidable look.
“We feel with those additions as well as with more time with the group, we plan to be on a much better defensive situation heading into 2017,” Kreis said.
And for a bit more intimidation, they’ll be backed by the all-standing, all-chanting Wall of the North End.
But City has always been built on an attacking mentality, and one of its most important players is primed and ready for a long run. After posting a team second-best 11 goals and eight assists in his return from an ACL tear suffered in May 2015, Kevin Molino will look to assert himself in Year 3.
“We really hope for big things from Kevin,” Kreis said. “I’m a really big fan of Kevin. I think he’s an extremely important piece. He’s somebody that has Orlando City in his heart and soul.”
Not unlike years past, supporters with Orlando City in their hearts and souls will be there. But for the first time, they’ll be in their own home – a home sure to be utterly inhospitable to visitors.
“This will present us with the opportunity to say to the players that this is our home and this is something that we defend with our hearts and souls.”
